High fever is not a disease, but it is usually a symptom of illness, often caused by an infection.
Depending on age, state of health and cause of fever:
- treatment is necessary,
- you can wait for the fever to pass on its own.
Fever is a natural defense mechanism of the body against infections, because the high temperature:
- makes it difficult for viruses, bacteria and other harmful organisms to survive and multiply, requiring a temperature of about 37°C;
- increases the metabolic activities of the body’s cells, thereby strengthening the immune system.
As a rule, fever is not dangerous.
Nevertheless, with very high fever, the body is no longer able to control body temperature.
Contents
What is high fever?
Normal body temperature should be maintained at:
- measurement in the mouth is around 36,8° ± 0,7°;
- an axillary (measured below the armpits) temperature above 37.1º is considered a fever (or pyrexia).
Fever is:
- higher in the evening and at night,
- is lower in the morning because the body burns less nutrients during sleep.
High fever in infants and children
High fever in young children can cause brain damage, which can lead to long-term effects, such as:
- Dwarfism
- loss of vision,
- motor disorders.
The immune system of the infant or toddler is not yet as strong as in the adult, so you have to be careful.
Babies have a higher body temperature than adults.
- Newborns: for children under 3 months, a rectal temperature of 38ºC (equivalent to 37.5°C below the armpits) means fever.
- Infants from 3 to 6 months: an internal temperature of 38.8-39°C (external body temperature 38.3ºC) means high fever.
- Infants over 6 months: from the age of 6 months, a body temperature of 39.4ºC is considered to be too high a fever.
Fever measurement in newborns
The most reliable values for measuring fever in babies are obtained with a rectal electrothermometer.
In the rectal measurement, in contrast to the armpit temperature, the internal temperature of the body is measured, which is 0.5 degrees higher.
When to worry about high fever?
- Small children and adults: If you have a fever above 40°C, you should go to the doctor or hospital.
- In case of persistent high fever (more than two days).
- In case of occurrence of other symptoms.
Possible accompanying symptoms of high fever
Persistent high fever is a cause for concern. The following symptoms may occur in the body: 1. Confusion (limited ability to think) 2. Epilepsy or convulsions (rare, only in children with genetic predisposition) 3. Tiredness (loss of energy) 4. Dark urine (dark yellow color)
– may indicate liver problems
5. Abnormal behavior or delusions
6. White-coated tongue
7. Skin rashes:
dots and red spots on the skin (especially in children who may have measles, chickenpox, rubella, etc.)
8. Neck coverings – for example in pharyngitis or tonsillitis
9. Abdominal pain (for example, in gastroenteritis)
10. Enlarged lymph nodes, for example, if the patient has
AIDS, mononucleosis, herpes, etc. 11. Tachycardia
12. headache, Joint pain and muscle pain are other common symptoms of seasonal flu.
High fever is not a symptom of pregnancy.
Possible concomitant symptoms of high fever in children
- The child is irritable.
- It doesn’t want to eat or play.
- It could sleep a lot or not at all.
- It breathes faster, may have difficulty breathing (wheezing breath).
- Difficulty breathing can lead to blue lips.
- Cough.
- Earache.
- The child is very warm or very cold.
- Sometimes there is continued vomiting and the child becomes pale.
Causes of high fever in adults
The causes of high fever include:
Contact with toxins or an allergic reaction to medication can cause high fever in adults.
Pancreatitis: This is a disease in which there is inflammation of the pancreas.
Pancreatitis is characterized by:
- severe abdominal pain,
- Fever that reaches up to 39.5° C.
The disease is a consequence of the activation of digestive enzymes. This can lead to:
- bleeding,
- severe tissue damage.
Heat stroke: Heat stroke occurs after a long stay in the sun. If a person is in an excessively hot environment, his body temperature can rise to over 40°C.
Dehydration and prolonged exercise can cause this disorder.
With appropriate therapy, the fever lasts only for 1 day.
Viral infection: Viral infections such as the common cold and seasonal influenza are the most common causes of high fever in children and adults.
The main symptom of a cold is nasal congestion. In addition, one feels:
- chest tightness,
- muscle pain,
- Sneeze.
Usually there is a slight fever.
Fever in flu lasts at least 4-5 days. But with relapses, it takes longer, at least a week.
If the infection is severe, the temperature can exceed 39° and:
In these cases, immediate therapy is required.
AIDS: AIDS is a syndrome that can be caused by the HIV virus. The HIV virus weakens the immune system more and more and can cause high, intermittent fever.
Bacterial infections: Bacterial infections that cause pneumonia and bronchitis and affect the respiratory tract are other factors responsible for fever.
The patient:
- coughs constantly,
- has chest pain.
Bacteria that affect the intestinal tract cause:
- diarrhea,
- abdominal pain,
- Indigestions.
There may be an increase in body temperature.
Malaria: High fever in adults can also be caused by infection with a parasite that spreads through the bite of a mosquito.
Malaria is caused by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito and those who suffer from this disease also suffer from:
- nausea and vomiting,
- excessive sweating,
- Headache
- Ague.
Lyme disease: Lyme disease is caused by tick bites and can cause various symptoms, including:
- high fever,
- Muscle
- Headache.
Without therapy, this disease can become very dangerous and cause damage to:
- Heart
- Annoy.
Delivery: High fever after delivery (higher than 38°) should not be underestimated, because it can be caused by:
- infection of the uterus,
- Infection of the episiotomy.
Tumor: Some types of tumor can cause high fever, especially in advanced stages, such as a liver tumor.
