Symptoms of high fever
High fever is not a disease, but it is usually a symptom of the disease that is often caused by an infection.
Depending on age, state of health and cause of fever:
- treatment is necessary,
- you can wait for the fever to go away on its own.
Fever is a natural defense mechanism of the body against infections because the high temperature:
- hinders the survival and reproduction of viruses, bacteria and other harmful organisms that need a temperature of around 37 ° C;
- increases the metabolic activity of the body cells, which strengthens the immune system.
As a rule, fever is not dangerous.
Nevertheless, with a very high fever, the body is no longer able to control the body temperature.
What is high fever?
The normal body temperature should be:
- Measurement in the mouth around 36.8 ° ± 0.7 °;
- an axillary temperature (measured under the armpits) that is above 37.1º is considered a fever (or pyrexia).
- in the evening and in the night higher,
- at the morning is lower because the body burns less nutrients during sleep.
High fever in infants and children
High fever in young children can cause brain damage, which can have long-term effects, such as: