Temperature 37 3 reasons. Why does the temperature keep?

THERE ARE NO DISEASE SYMPTOMS, BUT THE TEMPERATURE STEADY SHOWS 37.5 °. WHY?

Small (from 37 to 38 ° С), but constant temperature physicians call the body subfebrile. At first glance, there is no cause for concern. Even in a healthy person, it changes during the day, decreasing in the morning and reaching its maximum in the evening. But if the fever persists for a long time, it is worth looking for the reasons.

The first thing to do in this case is to check the devices

Make sure the thermometer is working properly. To do this, simply measure the temperature of others. It is also important that the armpit is not wet. By the way, the temperature in the left armpit is often 0.1 - 0.3 degrees higher than in the right. This must also be taken into account.

If, nevertheless, you are convinced that everything is in order with your thermometer, then the reasons for the increased temperature may be.

1. Lack of iron

Anemia is another possible cause of subfebrile condition. With low hemoglobin, the immune system is too tense, which leads to an increase in temperature. In addition, a secondary infection is often associated with low hemoglobin.

2. Hormonal problems

An overactive thyroid gland often causes a persistent fever. An excess of thyroid hormones in the blood leads to disruption of energy metabolism. Associated signs are sweating, nervousness, palpitations, fatigue, weight loss. A blood test for the level of thyroid hormones helps to clarify the diagnosis.

3. Everything from nerves

Prolonged low-grade fever can be a consequence of overvoltage. It can be elevated all the time while a person is under stress, and even be accompanied by chills, headache, shortness of breath. If you take a restful thing or change the situation, the temperature will return to normal. Subfebrile condition also occurs in adolescents, people of asthenic constitution and young women prone to vegetative-vascular dystonia.

4. Physiology

Hot tea, a hearty lunch, intense physical activity - all this can cause the temperature to rise by 0.3-0.5 degrees. The menstrual cycle also affects it: during ovulation and in the second half of the cycle, the temperature also rises slightly.

5. Temperature tail

Sometimes after bronchitis or sore throat, the temperature remains elevated, although the tests are in order. It is called the "temperature tail". This is a kind of reaction of the body to the transferred disease. Usually after 1-2 months the temperature will return to normal.

6. Chronic infection

Low-grade fever can be given by sinusitis, tonsillitis, inflammation of the appendages and even caries that are not completely cured. As a rule, a blood test helps to clarify the picture - it will show the presence of an inflammatory process. It is enough to complete the treatment for the temperature to return to normal. Also, subfebrile condition is often the only symptom of toxoplasmosis.

Temperatures from 37 to 38 degrees Celsius are called subfebrile. By itself, it is not dangerous, but if the subfebrile temperature lasts for a long time, and a person has a temperature of 37 every day, it is necessary to understand the reasons.

This condition signals a disturbance in the functioning of the body, because hyperthermia is one of the sure symptoms of many infectious and not infectious diseases... In addition, some dangerous diseases can be recognized at an early stage only due to the fact that a child or an adult has a temperature of 37 without cold symptoms.

A condition in which a temperature of 37-37.5-38 degrees Celsius is kept for a long time is called prolonged subfebrile condition. This condition is in stark contrast to hyperthermia caused by inflammatory process, for example, with ARVI, when the temperature is kept and the throat hurts.

In this case, the reason is obvious - the rise in temperature is caused by a viral infection. If the temperature is 39 for a long time, you are dealing with an acute bacterial infection. This is no longer a subfebrile temperature, and if such a high temperature lasts for a long time in a child, you cannot do without urgent medical attention.

Thus, a protracted subfebrile condition is usually called a condition in which a low temperature (37-38 C) is kept for a long time for no apparent reason.

Causes

We all know that thermometer readings of 36.6 C are considered normal. However, this norm is rather arbitrary, because heat production in the body depends on many factors. For example, after eating, physical activity, mental activity, the human body heats up by several fractions of a degree.

In addition, a small jump in temperature normally can be caused by the following reasons:

You may have noticed that most of these reasons are for women. This is true - doctors report that about 70% of patients who complain that they have a fever every day are women.

