High body temperature - Causes, symptoms and treatment. MF.

A rise in body temperature above normal values ​​is called fever. Normally, the body temperature in the armpit is 36.0-36.9 ° C, with 0.3-0.5 ° C lower in the morning than in the evening. In the oral cavity and rectum, the temperature is usually 0.5-1 ° C higher than in the armpit, but does not exceed 37.5 ° C.

Causes of high temperature

The causes of fever are manifold. The most frequent of these are infectious diseases. Microorganisms, their toxins and waste products affect the thermoregulatory center in the brain, causing a rise in body temperature.

There are several types of fever. By the degree of temperature increase, subfebrile is secreted - not higher than 37.5 ° C;and febrile fever. Daily diurnal temperature fluctuations are also important for diagnosis. However, in our days, the picture of diseases is often erased as a result of taking antipyretics, and sometimes self-administration of antibiotics. Therefore, the doctor should be guided by other diagnostic criteria.

Everyone knows the manifestations of fever: aching muscles, headache, pain in the eyes, weakness, chills. Chills are nothing more than a physiological way to increase body temperature. Muscles, when contracted, increase heat production, and body temperature rises.

The increase in body temperature during an infectious disease is not accidental. Fever has an important physiological significance. First, many bacteria at high temperature die or lose the ability to reproduce. In addition, when the body temperature rises in the body, the activity of protective mechanisms for fighting infection increases. Therefore, if the fever is benign, and other symptoms are absent, drug treatment is usually not required - an abundant warm drink and rest is recommended.

However, there are also negative consequences of fever. In addition to subjective discomfort, fever leads to increased fluid loss and excessive energy consumption, which can be dangerous for people suffering from cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. Especially dangerous is a high fever for children who have an increased tendency to convulsions.

When should I lower the temperature?

With severe discomfort
Sleep disorder
If the temperature rises above 38.5 ° C

Recommendations for reducing temperature:

The room should not be hot, it should be ventilated regularly.
You can take a warm( not cold!) Bath.
Do not rub the patient's skin with alcohol - this can exacerbate the chills.
Drink plenty of warm liquid.
If there is a chill, you can not wrap up the patient.
Paracetamol, ibuprofen, is suitable for reducing temperature.
Aspirin can be used only in adults. DO NOT give aspirin to children without a special doctor's prescription.
Pay attention to the dosage of the drug - always read the instructions on the package.

A separate comment should be made about alcohol. Alcohol can be taken with increasing body temperature, but on condition that the patient remains in bed. After taking alcohol, any hypothermia is extremely dangerous, because with a subjective feeling of warming, the heat transfer significantly increases.

When to call a physician immediately:

If the fever lasts longer than 48-72 hours in an adult or adolescent( or longer than 24-48 hours in a child under 2 years of age)
When the temperature rises above 40 ° C
When a disturbance occurs: delirium,hallucinations, arousal;as well as with severe headache, convulsive seizures, respiratory depression