Causes of high fever in children
The causes of high fever in growing children are:
- Viral and bacterial infections
- Allergy to certain medications
- Eruption of teeth
- Vaccinations
- Otitis: This is a bacterial or fungal infection that affects the ears. It can cause:
- severe earache,
- high fever,
- itching,
- white ear discharge,
- Hearing loss.
- Meningitis: The protective membranes of the brain and spinal cord are called meninges. If these skins become inflamed, they are called meningitis.
Sudden high fever and neck pain are the most common symptoms of meningitis. The thermometer usually shows a temperature above 39.5°C.
What to do? What medicine to take? How to lower the fever?
High fever indicates that the immune system is busy defending the body against infection.
If the body temperature drops due to medication, a prolongation of the disease is possible, since an elevated temperature favors the immune protection of the organism.
With an infection, the body tries to fight it by raising the temperature. Thus, it creates an unfavorable climate for bacteria.
When is treatment necessary?
In case of high fever, damage to other organs must be prevented.
Adults with fever below 40°C do not have to worry because this does not lead to complications. It is therefore better to avoid antipyretics (drugs used to reduce fever).
Medication
Most often, the doctor prescribes paracetamol (e.g. Ben-u-ron) to lower body temperature.
If the fever with paracetamol does not decrease within a few days, there could be a serious infection of the body.
It is important to describe all symptoms to the doctor (for example, sensitivity to light, rashes or breathing difficulties), because this can be important for:
- Diagnosis
- Therapy.
Anti-inflammatories have an antipyretic effect. The most prescribed tablets are Nurofen (ibuprofen®).
When are antibiotics needed?
In the case of bacterial infections, the doctor prescribes antibiotics to combat the bacteria.
If the disease is caused by viruses, antibiotics will not help.
Natural remedies and home remedies for fever
Remedies for fever control without medication include:
Hydration
Drinking water is a way to lower fever naturally.
In this way, the water that is lost by:
- profuse sweating,
- Vomiting (if it occurs).
Do not drink too much water, because the fluid can accumulate in the body and cause swelling.
Rest It is important to rest and refrain from physical activity or exertion to restore normal body temperature.
The goal is to help the body expel unwanted substances and microbes.
Holy basil
The decoction of Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) is a good remedy for fever reduction.
For preparation, boil 1 liter of water with 25 g of the leaves of Holy Basil until the liquid becomes viscous.
Serve with cardamom powder.
Regular basil leaves can be used to prepare a juice.
- Wash and mash the fresh leaves to make the juice.
- Dilute one tablespoon of basil juice with a glass of water and
- Drink 2 to 3 times a day.
Body temperature should drop rapidly.
Cold washes
A traditional home remedy for lowering high fever is the bath with a sponge. However, a cold bath as a treatment to reduce fever is controversial.
To be on the safe side, you can periodically perform cold washes with a moistened sponge under the armpits, forehead, back and other areas of the body.
Juice of citrus fruits
The juice of grapefruit, orange and lemon is effective in reducing fever.
These substances:
- have a cooling effect,
- reduce thirst,
- nourish the body,
- strengthen the immune system in the fight against infections.
Tamarind tea
Tamarind has antimicrobial activity and is used to combat:
- viral infections,
- Fever.
Preparation:
- Mash tamarind leaves with a piece of turmeric.
- Add to a glass of hot water.
- Drink the infusion.
Homemade fruit juice
Juice from fresh apricots or other fresh fruit is a natural tonic and effective in fever treatment.
Prepare the juice as follows:
- Wash 500 g of ripe apricots.
- Cut the fruit into small pieces.
- Put in a saucepan.
- Add half a litre of water.
- Heat over low heat for 10 minutes.
- Turn off the stove.
- Add the juice of a lemon.
- Whisk everything.
- Dilute with water.
- Add a teaspoon of honey to increase the therapeutic properties.
- Mix well and serve.
Instead of apricots, other seasonal fruits can also be used, such as:
- Peaches
- Pears.
Honey, lemon and ginger An ancient means of fighting viral infections is the preparation of a drink from honey, lemon juice and ginger
.
One can cure fever caused by a virus by taking a drink consisting of:
- 1 glass of hot water,
- 1 tsp honey,
- juice from 1 lemon,
- crushed ginger.
You should drink this drink two or three times a day.
Use of alcohol in case of high fever
Alcohol cools the skin because it evaporates quickly.
The use of alcohol is not recommended for the following reasons:
- If the child’s body is cooled down too quickly with alcohol or a cool bath, the child may begin to tremble, further increasing body temperature.
- In addition, alcohol can be absorbed through the skin and inhaled as well. Thus, there is a risk of alcohol poisoning.
Caution with ice against fever
Avoid ice pack pads on the head or in the groin, because this could have the opposite effect, i.e. increase the internal temperature of the body.
Diet and nutrition for high fever
According to natural medicine and hygienism, diet plays the most important role in recovery.
According to hygienists, there is no need to do anything for a quick cure and also to avoid:
- medicines (which are considered poison),
- Remedies and herbal teas (because they increase the number of toxins in the organism).
Light and natural food based on fruits and vegetables is the best way to get well again quickly.
A short fasting cure will certainly have the greatest effect (if there are no contraindications).
If the patient has no appetite due to the fever, one should not go against nature and persuade him to eat.
Chicken broth has always been considered a fundamental remedy, but in reality, during cooking, all toxins are absorbed from the animal’s muscles.
That is why when eating chicken broth, the toxicity of the body is increased and recovery is slowed down.
