Fever

All of us at some point or another have experienced the body aches, chills and accompanying exhaustion that results from a fever. Fever is defined as an elevated body temperature; however, since people's regular (baseline) temperature varies depending on the time of day and weather conditions, what constitutes fever will vary from person to person.

Fever is caused by what is termed as "pyrogens" ("pyro" is Latin for "fire" or "heat," so "pyrogens" literally means "heat-causing" or "fever-causing" agents). Pyrogens can include viruses, bacteria, drugs and fungi, among others. When these substances enter the body, they affect the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for regulating body temperature--essentially the body's thermostat. Therefore, there are several types of fever, depending on the cause: viral, bacterial, fungal, drug and even traveler's fever (when exposure takes place to unfamiliar foods or diseases while traveling).

The thalamus, faced with an invader, raises body temperature in an attempt to fight off the foreign substance and protect the body. Normally, the heightened body temperature will eliminate the problem, but if the temperature goes above 104 degrees F or if the fever lasts more than 7 days and is accompanied by a stiff neck, severe headache, sore throat, vomiting, rash, bloody stool or painful urination, a physician should be contacted immediately. These symptoms can be a sign that the body cannot handle an invader and needs assistance, such as antibiotics.