Herbal Treatment for Fever

Disease Information

What Is Fever?

Fever is an abnormally high body temperature. The normal body temperature is about 37oC, though there can be slight variations of 36.5oC to 37.5oC throughout the day. You measure temperature by placing a thermometer in the mouth, armpit, or in the child’s bottom. Rectal temperature is the most accurate measurement. If you are a parent, it’s advisable to have a thermometer at home. You can get one at most chemists.

The only time a fever is really dangerous is if it goes over 105 degrees Fahrenheit as taken orally. Most of the time a fever will stop at around 103 degrees or so and rarely does it go over 104 degrees. A fever is simply the immune system response to an infection or toxicity in the blood.

In the case of an infection, viral infections usually cause a low-grade fever, of 101 degrees or less and these are generally self-limiting (they usually go away within two weeks). A bacterial infection is far more dangerous as it may go into a ‘fulminant’ stage and become uncontrollable.With children a high fever is most dangerous as it can cause seizures, but don’t give them aspirin-it can make matters worse. Children should only be given acetaminophen or have cooling measures use (ice pack, ice bath, etc.). Check with your physician as to what is the best way to handle your child’s fever.

Symptoms Of Fever

Fever symptoms usually mean infection – commonly the flu, the common cold, or pneumonia. In fact, any significant infection will cause a fever. The infection, whether it be bacterial, viral or from a parasite, causes the thermostat in the hypothalamus to reset.

Fever symptoms are typically caused by other factors relating to the illness behind the fever and include:

• Feeling cold when nobody else does

• Shivering

• Lack of appetite

• Dehydration — preventable if the person drinks plenty of fluids

• Depression

• Hyperalgesia, or increased sensitivity to pain

• Temperature greater than 100.4 F (38 C) in adults and children

• Lethargy

• Problems concentrating

• Sleepiness

• Sweating

• Skin flushing or hot skin

• Eye pain or sore eyes

With severe fever other symptoms may be present:

• Delirium

• Chatter and nonsensical babbling

• Irritability

• Fighting someone trying to help them

• Confusion

• Passing out

• Seizures

Causes Of Fever

When body temperature rises above the normal range (98º.4F) it is considered a fever. There are multiple causes and each type of fever has been named on the basis of the causes which trigger it. There can be no fever in the absence of any cause, as a fever is simply an effect of a cause or set of causes.

• An infection, such as strep throat, flu, chickenpox, or pneumonia.

• Rheumatoid arthritis.

• Some medications.

• Overexposure of skin to sunlight, or sunburn.

• Heat stroke, resulting either by exposure to high temperatures or prolonged strenuous exercise.

• Dehydration.

• Silicosis, a type of lung disease caused by long-term exposure to silica dust.

• Amphetamine abuse.

• Alcohol withdrawal.

• Bacterial infections, ear infections, pneumonia (chest infection), and meningitis.

• Malaria.

• Viral infections such as common cold, flu, diarrhea.

• Tumors, and other conditions, though these are less common.

Unlike what is widely believed, teething does not cause fever, but puts the child at risk of getting infections since they put just above anything in the mouth to relieve itching. A mild fever may indicate a slight inflammation or soreness of the gums.