This is due to the peculiarities of the physiology of women, for example, constant fluctuations in the level of hormones in the blood and a greater tendency to psychogenic disorders.

For some people, normal thermometer readings are slightly higher than 36.6 C. That is why doctors rarely attach great importance to complaints that the temperature is 37. If the temperature is 37-37.2-37.3 degrees Celsius, you first need to sleep well, rest.

Take your temperature twice a day - after waking up and before bed. But if the thermometer reading is still elevated, consult your doctor.

Most often, hyperthermia is caused by diseases that are divided into two large groups:

caused by the introduction of a microorganism, i.e. infections;
non-infectious diseases - endocrine, psychogenic, somatic.

Infectious causes of subfebrile condition

Subfebrile temperature, which is kept at 37.5 C, always raises suspicions about an infectious disease. Usually these are sluggish infections that do not cause any more disturbances in well-being, except for the fact that the temperature does not drop.

To jump to conclusions and take antibiotics and antiviral drugs not worth it, even if the temperature lasts 2 weeks. At least, if all the necessary laboratory tests have not been carried out. To treat a disease with antibiotics at random is far from the best method, so when the temperature lasts for 2 weeks, you need to find out what kind of disease it is. But it is not uncommon for a patient who has a fever for 3 days to start emptying the home first-aid kit in a panic, without understanding the reasons. Treatment is certainly necessary, but only if the reasons are clarified.

For example, if the cause of the disease is fungal in nature (mycosis), taking antibiotics will reduce the body's ability to resist it. And in general, uncontrolled intake of drugs with a wide range of effects reduces immunity and creates a load on the liver, kidneys and heart. So try to find out the cause of hyperthermia before treating it.

Among infectious diseases in which a temperature of 37-38 C is kept for a long time, the most common are:

This list can be continued for a very long time, because almost any focal infection can cause a persistent increase in temperature by less than a degree.

It is also worth paying attention to a condition called "temperature tail" - subfebrile condition after an infectious disease. For example, some people have a temperature of 37 C for several weeks after antibiotics. If the temperature lasts from 3 to 7 days in an adult, it is early to panic.

This is a completely normal reaction of the body to a threat - by maintaining such a temperature, the body does not allow pathogenic microorganisms to multiply. If this condition is not accompanied by malaise and poor test results, do not worry. The temperature tail goes away in about 2 months.

Non-infectious causes of subfebrile condition

Among non-infectious causes, somatic diseases (i.e. diseases of certain organs or systems) and psycho-vegetative (in which the psychological state of a person plays a key role) can be distinguished.

Among the somatic disorders, the most common are:

diseases of the cardiovascular system;
hormonal imbalance;
disturbances in the heat-regulating areas of the brain, for example, a tumor;
neoplasms of the thyroid gland;
iron-deficiency anemia;
allergic reactions (although they are rarely accompanied by hyperthermia, you should not discount this option, especially if you are prone to allergies).

It happens that the temperature lasts for a month, doctors do not find any pathology in the laboratory tests, the patient is in a panic, and the reason, meanwhile, is not a chronic infection, but an allergic reaction or nervous stress. Let's talk in more detail about some of the listed diseases.

Hormonal pathologies

Heat exchange in the human body is controlled by the endocrine glands, primarily the hypothalamus. That is why hormonal disturbances can affect thermoregulation.

For example, an increased amount of thyroid hormones (thyroid hormones) in the blood is almost always accompanied by a rise in temperature.

This condition is called thyrotoxicosis. Other symptoms of thyrotoxicosis:

sudden mood swings;
irritability;
weight loss, but appetite persists;
excessive sweating;
tiredness and weakness.

For diagnostics this disease it is necessary to take a blood test for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). It is an indicator of the condition of the thyroid gland.

To a lesser extent, estradiol affects heat exchange. This explains the fact that body temperature changes throughout the menstrual cycle and can fluctuate greatly during hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause.

