Fever is a phenomenon that consists of an increase in body temperature and an increase in breathing and pulse rate. It is a pathology that can be linked to numerous diseases and disorders.
The highest temperature is the most noticeable sign of fever, since it appears first and can be easily measured. That is why it is often believed that fever is simply an increase in temperature. However, the concept refers to a set of signs and symptoms that arise as an organic response to an infection , an injury or other issues.
In addition to increased temperature, respiratory rate, and blood pressure, fever also usually includes a decrease in appetite, increased thirst, and general weakness. It is important to mention that, when the temperature rises little, it is called low-grade fever ; However, if it increases greatly, it is referred to as hyperpyrexia .
To know if a person has a fever, it is necessary to use an approved thermometer to measure their body temperature ; It is important to highlight that it is not enough to use touch for this purpose, since the ambient and own temperatures can affect the estimate and create an unnecessary alert. The area of the body where the result is most accurate is the rectum; However, for different reasons, the thermometer is usually applied in the armpits or in the mouth, except in the case of babies.
Once the thermometer has been applied, it should be left still for the time indicated in the manual or as recommended by the health professional. Finally, we must remove it and look at the temperature indicator, which can be represented by the position of a "needle" on a scale or a numerical value on a digital display. The normal temperature of the human body is between 36 and 37 degrees Celsius; from 37.1 to 38.1 we speak of low-grade fever; The fever itself begins at 38.1 degrees.
The height of the fever is not always linked to the severity of the disorder that causes it. For example: a cold can trigger a fever of 40 °C while a serious infection only increases the normal body temperature by a few degrees. For this reason, it is important to consult with a doctor to diagnose the patient and determine the most appropriate treatment .
Some tips for a fever are to drink plenty of water, do not dress excessively or turn the heat on too high, moisten a cloth with fresh water and place it on your forehead and take baths with warm water for a few minutes.
Some infectious diseases that involve temperature growth have the term fever in their name. Yellow fever , to cite one case, is a viral disease whose virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Typhoid fever , on the other hand, is bacterial: it is caused by bacteria of the Salmonella genus.
The idea of fever, finally, can be used symbolically to refer to agitation or shock . For example: "This region reached its maximum development due to the gold fever" , "The fever for the new telephone from the American company spreads throughout the world" , "The reggaeton fever does not stop growing" .
In these last examples, fever is understood as a kind of obsession that a large number of people show towards a certain commercial product or style of music. This is very common today, given the large number of items that different markets offer us each year and the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, thanks to which they create "aggressive" advertising in the media most visited by potential clients.