Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Increased Body Temperature

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...

Patterns of Fever

Patterns of Fever

Before understanding the types and patterns of fever, it is essential to know its phases.

Types of Fever

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:

Methods of reducing fever

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:

Factors Affecting Body Temperature

Factors Affecting Body Temperature

As a nurse, it is vital to understand the factors affecting body temperature to monitor variations and effectively evaluate deviations from regular.
Factors may include:

Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Recipient-Donor Sex Combinations and Posttransplant Infections: A Swiss Transplant Cohort Study.

Transplant infectious disease : an official journal of the Transplantation Society·2026

Same author

[Integrative medicine : what's new in 2025].

Revue medicale suisse·2026

Same author

Breakthrough Invasive Mould Infections Under Posaconazole Prophylaxis in Patients With Haematologic Malignancies: A Case-Control Study.

Mycoses·2025

Same author

Impact of the Duration of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Prophylaxis on the Incidence of Infection After Kidney Transplantation: A Target Trial Emulation Study Within the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study (STCS)-The QUID-PRO-QUO Study (QUIDney Transplantation and Duration of PROphylaxis With QUO-Trimoxazole).

Transplant infectious disease : an official journal of the Transplantation Society·2025

Same author

Involving Medical Students in the Curriculum Development of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine: An Exploratory Qualitative Study.

Journal of medical education and curricular development·2025

Same author

"It's not just another task": Pediatric nurses' perspectives on using lavender oil chest wraps as complementary treatment for infants with bronchiolitis.

Complementary therapies in medicine·2025

Same journal

Praxis·2026

Same journal

[What do Swiss doctors think about cardiovascular risk factors and guidelines?]

Praxis·2026

Same journal

[Laser interstitial thermotherapy (LITT): a minimally invasive neurosurgical treatment option for brain tumours and radiation necrosis].

Praxis·2026

Same journal

[Persistent back pain after lifting trauma. From the trivial to the rare case].

Praxis·2026

Same journal

[A patient with dizziness and gait instability - a diagnostic challenge].

Praxis·2026

Same journal

[Meningoencephalitis caused by listeria monocytogenes].

Praxis·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2025

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Published on: November 21, 2017

[Fever in adults].

Noemi R Simon¹, Yaël Hofmann¹, Katia Boggian²

¹Universitäres Zentrum für Innere Medizin und Infektiologie/Spitalhygiene, Kantonsspital Baselland, Bruderholz, Universität Basel.

|December 12, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Fever is a common symptom, but it is not inherently dangerous and often does not require treatment. Understanding the science of fever can reduce patient and healthcare provider anxiety and guide appropriate management strategies.

Keywords:

Fever antipyretics body temperature episodic fever fever of unknown cause

More Related Videos

Mouse Body Temperature Measurement Using Infrared Thermometer During Passive Systemic Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Evaluation

Mouse Body Temperature Measurement Using Infrared Thermometer During Passive Systemic Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Evaluation

Published on: September 14, 2018

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy

Published on: July 12, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2025

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Published on: November 21, 2017

Mouse Body Temperature Measurement Using Infrared Thermometer During Passive Systemic Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Evaluation

Mouse Body Temperature Measurement Using Infrared Thermometer During Passive Systemic Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Evaluation

Published on: September 14, 2018

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy

Published on: July 12, 2021

Area of Science:

Medical Science
Clinical Practice
Symptom Management

Background:

Fever is a prevalent and historically significant human symptom.
It frequently triggers patient and professional concerns regarding the necessity of antipyretics and antibiotics.
This association can lead to unnecessary anxiety and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

To clarify the nature of fever as a symptom.
To address common misconceptions about fever's inherent danger.
To advocate for a structured approach in fever evaluation.

Main Methods:

Review of existing scientific literature on thermoregulation and fever.
Analysis of clinical associations between fever and treatment decisions.
Discussion of patient and healthcare provider perspectives on fever management.

Main Results:

Fever itself is generally not a dangerous condition.
The need for antipyretics and antibiotics is often overestimated.
A systematic approach to fever workup is more beneficial than immediate treatment.

Conclusions:

Fever is a symptom, not a disease, and typically resolves without intervention.
Reducing anxiety and uncertainty surrounding fever is crucial.
A step-by-step evaluation is recommended for managing fever effectively.