Psychological reasons

The simplest example of the influence of the psyche is an increase in body temperature when a thermometer is placed in the armpit in some people. At the same time, indicators may increase by 0.1-0.3 degrees. In this case, it is recommended to measure the temperature not only in the armpit, but also in other ways - rectally or orally.

Long-term subfebrile condition often occurs in people who are constantly exposed to emotional stress. Among them are first-year students, adolescents during puberty, pregnant women, and people who have experienced a disaster or the death of loved ones.

This condition is called thermoneurotic disorder. This diagnosis can be made only after excluding other possible causes.

A sure sign of the psychological causes of hyperthermia is a reaction to medicines - antipyretics are usually ineffective, while sedatives can reduce the temperature for a long time to a normal level.

Low-grade fever in children

In children, a rise in temperature is caused by the same factors as in adults - infections or disturbances in thermoregulation processes. However, in children, this condition is most often associated with an asymptomatic course of infection, and is almost never psychogenic.

AT childhood infections of the upper respiratory tractsuch as tonsillitis, sinusitis, rhinopharyngitis. If inflammation has viral nature, the temperature does not rise above 38 degrees and lasts about a week or two.

If the child has had a bacterial infection, a certain amount of bacteria can survive in the diseased organ (especially if the course of antibiotic therapy has been completed ahead of time). In this case, the disease can turn into a chronic form, in which a prolonged subfebrile condition is sometimes observed.

Infants have an incompletely formed heat exchange system, therefore, indicators up to 37-37.2 C are not considered pathology for them. With activity, for example, during outdoor games, feeding, children get hot, and the temperature rises for a while - this is the norm.

Diagnostics and treatment

First you need to make sure that the patient's temperature is kept at 37-38 C, and only then find out what this means.

To do this, you need to measure the temperature for several days, twice a day, using several methods in parallel. Use a thermometer every morning and evening to measure the temperature in armpit, in the rectum and in the mouth.

Having made a series of measurements, you can trace the features of your thermoregulation. If within a few days the temperature of an adult or child does not drop, see a doctor. At the consultation, you will show him the results of your measurements, and this will help in further diagnostics.

To do this, the doctor may refer to such studies:

general clinical analysis blood (determination of the number of leukocytes, indicating an infectious process);
general clinical analysis of urine (leukocytes in urine are determined with urogenital inflammation);
blood chemistry;
blood test for TSH;
mantoux test and organ fluorography chest (to rule out tuberculosis);
analysis for antibodies to HIV and hepatitis;
analysis of feces for helminth eggs;
examination by a gynecologist (for women), dentist and otolaryngologist.

When the reasons for subfebrile condition begin to appear, additional studies are prescribed, for example, an ultrasound of a specific organ, an analysis for specific antibodies, etc. A treatment plan is then created.

Since the temperature is a symptom, it will go away by itself after the diseased organ is healed.

Thus, treatment should be directed towards the somatic cause of the disease. During this period, antipyretic drugs should not be taken, because this will not make it possible to monitor the effectiveness of therapy and create a false impression of recovery.

If the test and examination readings are normal, and the temperature is kept at elevated values, it is possible that subfebrile condition has psychogenic reasons. Its signs:

Treatment in this case is aimed at overcoming stress factors. Sometimes sedatives are recommended. But the most important thing is to establish the emotional sphere of life: to pay attention to rest, sexual relations, communication with relatives and friends.

conclusions

Thus, a prolonged increase in temperature indicates a malfunction of the body. This can be a sluggish infection, a chronic bacterial focus, endocrine disorders, and even a psychological disorder.

In any case, in this way the body signals that it needs treatment and rest. So don't ignore this symptom, consult your doctor and go through all the necessary research. Remember that many serious diseases respond well to treatment at the earliest stages, and the only symptom of pathology may be long-term subfebrile condition.

It is widely believed that the normal human body temperature is 36.6, but this is not the case. According to research and practical observations of many doctors, the average body temperature of 37 degrees is quite common. In addition, depending on some factors unrelated to diseases, there may be a slight fluctuation. So don't panic if you find yourself experiencing a slight increase or decrease in temperature.

