What is a fever? Symptoms, treatment and consequences of mouse fever. Fever is high body temperature. Causes and treatment of fever Fever in infectious inflammatory diseases

This is a general reaction of the body in many diseases, which is based on an imbalance in heat balance, and therefore increases. Fever is accompanied by disruption of a number of body functions, including metabolism.

The mechanism of fever is based on the reaction of centers (see) located in the hypothalamus. This reaction occurs in response to the action of various irritants of exogenous and endogenous nature, which are called pyrogens. However, pyrogenic agents do not cause fever if the thermoregulation centers are destroyed or depressed (by anesthesia, bromides, in some neuropsychiatric diseases, etc.). The degree of temperature increase is usually proportional to the dose of pyrogenic agents ( chemical substances or bacterial toxins), but the temperature is above 40.5-41° human body, as a rule, does not rise, and a further increase in the dose of pyrogens causes an atypical reaction, characterized by a hypothermic phase. For the most severe toxic forms and stages of some acute infectious diseases, a febrile reaction does not occur. It is also mildly expressed in children and elderly and senile patients.

Fever is an adaptive mechanism through which the body's defenses are activated.

Depending on the cause of occurrence, infectious and non-infectious fevers are distinguished, but they are similar. Pyrogenic factors in infectious fever are microbial products, metabolic products and decay of microbes.

Pyrogens, entering the body, cause the formation, mainly in granular leukocytes, of secondary pyrogens - specific protein bodies, which in turn support a febrile reaction.

Fever of non-infectious etiology can be caused by plant, animal or industrial poisons: arsenic, etc., occur during allergic reactions - with idiosyncrasy (see), bronchial asthma, parenteral administration of protein, etc., physical influences, emotional shocks, aseptic inflammation, necrosis and autolysis, as well as diseases of the brain, in particular the hypothalamus, in which there is a violation of thermoregulation.

Fever, especially in the colder severe cases, is accompanied by dysfunction of various internal organs and systems, primarily the nervous system, which is manifested by headache, a feeling of heaviness in the head, confusion or loss of consciousness. Other systems of the body also suffer, there is an increase in cardiac activity and respiration, a decrease in diuresis, etc. Metabolism during fever is also disrupted, the basal metabolism may be increased, the breakdown of proteins increases, and therefore the excretion of nitrogen in the urine increases. However, it should be borne in mind that a number of functional and metabolic disorders may depend not on fever as such, but on the development of the underlying disease.

The febrile reaction in its development goes through three stages: an increase in temperature, a constant temperature and a decrease. The duration of each stage is determined by many factors, in particular the dose of pyrogen, the time of its action, disorders that have arisen in the body under the influence of a pathogenic agent, etc. Often the fever is cyclical in nature (for example, with malaria), when after the described three stages for some time the body temperature remains normal (apyrexia), and then rises again. Such cycles can occur repeatedly throughout the course of the disease.

The temperature rise stage is the result of an increase in heat production under the influence of pyrogens and a decrease in heat transfer caused by a reflex spasm skin vessels. In this regard, especially with a sharp narrowing of blood vessels, patients experience a feeling of cold - chills. Vascular spasm also explains pallor during fever. Muscle tremors during fever are accompanied by an increase in metabolism and heat production in the muscles. The same mechanism causes nagging pain in muscles in a number of infectious diseases.

As the fever continues, the processes of heat production and heat transfer balance each other for some time, but then the second stage of fever occurs - standing temperature. This stage is characterized by increased heat transfer (compared to the heat transfer of a healthy body, heat production is also increased at this stage) - dilation of blood vessels, as a result of which pallor is replaced by hyperemia, skin temperature rises, and a feeling of heat appears.

When the effect of the pyrogen on the body ceases or is suppressed therapeutic agents heat production decreases before heat transfer and increased level the latter characterizes the third stage of fever - a decrease in temperature. In these cases, it sharply increases, the vessels dilate significantly, which can lead to collapse (see). However, these phenomena are observed only with a sharp, so-called critical, decrease in temperature. Often this decrease in temperature occurs in the form of lysis, that is, a gradual decrease over several days. With lysis, the listed signs are less pronounced and the threat of collapse becomes significantly less.

