Fever or increased body temperature is an alert sent by our body warning that our body is fighting a viral or bacterial infection. Many people confuse its meaning, because alert does not mean alarm, fever by itself is not bad, in fact it is one of the defense mechanisms that our body has.
Although fever is usually a great cause for concern in parents, children and adults, the truth is that it is rarely harmful by itself. However, it is very important to know when it is considered a fever and when this fever can be dangerous to treat it correctly. In the following article we will explain it to you.
Body temperature
Our body temperature is variable; Depending on our age, if we are doing some activity, our metabolic characteristics or the external temperature our body raises or lowers it depending on which is better.
The hypothalamus, located in the brain, is where our temperature is regulated from. From there, orders are sent to increase or decrease the temperature. For example, if the outside temperature is very cold, the blood cases in the body will tend to contract, so the blood will not reach the skin correctly. When this happens, the hypothalamus sends the order for the body to shiver, with whose effort we manage to keep warm. On the contrary, if the ambient temperature is too high, the vessels will dilate, creating an excess of blood in the dermis that, consequently, will start to sweat to lower the temperature.
What is considered normal temperature
As we have said before, body temperatures can be very variable, even so, it is considered that the normal temperature of a person is between 36.5ºC and 37ºC. This temperature can be altered by up to 1ºC depending on whether we are making physical effort, have eaten, if a woman is ovulating, and so on.
When is fever considered in adults
Fever is a very broad word that can encompass different types of temperatures ranging from small changes to life-threatening temperatures. For this reason, the different ranges must be distinguished:
- If our body temperature is between 5ºC and 37ºC we are within normality, that is, we do not have a fever.
- If we have between 3ºC and 37.5ºC we have a low- grade fever, that is, a slight fever. This does not mean that we do not have to pay attention to it, since low-grade fever is the symptom that our immune system is fighting against an infectious agent.
- Between 38ºC and 41ºC is when fever, hypothermia or increased temperature accompanied by an increase in heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure are considered.
- If the temperature reaches or exceeds 41ºC it is known as hypermedia -high fever- a bodily disorder that must be treated with extreme urgency, since if the temperature reaches 42ºC, this increase could reach the brain causing the death of the patient.
When is fever considered in children
One of the worst times in any parent’s life is when their child becomes ill. Seeing the child suffering, with pain, fever or any other condition worries anyone, however, most of the time that concern is unfounded.
If you wonder when it is considered fever in children you should know that there is no difference than with adults. A separate case is that of fever in babies, which we will explain later. A fever is considered in children over 38ºC, but we reiterate that fever by itself is not bad. Fever is a sign that the body’s infection-fighting machinery is working, the body is healing.
More and more pediatricians who, outnumbered by the number of parents who take their children to the emergency room for simple viral processes, warn that it is not necessary to go to the doctor if the child has a fever of 38ºC.
More important than fever are other symptoms that the child may present and that perhaps would need treatment. Therefore, you should take your child to the doctor when the fever exceeds 38ºC or you cannot control symptoms such as vomiting, acute diarrhea, severe dizziness or a cough that prevents breathing normally.
When is fever considered in babies
Babies often get sick frequently and have a fever often. This is because they do not yet have a strong immune system and they still have to create antibodies too many of the viruses and bacteria that do not affect us. So, not only because your baby has a fever should you be alerted, most cases are benign processes. Still we must be aware of its development and evolution.
Given that there are different ways to take a baby’s temperature, below we explain when a baby is considered a fever by following the different measurement modes:
- Rectal thermometer: 38ºC
- Oral thermometer: 37.5ºC
- Armpit thermometer: 37.2ºC
- If it is a baby under three months, it is advisable to consult a doctor if his temperature exceeds 37ºC.
As we have already said, fever by itself is not bad news nor does it give us a clear reflection of the baby’s state of health. There are a series of symptoms that, to accompany it, can alert us to take action and visit a doctor:
- Shaking and shaking
- Flushed face and skin
- Sweat
- Cold limbs
- Cold sweat
- Pale limbs
- Vomiting and dizziness