Do you have a temperature of 37 or below 36? Causes:

In the morning between 4 and 6 o'clock there is a decrease in temperature, but in the period from 14 to 16 and from 18 to 22 hours it reaches its maximum; the difference between morning and evening readings can be within one degree;

In women, an increase in overall body temperature can be observed in the 2nd half of the menstrual cycle due to changes in hormonal levels;

After eating and exercising, the temperature may also rise slightly;

Some foods can change the body temperature by up to 1 degree: spicy foods and various seasonings raise the temperature, and for example, yellow plums and green gooseberries lower them;

Increased body temperature in children can cause prolonged crying or too active games;

Body temperature in men is on average half a degree lower than body temperature in women;

Temperature decreases with age.

"All diseases are from the nerves." This adage is very appropriate in the case of low-grade fever. Almost a third of people suffering from strange rises in temperature are due to these stresses, which are caused by problems at work, in family life, or excessive mental or physical stress. In such patients, low-grade fever can persist for several years.

Temperature tail is another harmless cause of low-grade fever. After an infectious disease, a person's body temperature may remain elevated for some time. This temperature usually returns to normal within a couple of months. However, here it is important not to confuse the relapse of the disease with the "tail".

So, temperature 37, what to do?

If, besides this temperature, there are no other painful signs, then calm down, wait a little and measure again. It is possible that everything will quickly come to nomu. Even if it remains at this level for some time, this is not yet a cause for serious concern.

If, in addition to temperature, there are other symptoms that disturb you - cough, weakness, general malaise, pains of various localization - or low-grade fever persists for a long time, then a visit to the doctor is necessary. Even a low body temperature can be a sign of some serious illness.

For example, tuberculosis, except for a subfebrile temperature, may not manifest itself with any other symptoms.

With an excess of thyroid hormones in the body - thyrotoxicosis - subfebrile temperature almost always appears. In addition to it, increased weakness and fatigue, palpitations and sweating, nervousness, weight loss against the background of increased appetite are often noted.

Iron deficiency anemia (decreased hemoglobin levels in the blood) is another possible reason subfebrile temperature. Chronic infectious diseases such as toxoplasmosis, brucellosis, Lyme disease, as a rule, are also accompanied by a temperature slightly above 37. Finally, a chronic focal infection, for example, tonsillitis, chronic sinusitis, prostatitis, cholecystitis, adnexitis, etc., can be the cause of a constant fever.

It seems that measuring body temperature is enough simple procedure... However, it also has its own rules. First, the temperature measurement site - the armpit must be dry. If the person is sweating, remove the sweat and let the skin dry properly. Secondly, the temperature measurement should be started from a mark no higher than 35 degrees and kept in the armpit for at least 10 minutes. If you are not satisfied with the result, you need to use another thermometer - it is possible that your readings are not accurate. Sometimes, these simple steps can save you the hassle and time spent visiting your doctor.

Is a generic name for a number of uncomplicated respiratory tract infections that cause inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. But in a similar context, the term is used by people far from medicine.
If you turn to explanatory dictionaries in search of a definition of this word, in most cases you can find that the common cold is a disease that is caused by hypothermia of the body, and not by viral infections. In order to catch a cold, it is enough to wet your feet in a puddle, freeze over at the bus stop while waiting for the bus, or, for example, drink cold juice. But as a rule, when people say the phrase: "I have a cold," in most cases we are talking about a banal viral infection. That is why, in the context of this article, the word cold will be considered a synonym for ARVI.

There are a great many common cold viruses, there are more than 250 of them. That is why scientists have not yet succeeded in developing a comprehensive vaccine against them. The most common are rhinoviruses, they primarily affect the nasal mucosa and are a common cause of colds. It is almost impossible to avoid collision with them, which is why there are no people who could manage to avoid colds in their lives. But by understanding the causes of problems in the body, you can help it cope with the disease faster, as well as distinguish it from a more serious illness such as the flu.
Signs and symptoms of a cold

It can be quite difficult to distinguish on your own which disease has struck the body - a cold or a flu. But if there is no way to see a doctor, then the symptoms should be studied thoroughly:

The first and most obvious feature of all ARVI is difficulty in nasal breathing. If there is a possibility that the cause may be, then you should pay attention to the accompanying signs of the disease;

Sore throat and sore throat are also constant companions of a cold;

Nasal congestion is not only the first, but almost the main symptom of a cold, by which it can be distinguished, for example, from. On the first day of the progression of the disease, the secreted secretion is transparent and liquid. The discharge is profuse, quite often causing sneezing, as well as itching in the nose with red eyes.