There are subfebrile fever (up to 38°), moderate (up to 39°), high (up to 41°) and hyperpyretic (over 41°). In typical cases of acute infectious diseases the most favorable form is moderate fever, while its absence or hyperpyrexia indicates a reduced (see) or severity of the disease. With the typical development of a febrile reaction, the evening body temperature (at 17-20 hours) exceeds the morning temperature (at 4-6 hours) within 1°.

At various diseases febrile reactions can occur in different ways, which is reflected in various forms temperature curves. In the clinic it is usually distinguished following types fevers.
1. Constant, characteristic, for example, for lobar pneumonia when the normal daily rhythm of temperature is maintained with fluctuations of no more than 1°, but it is established at a higher level.

2. Remitting, or laxative, observed with purulent diseases(exudative, lung abscess etc.) with a temperature range within a day of up to 2°C or more.

3. Intermittent, or intermittent, when periods of normal temperature alternate with periods of elevated temperature, and during the latter, either sharp increase and a decrease in temperature, as in malaria, relapsing fever(relapsing fever), or its gradual increase with the same gradual decrease as with (undulant fever).

4. Perverted, in which the morning temperature is higher than the evening, which is sometimes observed with tuberculosis, protracted forms and some other diseases.

5. Hectic, or debilitating, with temperature changes of up to 3-4°, occurring 2-3 times a day (especially severe forms tuberculosis, sepsis, etc.).

6. Incorrect, quite common in many infectious diseases (flu, dysentery), when no pattern is found in temperature fluctuations.

During illness, different types of fevers can alternate or transform into one another.

When treating fever, antipyretics are sometimes prescribed that affect thermoregulation centers (acetylsalicylic acid, etc.); however, the main treatment must be causal, i.e. aimed at eliminating the underlying disease and the disorders caused by it metabolic processes and functions. At the same time, in some cases, an increase in body temperature, activating energy metabolism, excitability and other processes in the body, contributes to the implementation adaptive reactions, thereby creating favorable conditions to fight the disease; therefore, in such cases, the use of antipyretics should be limited.

Fever- one of the oldest protective and adaptive mechanisms of the body, arising in response to the action of pathogenic stimuli, mainly microbes with pyrogenic properties. Fever can also occur in non-infectious diseases due to the body’s reaction either to endotoxins entering the blood during the death of its own microflora, or to endogenous pyrogens released during the destruction primarily of leukocytes, other normal and pathologically altered tissues during septic inflammation, as well as autoimmune and metabolic disorders.

Development mechanism

Thermoregulation in human body provided by the thermoregulatory center located in the hypothalamus, by complex system control over the processes of heat production and heat transfer. The balance between these two processes, which provide physiological fluctuations in human body temperature, can be disrupted by various exo- or endogenous factors(infection, intoxication, tumor, etc.). In this case, pyrogens formed during inflammation act primarily on activated leukocytes, which synthesize IL-1 (as well as IL-6, TNF and other biological active substances), stimulating the formation of PGE 2, under the influence of which the activity of the thermoregulation center changes.

Heat production is influenced endocrine system(in particular, body temperature rises with hyperthyroidism) and diencephalon(body temperature rises with encephalitis, hemorrhage in the ventricles of the brain). An increase in body temperature may temporarily occur when the balance between the processes of heat production and heat transfer is disturbed during normal functional state thermoregulation center of the hypothalamus.

A number of fever classifications .

Depending on the cause of occurrence, infectious and non-infectious fever are distinguished.

According to the degree of increase in body temperature: subfebrile (37-37.9 °C), febrile (38-38.9 °C), pyretic or high (39-40.9 °C) and hyperpyretic or excessive (41 °C and above ).

According to the duration of fever: acute - up to 15 days, subacute - 16-45 days, chronic - over 45 days.

By changes in body temperature over time The following types of fever are distinguished::

1. Constant- body temperature is usually high (about 39 ° C), lasts for several days with daily fluctuations within 1 ° C (with lobar pneumonia, typhus and etc.).

