What symptoms does a high fever cause?

High fever is quite common in our daily life. For example, when you have a cold, you are prone to high fever. In addition, some other diseases may also cause symptoms of high fever. This is a self-regulating reaction of the human body. At this time, the patient is prone to chills and various symptoms. It is necessary to reduce the fever in time. If the medication is not effective, you should go to the hospital for examination in time.

What symptoms does a high fever cause?

The normal human body temperature is about 37.2℃. Unless the body temperature exceeds 38.5℃ (for adults) or 39℃ (for children), in fact, a high fever itself is not a disease, but a symptom that reminds your body that there may be a disease. In fact, heat dissipation is good for the body. This internal defense measure has the function of eliminating foreign pathogens. If the temperature does not rise too high, you may want to let it cool down naturally, which will help eliminate toxins. Generally speaking, a sudden outbreak of high fever (38.5℃-40℃) usually means that the body is infected with bacteria: acute inflammations such as colds, pneumonia, meningitis, scarlet fever, etc. are accompanied by high fever; and long-term low-grade fever (37.3℃-38.5℃) means that the immune system has been damaged: tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, lupus erythematosus, cancer, etc. all show symptoms of low-grade fever to varying degrees. A high fever requires immediate medical attention because it means the infection is getting worse. If the body temperature is too high, it can easily cause brain damage and dehydration, especially if the fever persists.

Family treatment

Don't rush to reduce fever. If the doctor determines that you just have a cold, it is best not to rush to take antipyretics within your tolerance range. Having a high fever is one of the body's mechanisms to fight infection. Our body mobilizes its own defense system to kill foreign pathogens by raising body temperature (generally speaking, pathogens will die above 39°C), thereby shortening the duration of the disease and enhancing the effectiveness of antibiotics. If you use medicine to reduce fever at the beginning of a cold (37-38.5℃), the bacteria in your body will be temporarily put into a state of suspended animation and become resistant to the medicine. Once they revive, they are often more difficult to treat. Cold compresses Apply cold compresses to help lower your body temperature. Place a cold wet towel on your forehead, wrists, and calves, and cover other parts of your body with clothing. When the cold compress reaches body temperature, it should be changed and repeated until the fever subsides. You can also wrap ice cubes in a cloth bag and place it on your forehead.

Hot compress If the body temperature is not too high, you can use hot compress to reduce the fever. Use a hot, wet towel to repeatedly wipe the patient's forehead and limbs to dissipate heat from the body until the fever subsides. However, if the body temperature rises above 39°C, do not use hot compresses to reduce the fever. Instead, use cold compresses to prevent the body temperature from continuing to rise. Wiping the body to evaporate the water also has a cooling effect. Experts recommend using cool running water to help dissipate excess heat from the skin. Although you can sponge your entire body, pay special attention to areas where your body temperature rises, such as your armpits and groin. After squeezing out excess water from the sponge, wipe one area at a time, keeping the rest covered with clothing. Your body heat will evaporate this water, helping to dissipate the heat. Sometimes, there is nothing more relaxing than a warm bath. It can also help relieve fever symptoms. Babies should be bathed in warm water or wrapped in a wet towel, which should be changed every 15 minutes.

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