24 hours after the onset of ARVI, the secret becomes thicker and more viscous. Its color darkens. You should not be afraid of this, such a change in color does not mean that a bacterial infection has joined, but indicates the beginning of recovery. The body is actively fighting infection, the main enemies of all viruses that have entered its cells - leukocytes - die in the nose. It is they who give the mucous secretions a darker color. Therefore, antibiotics should not be used in this situation.

It is important to know the differences between allergies and colds, since, in both cases, there is abundant nasal discharge, sneezing, etc. But at the same time, the allergy lasts much longer, sometimes up to several months, and the symptoms of a cold disappear already on the 8th day of treatment. Edema of the mucous membrane upon contact with an allergen manifests itself instantly, while with a cold it begins to develop gradually with a systematic deterioration of the condition. The main distinguishing feature of allergy from ARVI is that with a cold, the temperature always rises, even if within insignificant limits, with allergies this never happens. Naturally, these diseases are treated in different ways.

High fever without signs of a cold

Indicators on a thermometer above 38.5 should definitely alert a person. If such values \u200b\u200bare not yet accompanied by the characteristic signs of a cold, then a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. is one of the common reasons for an increase in body temperature to similar values, it is accompanied by symptoms such as: body aches and general weakness, pain in the eyes, chills.

A rise in temperature to high values \u200b\u200bcan occur due to a host of other diseases, and not only due to the ingestion of the influenza virus.

These are inflammations of the type:

bacterial nature, for example, etc.;

Precisely because raising the temperature to high values \u200b\u200bwithout the addition of symptoms of a cold is a very formidable sign, it is imperative to consult a doctor.

If we talk about colds in the context of ARVI, then the only cause of its occurrence is a virus and there can be no other options here. But it is quite another matter that the virus does not begin its vital activity in every cell, but only in the one that does not offer it worthy of resistance.

That is why the following can be distinguished as indirect factors that can affect the incidence of colds in a person:

Hypothermia. It is dangerous in both cold and hot weather. Sometimes it is enough to get your feet wet, eat ice cream or stand in a draft, as in a few hours all the signs of a cold will be "evident". The vessels of an unprepared person do not have time to rebuild and adequately respond to the temperature drop, as a result of which a runny nose appears, the throat turns red, etc.;

Stress can also be an indirect culprit frequent colds... Most people regard this reason as undeserving, however, this is far from the case. Nervous tension has a detrimental effect on immunity no less than hypothermia. But since it is impossible to avoid stressful situations, you should learn to control your emotions and take natural sedatives;

Any chronic illness in the acute phase disrupts the normal balance of the body and reduces immunity. Quite common are cases when, against the background of manifestations of a peptic ulcer, or a person begins to suffer from frequent colds;

Improper nutrition, poisoning, alcohol and smoking, naturally, negatively affect the state of immunity. If these factors are eliminated, then colds will begin to bypass.

All these circumstances negatively affect the body and become the reason that viruses begin to more actively attack unprotected cells. The weaker the immune system, the less strength a person has to resist infections and the more often he gets sick.

Causes of frequent colds

Having a cold 2 times a year is absolutely not scary for an adult. But when the disease overtakes more than 5 times, and is also accompanied by various complications, then it's time to worry about your health.

Signs that indicate a weakening of the body's defenses:

Frequent colds;

Exacerbation of chronic diseases;

Weakness, sleep disturbances and excessive fatigue;

Unmotivated aggression;

Disruptions in the digestive tract;

Visible changes in the condition of the skin - dryness, peeling, etc.

