FEVER

By:Dhilip Kumar
 DEFINITION
 Fever is also known as pyrexia and is a common
medical sign characterized by an elevation of
body temperature above the normal range
(98.6*F)
 ETIOLOGY
 Fever is mainly caused by any immune response to
pyrogens like virus, bacteria, fungi etc.
 Certain drugs and poisons causes fever.
 Prolonged exposure to heat.
 Cancer due to increase metabolic process in the body.
 Abnormalities in the brain especially hypothalamus
which is the heat regulating centre
 Disease of the endocrine as they increase the basal
metabolic rate of the body which results in increased
temperature.
 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Due to immunological response triggered by pyrogens

Stimulate the production of pyrogens inside the body

These pyrogens tell the hypothalamus to increase the

temperature set point

Hyperthermia
 CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
 Increase body temperature
 Tachycardia
 Perspiration
 Chills and rigor.
 TYPES
 Continuous fever: Temperature remains above normal
throughout the day and does not fluctuate more than 1*F
over 24 hrs.(e.g. Pneumonia)
 Neutropenic fever: It is a fever in the absence of normal
immune system function.
 Intermittent fever: Elevated temp is present only for some
hrs of the day and becomes normal for remaining hrs.
(Malaria)
 Remittent fever: temperature remains above normal
through out the day and fluctuates more than 1*c in 24 hrs.
(Infective endocarditis)
 ASSESSMENT

Check the temperature of the patient

complete blood count: Total WBC and differential

count elicits leukocytosis.
 MANAGEMENT
 Monitor vital signs of the patient.
 Provide cold applications
 Administer Tab. Paracetamol to treat fever.
 Administer Antibiotics to treat infection
 Provide cold drinks and fluids to decrease
temperature.
 Remove tightened clothes
 Provide ventilation by switching on fans and AC.