   Laxative- with daily fluctuations from 1 to 2 °C, but not reaching normal level(for purulent diseases).

   Intermittent- alternation after 1-3 days of normal and hyperthermic states (characteristic of malaria).

   Hectic- significant (over 3 °C) daily or at intervals of several hours temperature fluctuations with sharp drop and elevation (in septic conditions).

   Returnable- with periods of increased temperature up to 39-40 ° C and periods of normal or subfebrile temperature (with relapsing fever).

   wavy- with a gradual increase day by day and the same gradual decrease (with lymphogranulomatosis, brucellosis, etc.).

   Wrong fever- without a specific pattern in daily fluctuations (with rheumatism, pneumonia, influenza, cancer).

   Kinky Fever- morning temperature is higher than evening temperature (with tuberculosis, viral diseases, sepsis).

Based on combination with other symptoms of the disease, they are distinguished following forms fever:

1. Fever is a significant manifestation of the disease or its combination with such nonspecific symptoms like weakness, sweating, increased excitability in the absence of inflammatory acute phase shifts in the blood and local signs of the disease. IN similar cases it is necessary to make sure that there is no simulation of fever, for which it is necessary, observing tact, to measure in the presence medical workers temperature simultaneously in both axillary fossae and even in the rectum.

   Fever is combined with nonspecific, sometimes very pronounced acute-phase reactions (increased ESR, fibrinogen content, changes in the structure of globulin fractions, etc.) in the absence of local pathology, detectable clinically and even with instrumental research(fluoroscopy, endoscopy, ultrasound, ECG, etc.). results laboratory research exclude data in favor of any acute specific infection. In a word, the patient seems to “burn out” for an unknown reason.

   Fever is combined with both pronounced nonspecific acute phase reactions and organ changes of unknown nature (abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, arthralgia, etc.). Options for combining organ changes can be very different, although they are not always connected by a single development mechanism. In these cases, to establish the nature of the pathological process, one should resort to more informative laboratory, functional-morphological and instrumental methods research.

To the diagram initial examination patient with fever, such generally accepted methods of laboratory and instrumental diagnostics are included, such as general analysis blood, urine, X-ray examination chest, ECG and Echo CG. Given their low information content and depending on clinical manifestations diseases use more complex methods laboratory diagnostics(microbiological, serological, endoscopic with biopsy, CT, arteriography, etc.). By the way, in the structure of fever of unknown origin, 5-7% falls on the so-called drug fever. Therefore, if there are no obvious signs acute abdomen, bacterial sepsis or endocarditis, then during the examination period it is advisable to refrain from using antibacterial and other drugs that tend to cause a pyrogenic reaction.

Differential diagnosis

Manifold nosological forms, long-term manifestations of hyperthermia make it difficult to formulate reliable principles differential diagnosis. Taking into account the prevalence of diseases with severe fever, it is recommended that the differential diagnostic search be focused primarily on three groups of diseases: infections, neoplasms and diffuse diseases connective tissue, which account for 90% of all cases of fever of unknown origin.

Fever due to illnesses caused by infection

The most common causes of fever for which patients consult a general practitioner are:

infectious and inflammatory diseases of internal organs (heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, intestines, etc.);

classic infectious diseases with severe acute specific fever.

Infectious and inflammatory diseases of internal organs. With a fever varying degrees all infectious and inflammatory diseases of internal organs and nonspecific purulent-septic processes occur ( subphrenic abscess, liver and kidney abscesses, cholangitis, etc.).

This section discusses those that are most often found in medical practice doctor and can manifest themselves for a long time only as fever of unknown origin.

Endocarditis. In the practice of a therapist, infective endocarditis currently occupies a special place as a cause of fever of unknown origin, in which fever (chills) often far outstrips the physical manifestations of heart disease (murmurs, enlargement of the borders of the heart, thromboembolism, etc.). At risk for infective endocarditis are drug addicts (injecting drugs) and people who long time administered parenterally medications. The right side of the heart is usually affected. According to a number of researchers, it is difficult to identify the causative agent of the disease: bacteremia, often intermittent, in almost 90% of patients requires 6-fold blood cultures. It should be borne in mind that in patients with a defect in immune status Endocarditis can be caused by fungi.

