Fever - causes, measurement methods & sensible measures
Fever is a natural defence reaction of the body. Find out more about causes, temperature limits, measurement methods and when treatment is necessary.
Wissenswertes über "Fever"
Fever is a natural reaction of the body to infections, inflammations or other disorders, in which the body temperature is deliberately increased by the hypothalamus to fight pathogens.
A body temperature of above 38 °C is considered a fever, while values between 37.5 and 38 °C are considered subfebrile . From above 39 °C we speak of high fever, and from above 41 °C there may be serious complications. Fever is not a disease, but a symptom that indicates an underlying cause - usually viral or bacterial infections.
Typical accompanying symptoms are chills, sweating, fatigue, headache and aching limbs, loss of appetite or accelerated pulse. Depending on the cause, the fever can occur suddenly (e.g. with flu) or increase gradually (e.g. with bacterial infections). Fever has a protective effect, as many pathogens have a harder time surviving at an elevated temperature and the immune system works more efficiently. As a rule, fever is therefore not in need of immediate treatment, provided it remains moderate and the cause is known.
For fever reduction, if necessary GP-recommended remedies such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, calf compresses, sufficient fluid intake and bed rest can be useful. Especially in children, elderly people or chronically ill people fever should be observed early and clarified by a doctor - especially if it lasts longer than three days, is very high or is accompanied by other serious symptoms. Autoimmunological or oncological diseases, vaccination reactions or hormonal disorders can also be rare causes of fever.
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