We try to fight it, but it usually has its way with us, causing chills, body aches, headache and incredible fatigue.  What good is a fever anyway??

The ‘normal’ body temperature is 98.6 F, or at least that is what the literature says.  As a nurse who has taken plenty of temperatures I have found 98.6 to be a rare bird indeed.  Most people have temperatures well below that, usually in the 97.4 range.  Older folks have even lower temperatures – a fact that is important in the presence of infection, since they seldom have the high temperatures common in most people.  Women’s menstrual cycles cause the temperature to increase. Babies and children have a temperature closer to the ‘norm’ because their metabolisms are much faster than adults.   Everyone’s temperature has a tendency to be higher in the afternoon and evening and be lower in the middle of the night.  High temperatures at night are a sure indicator that something is wrong.

The method of taking a temperature changes the out-come.  Rectal temperatures are considered 1 degree higher than oral temperatures, so a normal rectal temp would be 99.6 F.  Auxiliary temperatures (temperatures taken under the arm) are 1 degree lower than an oral temperature so a normal auxiliary temperature would be 97.6 F degrees.

Fever is not an illness.  It is a symptom.  With the onset of a viral or bacterial infection, the body starts to elevate the temperature by bringing in multiple defenses.  Since many bacteria and viruses cannot exist in an environment where the temperature is higher than 98.6 degrees, the body seeks to eliminate the enemy by, literally, turning up the heat.  So, a fever is actually helpful in fighting disease and some doctors believe that no treatment should be put into place until the body temperature is over 101 degrees F.  Eliminating the fever in the presence of viral or bacterial infections is never the goal because a fever actually is part of the body’s defenses against these intruders.

Problems begin or occur when the temperature increases to 105 F or remains constant for 2 or more days.  In either case, medical attention should be sought.  If fever is accompanied by a stiff neck, confusion, irritability, severe abdominal pain, chest pain, difficulty breathing or a seizure a doctor needs to be notified immediately.

When a fever occurs, treatment depends on the cause of the temperature.    In the presence of flu like symptoms, plenty of fluids and lots of rest are extremely important.  Now is the time to call in to work – mostly because at this stage the disease is highly infectious.  The sick individual who struggles into the work place won’t be productive, but will spread the infectious agent everywhere – to the determent of his or her co-workers.

Shivering is the method the body uses to increase temperature.  There is some difference of opinion as to how this symptom should be addressed, since a fever is the end result of shivering.  While some authorities discourage covering the sufferer, others believe that allowing the body to reach a high temperature quickly is the best approach.  All agree that trying to cool a shivering person with ice or a cold bath or shower is a very bad idea, since the body will be overly stressed and the shivering will only increase in intensity.

The very best treatment for fever is medication, specifically those that are antipyretics (literally ‘against fever’) such as Tylenol, Aspirin or Ibuprofen.  Please keep in mind that Aspirin is contraindicated in any number of conditions and it is best to consult with your doctor before deciding to use this drug to treat fever.  Tylenol should never be taken by anyone with liver disease and Ibuprofen can be a problem for those with clotting disorders or have hypertension.  Do not take more than the recommended dose.   Becoming toxic on any of the above mentioned medications can be worse than the fever.

Persistent fever must be brought to the attention of a physician.  Causes of chronic fever range from tuberculosis to cancer so any fever that lasts more than two or three days in requires medical attention.  Additional medications, treatment or more diagnostic tests may be necessary to treat the fever.

Finally, don’t subscribe to the old adage, “Feed a cold and starve a fever.”  The person who came up with that one was dead wrong – the last thing the body needs in the face of a fever is the additional stress of starvation.  Furthermore, it is believed that the real saying was, “Feed and cold and you will starve off a fever,” which is true.  The better you treat a cold, the less chance of getting a more serious, fever-producing disease.