Treatment - antibacterial drugs after determining the sensitivity of the pathogen to them.

Tuberculosis. Fever is often the only manifestation of tuberculosis lymph nodes, liver, kidneys, adrenal glands, pericardium, peritoneum, mesentery, mediastinum. Currently, tuberculosis is often combined with congenital and acquired immunodeficiency. The lungs are most often affected by tuberculosis, and the x-ray method is one of the most informative. Reliable bacteriological research method. Mycobacterium tuberculosis can be isolated not only from sputum, but also from urine, gastric juice, cerebrospinal fluid, from peritoneal and pleural effusion.

What is a fever? The stages of this condition, causes and symptoms will be discussed below. We will also tell you about how to treat the disease.

Definition of medical term

Nonspecific pathological processes, characterized by a temporary increase in body temperature due to dynamic restructuring of the thermoregulatory system under the influence of pyrogens (that is, elements that cause heat), are called fever. In medicine, it is believed that this condition arose as a protective-adaptive reaction of a person or animal to an infection. It should also be noted that fever, the stages of which will be listed below, is accompanied not only by an increase in body temperature, but also by other phenomena characteristic of an infectious disease.

The essence of febrile syndrome

It is no secret that many infectious and viral diseases accompanied by a rise in the patient's body temperature. Moreover, previously all diseases that occurred in this way were called fever. However, experts say that in the modern scientific understanding, this condition is not a disease. But, despite this, the term is still present in some names of nosological units (for example, hemorrhagic pappataci, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, etc.).

Why does the temperature rise with certain diseases? The essence of fever is that the thermoregulatory apparatus of humans and higher homeothermic animals responds to specific substances called pyrogens. As a result, there is a temporary shift in the set point of homeostasis (temperature) by more high level. At the same time, the mechanisms of thermoregulation are preserved. This is the fundamental difference between hyperthermia and fever.

Causes of fever

Why does a person or animal's temperature rise? There are many reasons for the development of fever. However, the most common are the following:

Other causes of febrile syndrome

Why does fever occur? The provoking disease may be associated with a heat exchange disorder when autonomic functioning is disrupted in adolescents, children and young women (that is, thermoneurosis). Fever can also occur under the influence of the following factors:

• Reception of some medicines. Experts say that a number of medications can affect the thermoregulation center, causing a slight rise in body temperature.
• Hereditary disorder in the process of thermoregulation. For example, some completely healthy children are already born with a temperature of 37.2-37.4 degrees. For them, this condition is the norm.
• often occurs due to overheating, regular physical activity, being in stuffy room and extreme heat.
• Emotional stress and stressful situations very often accompanied by an increase in heat production and activation of the hypothalamus, which contributes to the occurrence of fever.
• An increase in the hormone progesterone in pregnant women also causes a slight increase in temperature. However, other signs of a viral or infectious disease are completely absent. This condition can persist until the end of the first trimester. However, some representatives of the fairer sex low-grade fever accompanies almost the entire pregnancy.

What are pyrogens?

As mentioned above, infectious and viral diseases very often contribute to an increase in body temperature. This happens under the influence of pyrogens. It is these substances, entering the body from the outside or forming directly inside, that cause fever. Most often, exogenous pyrogens are elements infectious agents. The most powerful of them are heat-stable capsular lipopolysaccharides of bacteria (Gram-negative). Such substances act indirectly. They contribute to a shift in the set point in the thermoregulatory center of the hypothalamus. Most of them are of leukocyte origin, which directly affects others important symptoms diseases. The source of pyrogens are cells of the human immune system, as well as granulocytes.

Fever: stages

During its development, fever goes through three main stages. In the first, the person’s temperature rises, in the second, it remains for some time, and in the third, it gradually decreases, reaching the initial temperature. We will talk further about how such pathological processes occur and what symptoms are inherent in them.

