Fever is not a disease

Fever, orpyrexia, isone ofthe mostcommonpresentingcomplaints inmedicalpractice. Itischaracterized bya bodytemperaturethat iselevated abovethe normalrange foranindividual.

Feveris definedas abodytemperature thatis elevatedabove thenormal rangefor anindividualwithout aphysiologicalcause.In otherwords,elevatedtemperatures resultingfrom exerciseormenstrualcycles donot qualifyasfever.

This usuallyrefers toatemperature greaterthan38degreesCelsius, whichis measuredby athermometer. Inthiscase, theoral andrectaltemperaturereadings aremore reliablethan theaxillarytemperature.

The mostimportant thingto rememberis thatfever isnot adiseaseitself, butrather asymptomthat signalsthe presenceof anunderlyingdisease.■

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