Most fevers are accompanied by a set of very specific symptoms. A person experiencing a fever rarely does so without the presence of other symptoms. Some other factors which influence fluctuations in body temperature are intense exercise and for women, in particular, a menstrual cycle.Īs a person’s body temperature increases, he or she may experience a temporary sensation of cold until the temperature plateaus (reaches its peak). Our body temperature is normally at its highest at around 6pm and at its lowest at around 3 in the morning. Body temperature also tends to fluctuate at different times of the day – it is lower in the mornings and increases towards late afternoon and evening. What is a normal body temperature?Ī normal body temperature does vary from one person to the next, but is typically around 36 to 37 degrees Celsius (or 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). When severe, a fever is often a warning sign that the body is seriously unwell (a person may have a serious health condition) and needs prompt medical attention. An infection of some kind is usually the underlying condition causing the symptom of fever. A fever, alone, is not an illness, but does indicate that something not working as it should in the body. neutralising some kind of bacterium or virus in the body) and the fever may result in serious side effects including dehydration, hallucinations and even convulsions.Ī higher than normal increase in temperature can affect anyone of any age. If body temperature (fever) is too high, the body cannot help to resolve whatever is wrong (i.e. The immune system alerts to the presence of an infection and ‘uses elevated body temperature’ to help resolve it. The symptom of fever is one of the immune system’s natural attempts to get the better of an infection that is apparent in the body. body temperature increases as a natural immune response to infection). It has been noted that fever can also play a key role in helping the body’s immune system to naturally fend off a variety of infections (i.e. Sometimes a mild fever can clear on its own without the need for any medicinal treatment. Non-infection causing fevers can be as a result of poisons, drugs, injuries to or abnormalities of the brain, heat exposure or endocrine diseases (problems with the glandular or hormonal system).Ī typical fever (mild) should clear within a matter of days and can be treated with an assortment of available over-the-counter medications (or antipyretics). Axillary temperature appears to be an acceptable alternative to rectal/oral temperature measurements in children.Fever is typically accompanied by a wave of fatigue or chills, and is often a response to an infection (viral or bacterial) or inflammation (due to tissue injury or illness). Similarly, the mean difference (95% limits of agreement) between oral and axillary measurements for children aged 6-14 years was observed to be 0.6 degree C (-0.4 degree C, 1.4 degrees C). Rectal and axillary temperatures for infants agreed well the mean difference (95% limits of agreement) between the two being 0.6 degree C (-0.3 degree C, 1.4 degrees C). Various tests of agreement were applied to the data obtained. The axillary and rectal temperatures (Group 1: infants < 1 year age) and axillary and oral temperatures (Group 2: children 6-14 years age) were compared using mercury-in-glass thermometers. To determine whether axillary temperature can act as a surrogate for oral/rectal temperatures, a prospective comparative study was conducted. While axillary temperature is commonly used because of convenience and safety, there are conflicting reports about its accuracy. The ideal technique for measuring temperature should be rapid, painless, reproducible and accurately reflect the core temperature.
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