Temperature rise

The first stage of fever is associated with a restructuring of thermoregulation, as a result of which heat production begins to significantly exceed heat transfer. The latter is limited by reducing the flow of warm blood into the tissues and narrowing the blood vessels in the periphery. More important in this process is the spasm of skin vessels, as well as the cessation of sweating under the influence of the sympathetic nervous system. Signs of fever in the first stage are as follows: pale skin and a decrease in its temperature, as well as limited heat transfer due to radiation. Reducing the formation of sweat prevents heat from escaping through evaporation.

The contraction of muscle tissue leads to the manifestation of the phenomenon of “goose bumps” in humans and ruffled fur in animals. The subjective feeling of chills is associated with a decrease in skin temperature, as well as irritation of cold thermoreceptors located on the integument. From them the signal goes to the hypothalamus, which is an integrative thermoregulation center. After this, it informs the cerebral cortex about the situation, where a person’s behavior is formed: he begins to wrap himself up, take appropriate poses, etc. By lowering the temperature skin explained and muscle tremors person. It is caused by activation of the trembling center, which is localized in the medulla oblongata and midbrain.

Temperature Hold

The second stage of fever begins after reaching the set point. It can last several hours or days, and can also be long-lasting. In this case, heat transfer and heat production balance each other. There is no further increase.

In the second stage, skin vessels dilate. Their pallor also goes away. In this case, the skin becomes hot to the touch, and chills and trembling disappear. A person at this stage experiences a fever. In this state, daily temperature fluctuations remain, but their amplitude is quite sharply higher than normal.

Depending on the degree of rise in body temperature, fever in the second stage is divided into types:

• low-grade fever - up to 38 degrees;
• low fever - up to 38.5;
• febrile or moderate - up to 39 degrees;
• pyretic or heat- up to 41;
• hyperpyretic or excessive - over 41 degrees.

It should be noted that hyperpyretic fever is extremely dangerous for human life, especially for young children.

Temperature drop

The decrease in body temperature can be sudden or gradual. This stage of fever begins after the supply of pyrogens has been exhausted or their formation has ceased under the influence of natural or medicinal factors. When the temperature drops, the set point reaches the normal level. This leads to dilation of blood vessels in the skin. In this case, excess heat begins to be gradually removed. In humans, perspiration and diuresis increase. Heat transfer at the third stage of fever sharply exceeds heat production.

Types of fevers

Depending on changes in the patient’s daily body temperature, fever is divided into several types:

• Constant is a long and stable increase in temperature, the daily fluctuations of which do not exceed 1 degree.
• Remitting - noticeable daily changes can be within 1.5-2 degrees. At the same time, the temperature does not reach normal numbers.
• Intermittent - this pathology is characterized by a rapid and significant rise in temperature. It lasts for several hours, after which it gives way to a fairly rapid drop to normal values.
• Exhausting or hectic - with this type, daily fluctuations can reach 3-5 degrees. In this case, rises with a rapid decline are repeated several times throughout the day.
• Perverted - this fever is characterized by change circadian rhythm with high climbs morning hours.
• Incorrect - characterized by fluctuations in body temperature throughout the day without a specific pattern.
• Recurrent - with this type, periods of increased body temperature alternate with periods of normal values, which last for several days.

It should also be noted that temperature - 35 degrees - does not contribute to the appearance of fever. To find out the reasons for this condition, you should consult a doctor.

General symptoms of fever

Low temperature (35 degrees) does not cause fever, since it is characterized by a rise of more than 37 degrees. Common signs such pathological condition are:

• feeling of thirst;
• redness of the facial skin;
• rapid breathing;
• aching bones, headache, unmotivated good mood;
• poor appetite;
• chills, trembling, intense sweating;
• delirium (delirium) and confusion, especially in elderly patients;
• irritability and crying in children.

It should also be noted that sometimes a rise in temperature may be accompanied by swelling and painful sensations in the joints, rash and the appearance of dark red blisters. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Treatment

How to get rid of a condition such as fever, the stages of which were listed above? First, the doctor must determine the cause of the rise in body temperature, and then prescribe appropriate therapy. If necessary, the doctor can send the patient to additional examination. If you suspect serious pathology The specialist recommends hospitalization for the patient. Also, in order to eliminate fever, the patient is advised to observe. At the same time, it is forbidden to dress too warmly.

