Fever is a condition of increasing body temperature to more than 380C. Fever indicates the presence of an illness or other condition in the body.
Fever generally occurs as a reaction of the immune system against viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections that cause disease. Some of the diseases that often cause fever are flu, sore throat, and urinary tract infections. Fever can happen to anyone, from infants, children, to adults.
In addition to disease, there are several conditions that can cause fever, namely exposure to excessive heat and weather, menstrual cycles, reactions after immunization in children, and side effects of certain drugs.
While it can be worrying at times, most fevers caused by viral infections will go away on their own. However, if the fever has reached a temperature of more than 390C, treatment is needed to overcome the discomfort caused by the fever and treat the cause.
In addition, please note that fever is one of the common symptoms experienced by COVID-19 sufferers. Therefore, if you or someone around you has a fever, you should immediately consult a doctor to confirm the condition. Click the link below so you can be directed to the nearest health facility:
- Rapid Test Antibodies
- Antigen Swab (Rapid Test Antigen)
- PCR
Symptoms and Causes of Fever
Fever is characterized by an increase in body temperature to more than 380C from normal body temperature, which is between 36.10C to 37.20C.
Fever is a symptom of many conditions and diseases. Usually, a fever will be accompanied by other symptoms due to the underlying condition. Some of them are:
- Headache
- Sweating
- Shivering
- Weak
- Muscle ache
- Loss of appetite
Fever can be caused by a variety of conditions, such as:
- Infectious diseases, such as viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic infections.
- Diseases that cause chronic inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Receiving certain types of immunizations, such as diphtheria and tetanus.
- Receive medicine.
- Cancer.
Treatment and Prevention
Since fever is a symptom of a condition or disease, treatment needs to be tailored to the cause.
Fever can cause discomfort. This can be overcome by resting, drinking enough water, and taking fever-reducing drugs, such as paracetamol.
If the fever is caused by an infection, the doctor will give you medicine to treat the infection. Some of the drugs that can be given are:
- Antiviral drugs
- Antibiotic drug
- antifungal medicine
Fever can be prevented only if the condition or disease that causes fever can be avoided.