Here are the essential points you need to know about fever
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A fever is caused by the body itself — usually in response to an infection — when the thermostat in the brain purposely raises the body temperature, it is the response of the body to fight off infection.
Here are the ways in which fever is good:
- It tells us when there is an infection, and the pattern of fever may give clues to the type of infection.
- It slows us down so our bodies can focus on fighting the infection while we lie pathetically in bed.
- Many infectious organisms don’t grow as well when the temperature is raised.
- There is evidence that the immune system works better when a person has fever.
Can fever be harmful?
So what about the belief that fever can cause brain damage? It’s a myth that creates an unhealthy fear about fever. Only brains that are already damaged or brains overheated from the outside are at risk of being damaged. A person with a fever accompanying an infection will not get brain damage, no matter how high the temperature.
The fever itself is not harmful, but the infection that causes it may be. But that does not mean you should never worry about a fever. Fevers are a clue that may tell us that the person has a dangerous infection. The fever itself is not harmful, but the infection that causes it may be.
When to worry about a fever?
So when is it OK to worry about a fever? A fever in an infant under four months of age should always cause concern and the baby should be seen immediately. Young infants can have serious infections with the only sign being a fever. Only the trained eye can determine whether to worry or not, and infants under two months of age are often hospitalised with only a fever, just to be on the safe side.
Finally, a fever that lasts over a week can be the sign of something more serious. Most fevers lasting this long are not serious, but they should prompt a visit to the doctor.
(Source: www.quickanddirtytips.com)
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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