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Fever. What to do and what not to do
T C Rosenthal1, D A Silverstein
1State University of New York, Buffalo School of Medicine.
Postgraduate Medicine
|June 1, 1988
Summary
Fever is regulated by the hypothalamus, acting like a thermostat. Antipyretic drugs, which block prostaglandin synthesis, effectively reduce fever without hindering human recovery from infection.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
Background:
- The anterior hypothalamus regulates body temperature through the sympathetic nervous system.
- Fever occurs when the hypothalamic thermoregulatory set point is elevated.
- Fever is a component of the acute phase response to infection or inflammation, triggered by interleukin-1 (IL-1).
Purpose of the Study:
- To explain the mechanism of fever generation and regulation.
- To discuss the role of prostaglandin E2 in fever.
- To evaluate the efficacy and impact of antipyretic treatments.
Main Methods:
- Review of physiological mechanisms of thermoregulation.
- Discussion of the role of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and prostaglandin E2.
- Analysis of the effects of antipyretic drugs and peripheral cooling.
Main Results:
- The hypothalamus functions as a thermostat, controlling heat production and loss.
- Interleukin-1 (IL-1) induces fever by increasing prostaglandin E2 synthesis.
- Antipyretic drugs suppress fever by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Fever is a regulated physiological response mediated by the hypothalamus and prostaglandins.
- Antipyretic treatments are effective in reducing fever.
- Reducing fever with antipyretics does not impede human recovery from infections.
Related Concept Videos
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 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:
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
Decreased Body Temperature
A decreased body temperature can occur in patients with hypothermia and frostbite. Heat loss with extended cold exposure overpowers the body's ability to create heat, resulting in hypothermia. Core temperature readings help classify hypothermia. Mild hypothermia is temperatures between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 35°C (95 °F) and is caused by impaired thermoregulation. Moderate hypothermia is temperatures between 28 C (82.4 °F) and 32 °C (89.6 °F) caused by sustained extreme cold exposure, and severe...
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:
Here are the different types of fever:
Patterns of Fever
Before understanding the types and patterns of fever, it is essential to know its phases.
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...

