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Fevers

Fevers: Help, Support and Overcome

Fevers Overview

The condition when the temperature of the body gets elevated is known as fever. The normal temperature when measured has to be 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius. The temperature of the body is, however, known to vary slightly throughout the day by about 1 Fahrenheit or 0.6 Celsius. Fever is considered to be serious only when the temperature is more than 100.4 F or 38 C. If the temperature is below 100.4 F, it is considered low grade fever. When the temperature increases to more than 103 F, then it indicates some serious infection. Low grade fevers can be easily controlled using some medications. The personโ€™s body may feel slightly hot and he/she may also complain of shivering.

Help and Support for Fevers

There are various symptoms of fever. Some of them include shivering, sweating, headache, muscle pain, dehydration, loss of appetite and general weakness. If the fever is between 103 F and 106 F, the patient may suffer from confusion, hallucinations, convulsions, irritability and dehydration. There are some slight variations in the symptoms among the various age groups.

Fever could be caused due to various reasons such as a viral or bacterial infection, rheumatoid arthritis, extreme sunburn, malignant tumor, certain medications used for treating seizures or blood pressures, and certain immunizations like tetanus, diphtheria, pneumococcal vaccines or a cellular pertussis.

In order to confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may look for an infection based on other symptoms along with a physical exam. Blood tests are also used for diagnosing fever. If the person is suffering from low grade fever, the doctor may use various tests to identify the cause. They include X-rays and blood tests.

Overcome Fevers

If fever is not treated in time, it can lead to certain complications like hallucinations, severe dehydration and fever-induced seizure. Fever-induced seizures mostly occur in small children. If this happens, lay the child on her stomach or side on the ground. If the clothing is tight, loosen them. Remove any dangerous objects from the surrounding. Hold your child properly to prevent any kind of injury. Avoid stopping the seizure. Most seizures may end on their own. Seek medical help immediately.

There are no major physical or psychological side effects of fever. Minor fevers do not cause any side effects. Some people may experience headache or loss of appetite. High fevers can cause confusion, hallucinations, seizures and irritability. If the fever persists for a long time, then it can cause some damage to the brain physiology.ย 

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Fever can be treated easily using various medications and it takes just a few days to cure. For low grade fevers, doctors do not recommend medications for lowering the temperature. If the fever is caused by a virus, the low body temperature helps to eliminate the virus. In case of high fever, there are various over-the-counter medications available, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These are used for curing fever in children. For adults, aspirin is used. The doctor may prescribe you an antibiotic too. Antibiotics are not used for viral infections. The best way to treat most fevers induced by viruses is to take plenty of fluids and rest.

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Some changes in the lifestyle can also bring about great relief for fever. These include drinking a lot of fluids, taking enough rest, staying cool with light clothes and soaking in lukewarm water. You can prevent fever by reducing your exposure to the infectious diseases. Maintain good hygiene too. Teach children to always wash their hands thoroughly under running water.

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