The patient needs to drink plenty of fluids. As for food, he is advised to eat light and easily digestible food. Body temperature should be measured every 4-6 hours. If necessary, you can take an antipyretic drug. But this is only if the patient has a severe headache and also has a temperature of more than 38 degrees. To improve the patient's condition, it is recommended to use Paracetamol. Before taking this medicine, you must carefully study the instructions. If a child has a fever, he should not be given acetylsalicylic acid. This is due to the fact that such a drug can cause the development of Reye's syndrome. This is an extremely serious condition, leading to coma or even death. fatal outcome. Instead, paracetamol-based medications are recommended for children to relieve fever: Efferalgan, Panadol, Calpol and Tylenol.

According to the Medilexicon Medical Dictionary, fever is: “a complex physiological response to illness mediated by pyrogenic cytokines and characterized by an increase in temperature, generation of acute phase reactants, and activation of the immune system.”

The degree of fever is not necessarily related to the severity of the underlying condition. There are many over-the-counter medications available to reduce fever. However, sometimes it is better not to lower it. Fever may play important role, helping the body fight a number of infectious diseases. Fever is seen as one of the body's immune mechanisms in an attempt to neutralize an internal threat (bacterial or viral).

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF FEVER?

• Dehydration
• General weakness
• Headache
• Inability to concentrate
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle pain
• Sweating
• Trembling, chills

• Disorientation
• Convulsions
• Hallucinations
• Irritability

FEVER-INDUCED SEIZURES IN CHILDREN.

In some cases, children under 5 years of age have febrile convulsions or seizures caused by fever. They may appear if the child's temperature rises or falls sharply. Signs include convulsions and brief loss of consciousness. Although these attacks are alarming, they usually have no long-term consequences and are often caused by fever from common childhood illnesses.

FEVER IN NEWBORNS

Unexplained fever should be of great concern if it occurs in newborns. It is recommended to see a doctor when your child has a temperature of 38.3 C or higher or if:

• Child under 3 months of age.
• The child refuses to eat and drink.
• Has a fever and unexplained irritability (unmotivated crying).
• Has a fever and appears lethargic and unresponsive. In infants and children under 2 years of age, this may be a sign of meningitis (infection and inflammation of the lining of the brain).
• When a newborn or child has a lower than normal temperature (less than 36.1 C). Very young children may have low temperature, rather than increased.

FEVER IN CHILDREN

Children usually tolerate fever well. Parents should check not only the change in temperature, but also how the child behaves. There is no cause for alarm if a child has a fever but responds to external stimuli, including changes in facial expressions and voices, drinking fluids, playing, and responding to eye contact. Contact your doctor if your child:

• He developed a fever after leaving the heated car. Contact us for medical care straightaway.
• Fever has developed and persists for more than one day in children under 2 years of age. Or if the fever lasts longer than three days in children 2 years of age or older.
• If your child is lethargic or irritable, if he vomits repeatedly, if he has a severe headache or stomach pain, or any other symptoms that cause serious discomfort.

Seek medical help if your child has problems immune system or chronic diseases.

Sometimes, children with severe neurological impairment, life-threatening bacterial infections in the blood (sepsis), or a suppressed immune system may have a lower than normal temperature.

FEVER IN ADULTS

• Temperature above 39.4 C.
• Fever lasts more than three days.

• Abdominal pain or pain when urinating.
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain.
• Unusually severe lethargy or irritability.
• Mental disorientation.
• Continuous vomiting.
• Strong headache.
• Swelling of the throat.
• Stiff neck and pain when bending the head forward.
• Unusual sensitivity to bright light.
• An unusual skin rash, especially if the rash spreads quickly.
• Any other unexplained symptoms or symptoms.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF FEVER?

MECHANISM OF BODY TEMPERATURE.

