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Related Concept Videos

Increased Body Temperature01:25

Increased Body Temperature

A body temperature above  38°C  (100.4 °F) is known as fever or pyrexia, and a person with fever is termed 'febrile.' Typically, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, regulates body temperature through a thermoregulatory setpoint. It receives signals from cold and warm thermal receptors throughout the body and adjusts the body's temperature accordingly. Fever occurs when this hypothalamic setpoint is altered, usually in response to an infection or illness.
Methods of reducing fever01:22

Methods of reducing fever

The signs and symptoms of fever include hot and dry skin, flushed face, thirst, muscle aches, anorexia, headache, tachycardia, tachypnea, and fatigue. Elevated body temperature is reduced using two methods: pharmacological and nonpharmacological. Proper identification and treatment of the root cause of a fever is of utmost importance.
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
Types of Fever01:25

Types of Fever

Fever can be triggered by several factors, including infections, nervous system disorders, certain cancers, blood diseases like leukemia, embolism, thrombosis, heatstroke, dehydration, surgical trauma, crushing injuries, and allergic reactions.
Here are the different types of fever:
Patterns of Fever01:26

Patterns of Fever

Before understanding the types and patterns of fever, it is essential to know its phases.
Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature01:19

Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature

Hyperthermia occurs when the body's temperature becomes unusually high, often due to heat exposure, intense physical activity, or certain illnesses. This condition can create a dangerous cycle where elevated body temperature increases the metabolic rate, generating more heat and potentially leading to organ failure and brain damage. A severe form of hyperthermia, called heat stroke, can raise body temperature to life-threatening levels. Fever, on the other hand, is a controlled form of...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever01:26

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.

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Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

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[Milestones in the history of intestinal anastomosis].

Swiss surgery = Schweizer Chirurgie = Chirurgie suisse = Chirurgia svizzera·2003
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Visible signs of illness from the 14th to the 20th century: systematic review of portraits.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2002
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[Memories of the old medical history collection].

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[The University Dermatology Clinic in Bern].

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[Astronomer, world citizen, bladder calculus patient. Franz Xaver von Zach's letters to Rudolf Abraham von Schiferli 1821-1832].

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Therapeutische Umschau. Revue therapeutique·1997

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Protocol for Long Duration Whole Body Hyperthermia in Mice
07:56

Protocol for Long Duration Whole Body Hyperthermia in Mice

Published on: August 25, 2012

[Fever--a millenarian subject].

U Boschung1

  • 1Institut für Medizingeschichte der Universität Bern, Bühlstrasse 26, CH-3000 Bern 9. urs.boschung@mhi.unibe.ch

Therapeutische Umschau. Revue Therapeutique
|October 19, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Fever was once considered a distinct illness, but advancements in temperature measurement and pathogen identification redefined it as elevated body heat. Antipyretic treatments largely remained consistent until the advent of antibiotics.

Area of Science:

  • Medical History
  • Pathophysiology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Historically, fever was viewed as an independent disease entity from antiquity until the 19th century.
  • Prior to routine temperature measurement, an accelerated pulse rate was the primary diagnostic indicator for fever.
  • The concept of fever as a singular illness persisted for centuries.

Observation:

  • The introduction of clinical temperature measurement around 1900 shifted the understanding of fever to a symptom of elevated body heat.
  • The identification of specific pathogenic organisms revolutionized medical nosology, leading to the deconstruction of fever as a standalone disease.
  • Despite evolving definitions, therapeutic approaches to fever showed little change for a significant period.

Findings:

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  • The historical perspective reveals a significant evolution in the conceptualization of fever.
  • Medical science progressed from viewing fever as a primary condition to understanding it as a symptom linked to specific pathogens.
  • Technological advancements like thermometry and microbiological discoveries were pivotal in this paradigm shift.

    • Implications:

    • Understanding the historical context of fever is crucial for appreciating modern diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
    • The dissolution of the fever entity highlights the importance of etiological diagnosis in medicine.
    • The slow evolution of antipyretic therapy underscores the need for evidence-based treatment advancements.