What is a fever suppository?
Suppositories are a drug delivery form that is inserted into body orifices such as the rectum (rectal) or vagina (vaginal). A suppository is usually inserted into the rectum via the anus. Suppositories are usually made of hard fat and contain antipyretic agents such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
The hard fat then dissolves at body temperature and releases the active ingredients. It is also possible to give water-soluble suppositories. However, since there is little fluid in the rectum in which the suppository could dissolve, this type of suppository plays a subordinate role.
Suppositories are a good option for administering medical drugs to children, unconscious persons and people with swallowing difficulties. Both ibuprofen and paracetamol are suitable for children, but suppositories containing ibuprofen should not be used on babies under 6 months of age. It should also be noted that fever suppositories should only be used in children at temperatures above 39.5 °C, as fever is an important part of the immune system and actually only means that the immune system is working. However, if the child suffers from the fever more than is good for him or her, the suppository can be given earlier. This is the case, for example, if the child can no longer sleep or does not drink or eat anything.
What is a fever dream?
A fever dream is a dream that is directly related to a fever phase. An infection causes various messenger substances to be released, which drive up the body temperature. These messenger substances – especially interleukin 1 and 6 – thus cause the fever.Due to the increased body temperature, blood can flow faster and antibodies can reach the place where they are needed more quickly.
It is suspected that interleukin 1 and 6 also increase the sleep phases in which the brain is particularly active, the so-called REM sleep phases. In these phases, people generally dream. If the REM sleep phases increase due to an infection, more intensive and increased dreaming occurs.
The feverish dream can contain both positive and negative experiences, but above all the feverish dream is perceived as subjectively confusing. A more serious case is the so-called febrile delirium, in which those affected are in a twilight state. This is when fantastic dreams, hallucinations and the mixing of reality and dream occur. The febrile delirium should draw attention to the fact that this usually only occurs at high body temperatures and indicates a rather serious course of the disease.