In order for a cold not to overtake every 2 to 3 months, it is necessary to raise immunity different ways... The physiological ones include good nutrition, with the obligatory inclusion of protein foods, dairy products and vitamins, sports and a competent daily routine, as well as hardening. Pharmacological methods of increasing the body's resistance to viruses include the use of natural adaptogens, for example, and ginseng, as well as prebiotics and homeopathic remedies. As for immunomodulators, a doctor's consultation is required before starting the appointment.

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Possible complications after a cold

As a rule, any cold lasts an average of a week and disappears without a trace. But it also happens that complications arise after an illness.

Often after a cold it can develop. This disease is expressed in inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, the ducts are clogged, as a result of which they are filled with mucus, pain occurs in the face and eyes, and the temperature rises.

Colds can be complicated. The course of this disease is characterized by a cough with a discharge of viscous yellow sputum. Most often, the human body copes with this disease on its own. But if shortness of breath appears, then without drug treatment not enough.

Colds can be complicated. In this case, the tonsils, which are located in the throat and are called glands, are primarily affected. Appears on them white bloom, and painful sensations occur when swallowing. The most severe cases are accompanied by fever and complete refusal to eat.

Often, a cold is accompanied, that is, inflammation of the middle ear. Symptoms of the disease are pronounced - it is pain in the ears, sleep disturbance, when the eardrum breaks out, discharge appears and the temperature rises.

Colds can exacerbate previous chronic diseases and aggravate their course. This applies to diabetes mellitus, HIV infection, emphysema and some others.

There are several reasons to see a doctor after a cold:

Pain in the ears or sinuses, when pressing on the eyes or when bending over;

Temperature above 38.5 ° C;

Prolonged cough with sputum and shortness of breath;

Colds persist after 2 weeks and symptoms worsen.

The temperature is 37 after a cold - what to do?

Quite often, after suffering a cold, a slight increase in temperature can be observed up to 37.2 degrees.

If you find similar values \u200b\u200bon the thermometer, you should pay attention to indicators such as:

Is the general state of health impaired;

Are there any residual symptoms of a cold after two or more weeks;

Are there any symptoms indicating complications from a cold?

Many doctors are inclined to believe that after some severe respiratory tract infections, an increase in body temperature can be observed for another 2 weeks.

In this case, you should not take any drugs, it is advisable to follow the following recommendations:

If possible, stay at home, rest more, do not burden your diet with fatty foods and consume as much liquid as possible;

If going to work is inevitable, then you should beware of increased physical exertion, as this can negatively affect the activity and blood vessels;

You can support your body by ingesting various herbal teas and decoctions.

These methods are effective when the temperature does not exceed the threshold of 37.2 degrees, and if the general condition is not disturbed. If you feel worse, you should seek the advice of a doctor who will conduct an examination and make appropriate appointments. As a rule, a general and clinical blood test in such cases is very informative and allows you to determine and prevent the onset of a possible complication.

So, colds all people are affected. Symptoms may be more or less pronounced, but ARVI is always characterized by: runny nose, sore throat and a slight increase in temperature. The reason leading to the appearance of the disease is a virus that has entered the body. Under the mask of a common cold, other, more formidable diseases, such as the flu, can be hidden. Therefore, it is vital to know the symptoms of ARVI. Against the background of immunity weakened by a number of factors, colds may occur more often than usual. Such conditions threaten the development of complications and require medical attention.

Understanding what happens to the body at the time of a cold, you can always provide it with adequate assistance in the fight against infection.

The author of the article: Doctor of Medical Sciences, therapist Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich

Body temperature - an indicator of the thermal state of the human body, which reflects the relationship between the production of heat from various organs and tissues and heat exchange between them and the external environment.

Average body temperature most people are between 36.5 and 37.2 ° C. The temperature is in this range. Therefore, if you have some temperature deviation to the lower or higher side from the generally accepted indicators, for example, 36.6 ° C, and you feel great at the same time, this is your normal body temperature. The exception is deviations of more than 1-1.5 ° С, because this already indicates that there has been some malfunction in the body, in which the temperature can be lowered or raised. Today we will talk specifically about high and high body temperature.