• Body temperature is set by the hypothalamus, an area at the base of the brain that acts as a thermostat for the entire system.
• Temperature is the balance of heat produced in the body's tissues (especially the liver and muscles) and body heat lost.
• During illness, the normal temperature may be slightly higher as the body moves blood away from the skin to reduce heat loss.
• When a fever begins, the body tries to raise the temperature. There is a feeling of coldness and possible trembling. This is a mechanism to generate heat until the blood around the hypothalamus reaches a new level.
• When the temperature begins to return to normal, it may be profuse sweating, as the body gets rid of excess heat.
• In very old people, young people or alcoholics, the body's ability to generate a fever may be reduced.

• Some systemic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Very strong tan.
• Heatstroke.
• In some cases, malignant tumors and some forms of kidney cancer.
• Some vaccinations: diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTP) or pneumococcal vaccine(in infants and children).
• Some medications.

HOW IS FEVER DIAGNOSED?

Tests, such as blood tests, may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.

When small increase fever that persists for three weeks or more, but without other symptoms, are used various ways establishing the cause, for example, blood tests and x-rays, etc.

HOW TO TREAT FEVER?

Drugs without a prescription
Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, paracetamol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are recommended. They reduce fever. Adults can also take aspirin. But aspirin should not be given to children under 16 because it can cause a rare but potentially fatal disorder known as Reye's syndrome.

IS IT SMART TO SUPPRESS FEVER?

Some experts argue that aggressive treatment of fever disrupts immune reaction body. Viruses that cause colds and others respiratory infections, thrive at normal body temperature. And just by slightly raising your body temperature, you can eliminate the virus.

WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF FEVER?

Febrile seizures usually include loss of consciousness and trembling of all extremities. IN in rare cases The child may have paralysis and convulsions of only part of the body.

What to do in case of febrile seizures?

• You need to drink plenty of fluids: drinking water, fruit juices, as a fever can lead to fluid loss and dehydration. Oral rehydration solutions (for example, Regidron) can be used.
• Rest is necessary for recovery. Activity can raise your body temperature.
• Stay cool. Dress in light and comfortable clothing and keep room temperature cool.
• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen. Use in accordance with the instructions and recommendations of a physician. High doses or long-term use paracetamol may cause liver or kidney damage, and acute overdose can be fatal.
• Don't drink alcohol.

TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT.

1. Temperature in the anus is 37.8 °C or higher.
2. Temperature in the mouth is approximately 37.5 °C or higher.
3. Temperature in the armpit is 37.2 °C or higher.
4. Temperature in the ear is 37.2°C or higher.

1. Place the thermometer in axillary area with arms crossed over chest
2. Wait four to five minutes.
3. Report the temperature to the doctor, but indicate where it was taken.

Using a rectal thermometer for babies:

1. Lubricate the tip of the thermometer with Vaseline.
2. Place the baby on his stomach.
3. Carefully insert the thermometer.
4. Hold the thermometer and baby for three minutes.
5. Do not let go of the thermometer. If the child moves, the thermometer may deepen and cause injury.

HOW TO PREVENT FEVER?

An increase in body temperature above normal values ​​is called fever. Normal body temperature in the armpit ranges from 36,0-36,9 degrees, and in the morning it can be a third or half a degree lower than in the evening. In the rectum and oral cavity the temperature is usually half a degree or a degree higher than in the armpit, but no more 37,5 degrees.

Fever may occur for different reasons. Most common reasons its appearance is a disease infectious nature. Microorganisms, their waste products and toxins affect the thermoregulatory center located in the brain, resulting in an increase in body temperature.

There are several types of fever. So, According to the degree of temperature increase, fever is:
subfebrile – not exceeding 37,5 degrees,
febrile.

When diagnosing daily temperature fluctuations are taken into account. But today the situation is such that the picture of diseases is often erased due to the use of antipyretic drugs, and in some cases, the independent use of antibiotics. Therefore, the doctor has to use other diagnostic criteria.

Manifestations of fever are known to everyone: headache, muscle aches, weakness, pain in the eyes, chills. Chills are nothing more than a physiological way to increase body temperature. During muscle contractions, heat production increases, resulting in an increase in body temperature.

