Fever is not a Disease

Whenever the season changes, we see in every house a case of fever. Scientifically, fever itself is not a disease. It is an indication of some abnormality in the body, and it is a symptom. In other words, a fever is a temporary increase in body temperature, where in most of the body is fighting an infection. It’s a normal part of the body’s defence mechanism against illness. Most fevers are caused by infections, but other factors can also contribute. A fever is primarily a symptom, not a sign or a disease itself. It’s a sign that something is happening within the body that is triggering the immune system, often an infection. While a fever is a noticeable change, it’s still considered a subjective experience (a symptom) as it’s reported by the person experiencing it, even though a doctor can also observe it as a sign.

What is a fever?

A fever is when the body temperature rises above the normal range. The average normal body temperature is around 98.6°F (37°C), but it can fluctuate throughout the day. A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher is generally considered a fever. Different methods of taking temperature (oral, rectal, etc.) may yield slightly different results, but the general threshold for fever remains the same. Fevers can be classified based on their duration, pattern, and severity such as short fevers and long fevers. Common types include acute, sub-acute, chronic or persistent, and recurrent fevers, along with intermittent, remittent, continuous, hectic, and relapsing fevers. Hyperpyrexia, a very high fever, is also a distinct category.

A word of caution

Some fevers, particularly viral origin or fever due to some stress in the body, usually go away without any treatment and by simply taking rest for two or three days, eating light food or liquids. But unfortunately, many of our people, the moment they feel a fever, they go to a medical shop. Most of the medical shops in our country are run by unqualified people by hanging the certificate of a pharmacist to the wall. The reality is that many medical shops are without a pharmacist. Hence, when the public goes to a medical shop, that unqualified person who is running the shop, even for a viral fever, without understanding the nature of the fever, gives some powerful antibiotics and pain killers. Here, the public as well as the authorities, and the pharmacies are not doing the right job. It results in simple fevers that do not require any treatment are turned to be complicated due to antibiotics and pain killers.

General considerations

Generally, from a common cold to cancer, tuberculosis (TB) to HIV/AIDS, fever is the first presentation. So, without proper examination and diagnosis, wasting time on taking treatment from unqualified people or self-medication will end in catastrophe. Fevers are many types based on duration acute fevers, a short-term increase in body temperature, usually lasting from a few days to a few weeks, sub-acute fevers a fever that persists for weeks to months, chronic or Persistent Fevers, a fever that lasts for more than three weeks, recurrent fevers, a fever that returns with 3 or more episodes in 6 months, with no other signs of illness.

Intermittent fevers, temperature spikes to above normal, but fall back to normal (or near normal) at some point during the day. Remittent fever temperature remains above normal throughout the day, but fluctuates with a range of more than 1°C (1.8°F). Continuous fever temperature remains above normal throughout the day, with fluctuations of less than 1°C (1.8°F). Hectic fever, also known as remittent fever, but with a wide temperature range (at least 1.4°C or 2.5°F) between the highest and lowest points. Relapsing fever is a fever that returns after a period of normal temperature. Further mild fever, a low-grade fever, is usually considered to be between 99.1 to 100.4 F (37.3 to 38.0 C). Moderate Fever: a fever in the range of 100.6 to 102.2 F (38.1 to 39.0 C). High Fever: a fever in the range of 102.4 to 105.8 F (39.1 to 41 C). Additional Considerations: Bacterial Fever: often more severe and prolonged than viral fevers, frequently caused by infections like pneumonia or UTIs. Viral Fever: caused by viruses, like those responsible for influenza or the common cold. Drug-induced Fever: a side effect of certain medications.

Idiopathic Fever: A fever of unknown origin. Septic Fever: a severe bacterial infection that can cause a high fever and widespread inflammation. Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers: a group of illnesses caused by viruses that damage blood vessels and can lead to bleeding. To broadly explain that fevers can be due to malaria, typhoid, filarial, dengue, Chikungunya, and so on. Some fevers are due to mosquito bites; some fevers are due to unhygienic conditions.s Therefore, in any case of fever, the minimum that is required by way of laboratory examination and other relevant tests to come to a diagnosis or a correct diagnosis of fever.

In the next episode, how to make a diagnosis of fever and what routine tests are to be performed, and in special cases, which tests are necessary, will be discussed. (To be concluded).