Increased body temperature is not a disease, but a symptom. Its increase indicates that the body is fighting some kind of disease, which the doctor should determine. In fact, an increased body temperature is a protective reaction of the body (immune system), which, through various biochemical reactions, eliminates the focus of infection, while increasing the body temperature. It was found that at a temperature of 38 ° C, most viruses and bacteria die, or at least their vital activity is threatened.

In any case, you need to pay attention to your health even with a small elevated temperatureso that it does not develop into a more serious stage, because correct diagnosis and timely health care can prevent more serious health problems, as fever is often the first symptom of many serious illnesses. It is especially important to monitor the temperature of children.

As a rule, especially in children, the body temperature rises to the highest point in the evening, and the rise itself is accompanied by chills.

Types of increased and high body temperature

Types of increased body temperature:

- Subfebrile body temperature: 37 ° C - 38 ° C.
- Febrile body temperature: 38 ° C - 39 ° C.

Kinds high temperature body:

- Pyretic body temperature: 39 ° C - 41 ° C.
- Hyperpyretic body temperature: above 41 ° C.

According to another classification, the following types of body temperature are distinguished:

- Norm - when the body temperature is in the range from 35 ° C to 37 ° C (depending on the individual characteristics of the organism, age, sex, time of measurement and other factors);
- Hyperthermia - when the body temperature rises above 37 ° C;
- Fever - an increase in body temperature, which, in contrast to hypothermia, occurs in conditions of preservation of the body's thermoregulatory mechanisms.

Body temperature up to 39 ° C is elevated, and from 39 ° C - high.

Symptoms of fever and fever

An increase in body temperature in most cases is accompanied by the following symptoms:

- general malaise of the body;
- limb aches;
- muscle pain;
- pain in the eyes;
— ;
— ;
- increased fluid loss;
- body cramps;
- delusions and hallucinations;
— ;
- heart and respiratory failure;

At the same time, if the temperature rises too high, it inhibits the activity of the central nervous system (CNS). Fever leads to dehydration, impaired blood circulation in the internal organs (lungs, liver, kidneys), leads to a decrease in blood pressure.

As mentioned above, an increase in body temperature is a consequence of the struggle of the immune system with foreign microorganisms that enter the body through the effects of various negative factors on the body (burns, heatstroke, etc.). As soon as the human body detects the invasion of bacteria and viruses, large organs begin to produce special proteins - pyrogenic. It is these proteins that trigger the body temperature rise. Thanks to this, natural defenses are activated, or more precisely, antibodies and interferon protein.

Interferon is a special protein designed to fight harmful microorganisms. The higher the body temperature, the more it is produced. By artificially lowering body temperature, we reduce the production and activity of interferon. In this case, antibodies enter the arena of fighting microorganisms, to which we owe recovery, but much later. The body fights disease most effectively at 39 ° C.

But any organism can malfunction, especially if the immune system is not strengthened, and as a result of its fight against infections, the temperature can rise to levels dangerous for humans - from 39 ° to 41 ° C and above.

Also, in addition to fighting the immune system against infections, an elevated or high body temperature, as well as constant temperature fluctuations, can be symptoms of many diseases.

Major diseases, conditions and factors that can raise body temperature:

- acute respiratory viral infections ():, parainfluenza, adenoviral diseases (, and others, etc.), respiratory syncytial infection (rhinitis, pharyngitis), rhinovirus infection, incl. , (,), bronchiolitis, neuritis, etc.
- Intensive sports or hard physical labor in a heating microclimate;
- chronic mental disorders;
- chronic inflammatory diseases (inflammation of the ovaries, inflammation of the gums, etc.);
- infections of the urinary system, gastrointestinal tract (GIT);
- blood poisoning (sepsis), infected postoperative and post-traumatic wounds;
- increased thyroid function, autoimmune diseases;
- fever of unknown origin, without infection;
- or ;
- extreme fluid loss;
- taking medications;
— ;
- malaria;
— ;
- oncological diseases;
- in women, after ovulation, a slight increase in body temperature is possible (by 0.5 ° C).