For infectious diseases It is not by chance that body temperature rises. Physiological significance the fever is very high. Firstly, most bacteria at high temperatures lose their ability to reproduce or die altogether. In addition, with an increase in temperature in the body, the activity of defense mechanisms designed to fight infection increases. Therefore, if the fever is benign and there are no other symptoms, treatment with medication is not necessary. Drinking plenty of fluids and rest is sufficient.

However, fever can also have Negative consequences. Besides what it delivers discomfort to humans, it also causes increased fluid loss and excessive energy expenditure. This may be dangerous for patients with heart and vascular diseases, as well as other chronic diseases. Fever is extremely dangerous for children who have an increased tendency to seizures.

When to lower the temperature?

How to reduce temperature?

Helping a child with a fever

When fighting fever, medications and physical methods fight against high temperature.

If the child’s fever is severe (the body and limbs are dry, hot), the following physical methods of fighting the fever are used:
wiping with vinegar solution ( 9 percent (strictly!) vinegar is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:1). When rubbing, do not touch the nipples, face, pimples, genitals, diaper rash, or wounds. Rubbing can be done repeatedly until the temperature drops to 37-37,5 degrees;
vinegar wraps. If the child’s skin is not damaged or inflamed, during the procedure the nipples and genitals should be covered with napkins and a dry diaper. The diaper must be wetted in vinegar solution(mixed with water, as in wiping) and wrap the child in it (cover his stomach, chest, legs with one edge of the diaper, raise his arms up; then press the child’s arms to the body and wrap the other edge of the diaper). To limit the inhalation of vinegar fumes, Place a roll made from a dry diaper on the baby’s neck. If necessary, having previously measured the temperature, the wrap can be repeated later. 20-30 minutes;
apply cold to the area of ​​large vessels (armpits, groin, subclavian region), back of the head, forehead (a heating pad filled with cold water or ice, wrapped in a diaper, or wet compresses);
drink at room temperature.

If there are chills, cold feet and hands, It is forbidden to use rubdowns and cold: the child, on the contrary, needs to be additionally covered; it is allowed to use a heating pad filled with hot water and wrapped in a diaper (water temperature no higher 60 degrees), apply it to the child’s feet, give a warm drink.

If the temperature rises to 38 degrees and the child feels normal, the use of antipyretics is not recommended. The child is given plenty of drink: warm water, sour compotes, fruit drinks, strong emotions and physical activity should be limited.

The exception is cases when there is severe malaise, weakness, chills in the child, the temperature rises rapidly, especially closer to night (it needs to be measured every half hour), the presence of aches in the joints and muscles, as well as previous convulsive syndrome. In such a situation, you can give the child antipyretic drugs from the paracetamol group ( cefekon, efferalgan, calpol, panadol and so on.). Single dose should be no more 10 mg per 1 kg of child's weight.

If the temperature rises from 38 before 38,5-38,8 degrees it is necessary to give the child antipyretics: ibuprofen (nurofen) based on 5 mg per kilogram of weight or paracetamol(or analogues) based on 10 mg/kg. Simultaneous use of a combination of single doses is allowed paracetamol And ibuprofen or a ready-made product “ibuklin for children” (if separate use is ineffective or there is a pronounced inflammatory process).

When the temperature rises to 39 degrees, the dose of antipyretic drugs should be as follows: paracetamol - 15 mg/kg, ibuprofen – 10 mg/kg (permissible single dosage 15 mg/kg). Allowed to enter analgin: 0.1 percent solution based on 0,15 ml/kg plus papaverine (or [i]no-spa) 2 percent - 0.1 ml/kg plus tavegil (suprastin) 1 percent - 0.1 ml/kg as an injection or as an enema (with the addition of a small amount of warm water).

In addition, you can give your child Nise for Children ( nimesulide) based on 5 mg/kg per day, divided into two or three doses - the antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects of this drug are higher than those of ibuprofen or paracetamol, however, it is also more toxic.

To reduce and remove toxic products from the body, which are formed during high and prolonged fever, the child is additionally given "enterodesis" (1 bag for 100 ml of water two to three times a day).

When is an ambulance needed?