Fever is the body's normal defenses against attack from an infection or another disease. It is therefore a symptom, not a disease itself. A part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat controls body temperature by balancing hot and cold signals throughout the body.
Factors that influence body temperature are infections; vaccines and medications; and injury. Body temperature increases also occur with exercise, excessive clothing, a hot bath, or hot weather. The American Academy of Pediatrics actually believes that fever may actually play a role in fighting infections and shortening their course by turning on the body's immune system, thereby increasing the release and activity of white blood cells and other germ-killing substances.
The usual fevers (100°to 104°F) that all children get are not harmful. Most are caused by viruses and may last 3 to 5 days. In general, the height of a fever doesn't relate to the seriousness of the illness. How sick the child acts is what counts, and that should determine whether he or she needs a doctor's attention right away.
My daughter used to experience temperatures of 100F to 102F when getting viral infections then suddenly her fever would go up to 105F, she would get a febrile seizure for about a minute, I would rush her to the ER and by the time we got there her body had cooled down and the fever was gone. Not every child experiences these seizures. The American Academy of Pediatrics is a great place to learn more about fever and children. http://www.aap.org/topics.html
Mild fever is from 100F to 102F
Moderate from 102.1F to 104F
High from 104.1F to more
Adults are better at reading their bodies but according to an article in the Mayo Clinic, you should call a doctor if:
•Your temperature climbs above 103 degrees
•Your fever has lasted for more than three days.
In some cases, a fever can be an emergency situation. For instance, a fever that climbs above 106 degrees can cause a coma or brain damage: If you have a 106 degree fever, call 911 or go to an emergency room right away DO NOT WAIT for it to last 3 days!
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Fever is the body's normal defenses against attack from an infection or another disease. It is therefore a symptom, not a disease itself. A part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat controls body temperature by balancing hot and cold signals throughout the body.
Factors that influence body temperature are infections; vaccines and medications; and injury. Body temperature increases also occur with exercise, excessive clothing, a hot bath, or hot weather. The American Academy of Pediatrics actually believes that fever may actually play a role in fighting infections and shortening their course by turning on the body's immune system, thereby increasing the release and activity of white blood cells and other germ-killing substances.
The usual fevers (100°to 104°F) that all children get are not harmful. Most are caused by viruses and may last 3 to 5 days. In general, the height of a fever doesn't relate to the seriousness of the illness. How sick the child acts is what counts, and that should determine whether he or she needs a doctor's attention right away.
My daughter used to experience temperatures of 100F to 102F when getting viral infections then suddenly her fever would go up to 105F, she would get a febrile seizure for about a minute, I would rush her to the ER and by the time we got there her body had cooled down and the fever was gone. Not every child experiences these seizures. The American Academy of Pediatrics is a great place to learn more about fever and children. http://www.aap.org/topics.html
Mild fever is from 100F to 102F
Moderate from 102.1F to 104F
High from 104.1F to more
Adults are better at reading their bodies but according to an article in the Mayo Clinic, you should call a doctor if:
•Your temperature climbs above 103 degrees
•Your fever has lasted for more than three days.
In some cases, a fever can be an emergency situation. For instance, a fever that climbs above 106 degrees can cause a coma or brain damage: If you have a 106 degree fever, call 911 or go to an emergency room right away DO NOT WAIT for it to last 3 days!
December 3, 2008 - 10:13pmThis Comment
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