If the temperature does not exceed 37.5 ° C, you should not try to reduce it with the help of medicines, because the body in this case itself struggles with the reasons for its increase. First of all, you need to see a doctor so that the overall picture of the disease is not "blurred".

If you did not have the opportunity to consult a doctor or you did not attach importance to this, and the temperature does not return to normal for several days, but constantly changes throughout the day, especially if at this time you constantly feel general malaise and weakness, increased at night sweating, lymph nodes have increased, then consult a doctor without fail.

Particularly attentive in this matter should be taken in cases with children, because a small organism is more susceptible to dangers that can hide behind an increased temperature!

After the diagnosis, the attending physician will prescribe the necessary treatment for you.

Diagnostics (examination) for diseases at high temperature

- Medical history taking into account complaints
- General examination of the patient
- Axillary and rectal
- to determine the reasons for the temperature rise
- Taking samples of sputum, urine and stool;
- Additional analyzes: (lung or accessory nasal cavities), gynecological examination, examination of the gastrointestinal tract (EGDS, coloscopy), lumbar puncture, etc.

How to lower your body temperature

Once again, I want to note that if you have an elevated body temperature (more than 4 days) or a very high temperature (from 39 ° C), you need to urgently consult a doctor who will help bring down the high temperature and prevent more serious health problems.

How to lower your body temperature? General activities

- Bed rest must be observed. In this case, the patient should be dressed in cotton clothing, which must be changed regularly;

- The room where the patient is located must be constantly ventilated, and also make sure that it is not too hot in it;

- A patient with a high fever needs to consume copious amounts of liquid at room temperature to prevent. A healthy drink is tea with, raspberries, lindens. The amount of drinking is calculated as follows: starting from 37 ° C, for each degree of increased temperature, it is additionally necessary to drink from 0.5 to 1 liter of liquid. It is especially important to observe this for preschool children and the elderly, because their dehydration occurs much faster;

- If a person has a fever, cool wet compresses help well: on the forehead, neck, wrists, armpits, on the calf muscles (for children - "vinegar socks"). Also, cool compresses, for about 10 minutes, can be wrapped in parallel and shins.

- At elevated temperatures, you can take a warm (not cold or hot) bath, but waist-deep. The upper body should be wiped clean. The water should be about 35 ° C. This helps not only to normalize the temperature, but also to flush toxins from the skin;

- It is possible to lower the temperature by using foot baths with cold water;

- At elevated body temperature, it is necessary to wipe the body with warm water 27-35 ° C. The rubdown begins with the face, goes to the hands, and then the legs are rubbed.

- Food at high and high temperatures should be light - fruit purees, vegetable soup, baked apples or potatoes. The further diet will be determined by the doctor. If the patient does not want to eat, then the body needs it, take a daily diet.

What not to do at high temperatures

- Do not rub the patient's skin with alcohol, because this action can intensify. This is especially prohibited for children.

- Arrange drafts;

- Strongly wrap the patient with synthetic blankets. All clothing, as mentioned, must be cotton for the body to breathe.

- Do not use sugary drinks and juices for drinking.

High fever medications

Before using any remedies against high or high fever, be sure to consult your doctor!

Medicines against high fever (antipyretic drugs) should be used only if the general recommendations for lowering the temperature, which were written above, have not helped.

Antipyretic drugs

Antibiotics are prescribed only for bacterial infections. they do not lower body temperature.

Before using medications, pay attention to the dosage of the drug, and always read the instructions for it.

When to call a doctor immediately

- when the temperature rises above 38.5 ° C;
- if the patient cannot drink;
- with fever. If in a teenager or adult, it lasts longer than 48-72 hours. If the child is under 2 years of age, then in case of fever, longer than 24-48 hours.
- with the appearance of disturbances of consciousness: delirium, hallucinations, agitation;
- with severe headache, convulsive seizures, respiratory failure;

With inadequate treatment of infectious diseases, blood poisoning can develop.