Consult for Fever Medicine or Consult for Fever Treatment

About Fever (Pyrexia)

Fever or Pyrexia is defined as an elevation of the body temperature that exceeds the normal daily variation of 36.5°C -37.5 °C or (97.7°F -99.5°F)

98.6° F (37° C) is usually considered a normal body temperature

Acute onset fever with no specific signs and symptoms (Acute undifferentiated fever) is highly prevalent in tropical areas or post-monsoon season in various parts of India poses a great challenge for Health care.

Acute undifferentiated fever in India

Types of Fever

Fever is classified based on the duration and height of the temperature

1. Based on Duration of Fever

Classification of fever based on the duration

Types	Duration	Disorders
Acute	<7 days	› Malaria › Viral
Subacute	Up to 2 weeks	Typhoid fever
Chronic	>2 weeks	Tuberculosis

2. Based on Height of Temperature

Classification of fever based on temperature height

Temperature	Fahrenheit (°F)
Mild/low-grade fever	100.5–102.2
Moderate grade fever	102.2–104.0
High-grade fever	104.1–106.0
Hyperpyrexia	>106.0

Causes of Fever

Any substance that induces fever is called a pyrogen.

Mechanism of Fever

The disorders that may cause fever are

Infectious Diseases (Viral, bacterial, fungal (most common cause))
- Respiratory tract infections
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Skin infections
- Malaria
Inflammatory conditions
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
Cancer
Physiological stress
Environmental Factor
- Heatstroke
Drugs
- Cocaine, Amphetamines, etc

Symptoms of Fever

Shivering
Lack of appetite and generalized weakness & malaise
Sleepiness
Headache
Joint Pain
Inability to concentrate

Warning Signs of Fever

Temperature >103^oF
Shortness of breath
Mental clouding
Persistent headache
Fever does not subside in 48 hrs

If you notice these warnings consult a doctor immediately

Diagnostic Evaluation

Identifying the cause of fever by doing lab tests can help treat the patient better.

CBC (complete blood count )
Blood cultures/ Widal test
Chest x-ray
Urinalysis and urine culture

Treatment at Home

Take adequate rest
Consume Plenty of fluids ( fresh fruit juices, glucose, etc) to avoid dehydration
Use clean and boiled water
Easily digestible food is taken such as porridge, rice gruel, etc
OTC drugs such as paracetamol/ibuprofen effectively reduce fever

If you find yourself experiencing symptoms of fever, or don’t know why you are getting a fever, book a doctor's appointment for immediate guidance.