Fever

Definition

Fever is a temporary increase in body temperature, often due to an illness. It is a common response of the body to infection or inflammation and indicates that the immune system is actively fighting off pathogens. A fever can be a crucial indicator of underlying health issues, especially in conditions related to respiratory infections or gastrointestinal disorders.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Fever is typically defined as a body temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, and it can vary based on age, time of day, and activity levels.
2. In respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, fever is a hallmark symptom that helps clinicians identify the presence and severity of the infection.
3. Fever can enhance the immune response by increasing the production of white blood cells and improving the efficiency of certain immune functions.
4. While fever can indicate a serious infection, it is often a natural defense mechanism and not always harmful; however, very high fevers may require medical intervention.
5. In inflammatory bowel diseases, patients may experience fever during flare-ups due to increased inflammation and infection risk in the gastrointestinal tract.

Review Questions

• How does fever function as a response mechanism in the body during pneumonia?
  • Fever plays an important role during pneumonia by indicating that the body is fighting an infection. The rise in body temperature helps enhance the immune response, making white blood cells more effective at targeting and destroying pathogens. Additionally, fever creates an environment less favorable for bacterial growth, aiding in recovery from the infection.
• Discuss how cytokines are involved in the fever response during inflammatory bowel diseases.
  • Cytokines are key players in initiating and regulating the fever response in inflammatory bowel diseases. During flare-ups, these signaling molecules are released by immune cells and promote inflammation, which can elevate body temperature. This increase in temperature signals the body to ramp up its defenses against potential infections that can arise from compromised intestinal integrity.
• Evaluate the implications of prolonged fever in patients with chronic respiratory infections and its impact on treatment decisions.
  • Prolonged fever in patients with chronic respiratory infections can indicate complications or secondary infections, making it critical for healthcare providers to evaluate the patient's condition carefully. Persistent elevated temperatures may necessitate further diagnostic testing or changes in treatment strategies, such as adjusting antibiotic therapy or considering additional interventions to manage infection. Understanding the underlying cause of the prolonged fever is essential for effective patient management and improving outcomes.

Related terms

Pyrexia: Another term for fever, specifically used to describe an elevation in body temperature above the normal range.

Cytokines: Signaling molecules that mediate and regulate immunity, inflammation, and hematopoiesis; they play a role in inducing fever during infections.

Hyperthermia: A condition of excessively high body temperature due to failed thermoregulation, often caused by environmental factors rather than an immune response.