Health Class -- Experts from Capital Medical University Teach You to Be Your Own Doctor

Author: Yan Yizhi
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Publish Date: 2003-04-01
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Excerpt: Fever is when the body temperature rises above the normal standard, indicating that the body is fighting off illness and is one of the symptoms of disease. If you feel chills and feverish with discomfort, it is likely that you are sick. You should use a thermometer to check if you have a fever. Axillary temperature above 37°C, oral temperature above 37.5°C, rectal temperature above 37.6°C, or a temperature fluctuation of more than 1°C within a day can be considered fever. A healthy person's body temperature is relatively stable, with an axillary temperature generally ranging from 36.0°C to 37.0°C; oral temperature is 0.2°C to 0.4°C higher than axillary temperature; rectal temperature is 0.3°C to 0.5°C higher than oral temperature. There is slight variation in temperature among different individuals. Normal body temperature has slight fluctuations throughout the day, slightly lower in the morning and slightly higher in the afternoon, but the fluctuation range does not exceed 1°C. Under physiological conditions, body temperature also has slight fluctuations. For example, children have a higher metabolic rate, so their body temperature may be slightly higher than that of adults; elderly people have a lower metabolic rate, so their body temperature may be slightly lower than that of young adults. Women's body temperature may be slightly lower during menstruation, while it may be slightly higher during ovulation and pregnancy. Diet, intense exercise, sudden exposure to high-temperature environments, and emotional excitement can all cause a slight increase in body temperature. These temporary increases in body temperature are generally physiological phenomena and do not require medical attention.
Common Diseases 1. Possible diseases associated with different degrees of fever Low fever: Axillary temperature of 37.4°C to 38°C is considered low fever. Common in upper respiratory tract infections (URI), chickenpox, mumps, tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, biliary tract infection, and hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism). Moderate fever: Axillary temperature of 38.1°C to 39°C is considered moderate fever. High fever: Axillary temperature above 39.1°C is considered high fever. Moderate and high fevers are common in influenza, purulent infections, pneumonia, pancreatitis, pyelonephritis, allergic diseases, sepsis, acute hepatitis, bacterial dysentery (bacterial dysentery), measles, scarlet fever, meningococcal meningitis (meningitis), Japanese encephalitis (Japanese encephalitis), hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (hemorrhagic fever), etc.
2. Classification of fever based on duration and common diseases Acute fever: Fever that starts suddenly and lasts for less than 2 weeks is called acute fever. Common in URI, influenza, purulent infections, mumps, pneumonia, acute hepatitis, measles, scarlet fever, meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, bacterial dysentery, and leptospirosis. Chronic fever: Fever that starts slowly and lasts for more than a week is called chronic fever. Common in typhoid fever, sepsis, deep abscesses, subacute bacterial endocarditis, biliary tract infection, tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, brucellosis, tumors, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Comorbid symptoms are important for classification and can be used to schedule an appointment. Fever accompanied by cough, sputum, hemoptysis, asthma, shortness of breath (dyspnea), or chest pain should be seen by a respiratory medicine specialist, regardless of whether it is high fever, low fever, or acute/chronic fever. Fever with abdominal pain and vomiting should be seen by a gastroenterology specialist. Fever with diarrhea and watery or bloody stools should be seen by a gastroenterology clinic. Fever with frequent urination, urgency, pain, edema, or abnormal urine (proteinuria, hematuria, etc.) should be seen by a nephrology specialist. Fever with chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, or cyanosis of the lips should be seen by a cardiology specialist. Fever with limb paralysis or altered consciousness should be seen by a neurology specialist. Fever with significant weight loss or gain in the recent past should be seen by an endocrinology specialist. Chronic fever with pale complexion, nosebleeds, or petechiae or bruises on the skin should be seen by a hematology specialist. Chronic fever with generalized lymphadenopathy, progressive weight loss, or a history of tumors should be seen by an oncology specialist. Fever with rashes, jaundice, severe headache, projectile vomiting, convulsions, or a clear history of infectious contact should be seen by an infectious disease specialist. Chronic fever, cough, chest pain, or multiple lymphadenopathies should be seen by a tuberculosis specialist. Chronic fever with sweating, joint pain, or skin rashes suspected of connective tissue disease, as well as fever from other systemic diseases, should be seen by a general internal medicine clinic. Acute fever with abdominal pain, especially right-sided abdominal pain, as well as fever with redness, heat, and pain over the entire skin and soft tissues, should be seen by a general surgery specialist. Acute fever with sore throat, hoarseness, purulent nasal discharge, or ear discharge should be seen by an otolaryngology specialist. Children under 14 years old with fever, regardless of comorbid symptoms, can be seen by a pediatrics specialist. If seeking medical attention at a children's hospital, appointments should also be scheduled based on the above comorbid symptoms.
Post-abortion or chronic fever with increased leukorrhea or yellow discharge, lower back pain, and lower abdominal pain should be seen by a gynecology specialist.