Fever rises-down cannot be taken lightly. This condition may be a symptom of an infectious disease, such as typhus, malaria, or scarlet fever. If treated too late, the fever goes up and down as a result of the disease risk of serious complications.
A person is said to have a fever if his body temperature reaches 38 degrees Celsius or more. Fever up and down is characterized by a fluctuating increase in body temperature. Fever can appear today, subside the next day, then reappear the day after. Fever can also fluctuate throughout the day.
Diseases that Cause Fever Up and Down
There are three diseases that generally cause fluctuating fever, namely:
typhus
Typhus is a highly contagious infectious disease. This disease is transmitted through consumption of food or drink infected with bacteria Salmonella, and most commonly found in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water.
Usually the patient will feel unwell for 7-14 days after being infected with the bacteria. Other symptoms that will also appear are abdominal pain, diarrhea or difficulty defecating, weakness, and high fever up to 39-40° Celsius.
The pattern of typhoid fever tends to fluctuate. In the morning, body temperature can drop, then rise again throughout the day. Usually the temperature of the fever will increase from day to day.
Typhoid disease requires treatment from a doctor. Because if not, symptoms can get worse and risk causing fatal complications.
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Dengue fever
Dengue fever is transmitted by mosquito bites A. aegypti infected with the dengue virus. This disease, which usually occurs in the rainy season, has initial symptoms in the form of chills, red spots appear on the skin, and a red face, which can last for 2-3 days.
The typical symptom of dengue fever is fever fluctuating with a high temperature for the first 2-7 days. Peak fever can reach 40° Celsius or more. After that, body temperature drops for a few days, then rises again but not as high as before.
Symptoms that will also appear when dengue fever occurs are severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, no appetite, and bleeding due to a decrease in the number of platelets, for example in the form of nosebleeds.
These symptoms generally appear 4-7 days after the body is infected with the dengue virus and last up to 10 days.
Malaria
This endemic disease in the tropics, including in Indonesia, is transmitted through mosquito bites Anopheles which carry the parasite that causes malaria.
Symptoms of malaria usually appear within 7-15 days after the patient is bitten by a mosquito carrying the malaria parasite. But there are also those whose symptoms only come out one year later.
Early symptoms of malaria are fluctuating fever, headache, body sweats, chills, vomiting, and sometimes accompanied by muscle aches, diarrhea, and feeling unwell.
The pattern of fluctuating fever in malaria takes place in a 24-72 hour cycle, depending on the type of infecting parasite. At the beginning of this cycle, the patient will feel cold and shivering. After that, a fever will appear accompanied by fatigue and sweating. Fever usually lasts 6-12 hours.
In addition to the three diseases above, fluctuating fever can also be caused by other infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 or Corona virus infection.brucellosis, leptospirosis, and viral hepatitis, as well as by hereditary periodic febrile syndrome.
How to Overcome Fever Up and Down
Fever is a natural response that occurs when the body fights disease-causing bacteria or viruses. This is also a sign that the body is boosting the immune system.
If you have a fever, either due to certain conditions or after the vaccine, there are some initial treatments that can be done to overcome it, namely:
- much rest
- Use clothes with materials that are not too thick and comfortable
- Take a warm bath or use a cold compress
- Taking fever-reducing drugs, such as paracetamol
- Make sure the body's fluid needs are met
In an effort to meet body fluids, it is important for you to increase your water consumption, because the body will lose more fluids when you have a fever. In fact, for every 1°C rise in body temperature, the body will lose 10% of fluids.
In addition, the body will also lose ions along with the lost fluids. In fact, body ions play an important role in supporting the activities of cells and body tissues, such as nerves and muscles, in order to function properly.
Therefore, it is important to always meet the needs of fluids and ions when you have a fever. In addition to water, you can also consume drinks that contain ions or electrolyte drinks to maintain the balance of body fluids and prevent dehydration when you have a fever.
If you have a fever that goes up and down, accompanied by other symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and weakness, immediately consult a doctor to confirm the disease you are suffering from. The doctor will perform a physical examination and supporting tests, such as blood and urine tests, to determine the diagnosis.
After the cause of the fever is known, the doctor will provide appropriate treatment to treat the disease and prevent dangerous complications.