Body temperature, as the name suggests, is the temperature of a human or animal body. Normally, this should be between 35.8°C and 37.2°C in humans. But what if the body temperature is higher? What causes can this have and how is elevated temperature to be treated? These questions are answered below.
What is elevated temperature?
Elevated temperature is said to occur when the body temperature has not yet exceeded 38.0°C. First of all, it is necessary to define when a person suffers from elevated temperature and when it begins to degenerate into fever. One speaks of an elevated temperature when the body temperature has not yet exceeded 38.0°C. If the temperature is higher, it is called fever, high fever or very high fever. If the body temperature is 42°C, circulatory failure is imminent and only 0.6°C more will lead to death in the human body (irreversible protein coagulation above 42°C).
Causes
An elevated temperature is not a disease in its own right, but merely a symptom of a disease. In most cases, an infection is the cause of the elevated temperature. It does not matter whether it is an infection caused by bacteria or viruses. However, there are also cases when an infection is not the cause of the elevated body temperature. If you suffer from sunstroke or heat stroke, your body temperature will also rise. Lack of fluids or increased metabolic activity can also be a cause. After surgery, the body temperature may also rise, for example, because the body must adjust to the changes inside the body brought about by the operation.
Diseases with this symptom
- Common cold
- Flu
- Hantavirus infection
- Diphtheria
- Tuberculosis
- Meningitis
- Heat stroke
- Sunstroke
- Pneumonia
- Middle ear inflammation
- Typhoid fever
- Inner ear inflammation
- Gonorrhea
- RS virus infection
- Syphilis
- Yellow fever
- Pancreatitis
- Liver failure
Diagnosis and course
The typical and commonly known “put your hand on your forehead” in no way says anything about whether an elevated temperature is actually present. To obtain an accurate diagnosis, a fever thermometer must be used to measure the exact body temperature. This can best be done under the armpits, in the mouth or rectally. The important thing here is to make sure that the body temperature is different depending on the point of measurement. The most accurate is the rectal measurement and the least accurate is the measurement under the armpits, although this is the most popular method. It is also worth mentioning that body temperature is subject to a natural fluctuation of between one and two degrees Celsius during the day. At night, the body temperature in humans is the lowest and in the afternoon it is the highest. However, it is often the case that in sick people, the body temperature rises mainly in the evening. A symptom of the increase in body temperature is, for example, shivering or chills. As soon as the increased temperature drops, the person begins to sweat, so that the body can cool down (perspiration). However, to locate the cause of the increased body temperature, a visit to the doctor is needed.
Complications
An elevated temperature can cause the body temperature to rise further in children and adults, resulting in mild to massive complications. With each degree increase in fever temperature, the heart rate increases by about 10 beats per minute. If a high fever occurs in the further course, heart palpitations can set in very quickly. As a result, the respiratory rate also increases. Shivering, caused by extreme muscle contraction, also occurs as a complication in very high fevers. Cold hands and feet due to a shift in the body’s temperature regulation are often observed concomitantly. In the same context, this also applies to a reduced capillary refill. This can be recognized by the fact that whitish imprints do not regress directly when pressure is applied to the skin.Lack of fluids due to excessive sweating all over the body and not drinking enough can also lead to dehydration (lack of fluids). Very high fevers can lead to febrile convulsions with loss of consciousness and sudden muscle spasms, especially in children. In adults, if the fever rises above 41 degrees, this can lead to denaturation of cell proteins. If such high fevers are not reduced, there is a risk of fatal circulatory failure. If high fever occurs at intervals, a drop in fever can lead to circulatory instability associated with dizziness when standing up and possibly a risk of collapse. This is also true if the fever drops rapidly. Central nervous complications include perceptual disturbances, physical restlessness and confusion. The latter symptomatology may develop into hallucination. Then there is talk of a fever delirium, also called fever delirium.
When should one go to the doctor?
Increased temperature and no fever yet: is that already a reason to go to the doctor? Does every temperature deviation upwards have to be treated immediately? Basically, it should be said that intrinsically healthy people, i.e. people without a chronic disease, do not need to see a doctor immediately just because of an elevated temperature. An increased body temperature even has a medical purpose: with an increased temperature, the pathogens of infections are eliminated more effectively. If the temperature is suppressed, on the other hand, infectious diseases have a longer course. If you go to the doctor anyway, you risk that your doctor will still prescribe a temperature-lowering medication. Other doctors, on the other hand, only lower an elevated temperature if the patient is suffering from other symptoms, such as headaches. Patients with organ damage or other chronic diseases are better off seeing a doctor even if their temperature is elevated. For them, the temperature increase means a physical strain that should be avoided if possible. Anyone who has had an elevated temperature for a long time, i.e. for more than two days, or who has had it on and off for a long time, should definitely see their family doctor. This is even more true if other symptoms such as headache, diarrhea or purulent cough occur. Here can hide behind the increased temperature a more serious, absolutely treatment-requiring illness.
Treatment and therapy
Once you have seen a doctor, in most cases it is easy to find out the cause of the elevated temperature and treat it. In addition to the increased body temperature, the affected person is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as aching limbs or headaches. In this case, the doctor can then usually diagnose and treat a general cold or flu. However, if this is not the case, the patient’s blood is examined to detect an infection. This is then usually combated with antibiotics. It is important that the patient makes sure to drink enough so as not to suffer from a lack of fluids. To lower the elevated temperature, fever-reducing agents are recommended, which are also available over-the-counter at any pharmacy.
Outlook and prognosis
Elevated temperature usually occurs whenever there is a cold, flu or general intoxication. In addition to the elevated temperature, unfortunately, the patient in this case also suffers from aching limbs, headache and a general feeling of illness. Therefore, those who have an elevated temperature should rather stay at home and cure themselves. As a rule, the fever also disappears on its own without the patient having to see a doctor. If the temperature is relatively high, medicines can also be used to lower the fever. These are also generally effective against a cold or poisoning. In most cases, the elevated temperature goes down within hours or a few days. However, if the body has a high temperature for several days, which does not fall, a doctor must be consulted. An ordinary clinical thermometer is suitable for taking the temperature. This can be purchased at the pharmacy. Only in rare cases, the increased temperature is associated with a bad infection, in which the patient must be hospitalized.
Prevention
To prevent the elevated temperature virzubeugen, it is recommended to strengthen the immune system.This subsequently leads to being less susceptible to diseases that cause an elevated temperature. This is best done through a balanced diet and sufficient exercise. In addition, an adult should consume at least two liters of water a day to keep the body hydrated.
Here’s what you can do yourself
An elevated body temperature usually occurs when the body has to defend itself against viruses and other invaders and therefore increases the body temperature. This symptom is almost always associated with and triggered by a cold, flu or infection. If you want to reduce fever, you should offer your body plenty of rest and recuperation. In most cases, the body can fight the fever without outside help or even medication, and it will drop on its own. However, it is also okay to help the body a little with medication. To lower the fever, ibuprofen is usually taken. This agent lowers the temperature of the body and at the same time also relieves the patient from pain, which can also occur with the cold. If the fever is extremely high (over 39 degrees Celsius) or persists for several days and does not drop with the help of medication, a doctor should be consulted in any case. Often the fever also occurs when it is food poisoning. In this case, only gentle and simple food should be eaten to protect the stomach. Those who have fever should also drink a lot to support the body.
