Fever Flashcards
normal body temperature
- 8 - 37 C
96. 5 - 99 F
fever temperature
40 C
104.0 F
clinical importance of body temp
1) determine severity of illness in adults
2) course & duration of illness
3) effect of therapy on illness
2 exceptions in temp determining severity of illness
1) febrile response of kids is greater > adults
2) geriatric & neonatal responses are less marked or even absent
rectal temp
better estimate of core temp
- 0 F
- 5 C higher than oral
normal diurnal variation
96.5 F in morning
99.3 F in afternoon
~ 1 F higher in afternoon
Tx of fever
- -most fever is well tolerated
- <40 C (104 F) symptomatic tx only
- > 41 emergent management
- -anti-pyretic therapy only needed in marginal hemodynamic status
pediatrics & fever
–philosophy
- -fever is friend
- -anti-pyretics may prolong illness
emergency care required when…
- <2m old w/ temp >100.9 F
- - >2m temp >106 F
important feature to watch for in kids w. fever =
- -significant change in demeanor
1) kid act ill & not eat as much = normal
2) not drink water, not eat food/things they like = ER/ pediatrician
benefits of fever
- -draws attention to underlying condition
- -therapeutic effects
- activation of IL-1 mediated immune responses
- increase chemotactic, phagocytic & bactericidal activities or neutrophils
detrimental aspects of fever
- -muscle & adipose wasting
- -myalgias & arthralgias
- -CNS alterations (irreversible brain damage >106 F)
- -loss of electrolytes d/t sweating
- -trigger epileptic seizures
- -possible birth defects w. high maternal fever (1st trimester)
accompaniments of fever
–systemic symptoms
- -HA
- -arthralgias
- -myalgias
- -tachycardia
- -tachypnea
accompaniments of fever
–chills/rigors
- -shaking is d/t cytokines & prostaglandins which set body temp in the hypothalamus.
- -assoc w/ pyogenic infections w/ bacteremia or viremia
accompaniments of fever
–changes in mental status
- -most striking in very young & old
- -confusion
- -slowness
- -“sensorium clears w/ defervescence”