Acute fever is a condition of the body when its temperature rises suddenly above the set point of the normal body temperature. It is also known as acute febrile illness. The normal temperatures can be measured from various parts of the body and each has a separate dataset i.e. rectum temperature should be between 99.5 to 100.9 Fahrenheit, the oral temperature should be about 99.9 Fahrenheit or the temperature in the armpits and ear should be around 99 Fahrenheit.
Usual body temperature is 370C or 98.60F and it can vary slightly from person to person. It may fluctuate depending on the time of the day. Oral, rectal and axillary thermometer can be used to check the temperature.
Age Group Affected
Acute fever is mostly seen in children, infants and aged population when their immunity is weak. The immunity in children is at a growing stage and hence throughout the teenage and adult stage of life, the body is well-guarded against the most probable causes of acute fever. Even then, with the increase in pollution and population of harmful microbes and viruses in our surroundings all the age groups are equally vulnerable to suffering from acute fever.
The Degree Of Acute Fever
The degree of acute fever can be mild, moderate or severe and depends on the cause of the fever. The factors may include the portion of the body that is infected and also the extent of the infection. It is also quite obvious that the earlier the condition is treated the lesser the patient will have to suffer. Although acute fever of any form is usually controllable, certain extreme conditions such as fever due to sepsis can turn-out to be life-threatening and requires immediate medical professional attention.
Causes
Acute fever varies greatly depending upon the cause and the region infected. The regions of the body that usually act as the host of the infection that leads to the rise in the body temperature are
- The respiratory tract (both upper and lower)
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Skin diseases
- Urinary tract
Hypothalamus in brain regulates body temperature and it elevates temperature in response to any infection. There are a number of other causes that include
- The effects of the use of drugs and narcotics
- Allergic reaction to certain types of drugs
- Certain diseases like
- Dengue
- Typhoid
- Leptospirosis
- Malaria
- Chikungunya
- Scrub typhus
- Histoplasmosis
- Enteric fever
- Influenza
- Encephalitis
- Rickettsiosis
- Hantavirus etc.
- Infections like chicken pox, Strep Throat, Pneumonia
- Cold
- Heat stroke
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Dehydration
- Alcohol Withdrawal
- Silicosis
- Sunburn etc.
Signs and Symptoms
- Raise in body temperature
- Nausea
- Chills
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Sweats
- Muscle pain
- Weakness
- Joint pain
- Cough
- Seizures (In children)
1. The symptoms for upper respiratory tract infection are
- Coughing (dry or with phlegm)
- Nasal congestion
- Presence of pus indicates the presence of bacterial infection
- Burning sensation in the nose, eyes
- Harshness in the throat
- Heaviness in the head
- Headache
2. The symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection
- Pain in the chest
- Wheezing while breathing
- Breathlessness
- Blood in the sputum (immediate medical attention is required)
3. The gastrointestinal tract infections can be both bacterial and viral. The symptoms include
- Indigestion
- Cramps in the abdominal region
- Nausea and vomiting and
- Foul smell in flatulence
4. There is a feeling of laziness and weakness in the body that indicates the invasion of a foreign body such as microbes or viruses in the body. In case of infection in the urinal tract, if there is blood in the urine then immediate medical attention is required. Some other symptoms include
- Painful urination
- Burning sensation in urine
- Blockage in the urine
- Change in the frequency of urination (which may require surgical attention)
If there is pus discharge then it is recommended to get the condition checked by a doctor immediately.
5. Certain skin diseases do lead to acute fever. The symptoms may include
- Change in the color of the skin
- Burning sensation in the infected region
- Swelling of the skin
- The formation of pus
The most common symptom is pain in the affected region which may be caused by secretion or injection of toxins by an insect bite.
6. Drugs can cause changes in the functioning of the body which leads to the change in the internal conditions. Over-dosage of drugs can lead to permanent damage to the body and immediate symptoms include
- Excessive perspiration and
- Lack of co-ordination on moor movement
Narcotics such as cocaine, ecstasy, and anesthetics can also raise the body temperature level over the preferred normal value.
7. Acute hemorrhagic fever syndrome is a special type of condition which is related to the conditions such as
- Yellow fever
- Lassa fever
- Rift-valley fever
- Dengue hemorrhagic fever
- Ebola-Marburg viral disease etc.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis depends on the cause of the fever. The first step in diagnosis is thorough physical check. The next step is evaluation of present illness history and review of medications. Usually temperature is checked by using thermometer. If temperature is elevated and confirmed by doctor further diagnostic methods are ordered to know the cause. Differential diagnosis approach is followed in case of non-infectious causes.
A complete blood test is usually recommended or if the cause can be predicted from the symptoms then certain tests are asked to be taken for the confirmation. The patient is made to go through a thorough physical examination, palpation, auscultation to learn the condition of acute fever. The patient’s history is also taken into account. Some other tests are carried out to assess the cause of the fever such as