Fever

Definition:
Fever is part of our body's defense mechanism. When our bodies are fighting infections, our body temperature rises.

Symptoms:
Chills, aching everywhere, listlessness, elevated body temperature on the thermometer, red cheeks, and feeling hot or cold, shaking. The body basically shivers and has chills when the fever is rising, especially rapidly and sweats when the fever is dropping, or breaking, as some say.

Causes:
Our blood and lymphatic systems produce white blood cells which are what fight off infection. As our white blood cells increase in number, like an army to fight the germs, they go faster and faster attacking the germs, this causes our bodies to heat up, thus causing the fever or rise in body temperature. The hypothalamus in the brain, which is the body's heat regulating mechanism is affected by the pyrogens, or the white blood cells that are produced to fight the infection. So, in effect, we can say that the fever is what is fighting the infection. That is why it is not good to try to bring down a fever too much or too fast.

Measures of Prevention:
Some comfort measures for someone with a fever include fever-reducing medications, cool wet rag on the head, cover in light blanket (heavy blankets actually trap the heat), avoid taking hot baths, this will only increase your temperature, drink plenty of fluids, especially clear cool liquids such as water and fruit juice to prevent dehydration, if the fever is high, you may give a light sponge bath using tepid water only, not cool or cold water, and no alcohol! Keep the person covered with a towel as not to get a chill. An infant or small child with a high fever can dehydrate very quickly, especially if they are losing fluids some other way, as well, such as diarrhea or vomiting. If they are not vomiting, give them as much liquid as they can tolerate to prevent dehydration. There are specially formulated liquids on the market for replenishing the body and maintaining electrolyte balance.