What is Fever?

Fever also is known as hyperthermia, pyrexia, or elevated temperature is the result of an immune response by the body to a foreign agent or substance such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, drugs, or other toxins. It is described as a condition where the body temperature is higher than the normal. Fever can affect all the age groups. A short-term increase in body temperature can help the body to fight off the illness but a prolonged and severe form of fever can be a symptom of underlying disease condition that requires immediate medical attention. Normal body temperature is around 98.6°F, or 37°C, which can vary for each person, under certain physiological conditions and may fluctuate depending on the time and temperature of the day.

In general, a baby has a fever if the body temperature exceeds 100.4°F or 38°C, for a child when it exceeds 99.5°F or 37.5°C and for an adult when it exceeds 99 to 99.5°F or 37.2 to 37.5°C.

What are the causes of fever?

Different conditions and causes of fever: Fever is a common symptom of most infections such a common cold, flu, gastroenteritis, etc. The infections that may induce a fever include infection of the ear, throat, lung, bladder, stomach and intestines, liver, spleen and kidney. In children, immunizations or teething may cause a short-term low-grade fever. Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease, toxins, medicinal side effects, seizures, hormonal disorders, cancers, and glandular infections may also cause fevers.

What are the symptoms of the fever?

Symptoms: High temperature, shivering, sweating, headache, body pain, loss of appetite, dehydration, shaking, and chills, tachycardia, and irritability. The accompanying symptoms include sore throat, cough, earache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and very high temperatures there may be convulsions, hallucinations, or confusion depending on the organ infected.

How to prevent fever?

Prevention and care: Fever itself is not contagious but if it is caused by a viral or bacterial infection, then care should be taken to prevent it. Proper hygiene, Washing the hands frequently and avoiding contact with sick people as much as possible are few measures to prevent from getting infected. Proper care for a fever depends on the severity of the fever/infection. Drinking fluids and resting in bed, making sure of the room temperature, proper clothing and covering, good aeration, regular bath or a sponge bath using lukewarm water are some of the steps that can be taken to lower the temperature.

Homeopathic medicines for fever in general:

Aconite: Sudden onset of symptoms, nervous, restless, anxious and fearful. Skin is hot, dry with a bounding pulse. Increased thirst for cold water and intolerable body pain. Fever after sudden exposure to cold winds.

Arsenicum album: Fearful, restless, burning pain relieved by warmth. Thirst for the frequent intake of water; rapid prostration, increasing weakness; worse after midnight.

Belladona: Sudden onset of symptoms with flushed face, high temperature, strong and rapid pulse, thirstless and delirious.

Bryonia: For fever with body aches worse from very little movement; very thirsty, drink large amounts of water; usually pale and quiet.

Ferrum phosphoricum: Gradual onset of symptoms with red cheeks, throbbing headache, pulse fast and weak, better from cold applications on the head.

Gelsemium: The patient is chilly, aches all over, doesn’t want to move with a dull headache, droopy eyes, a sensation of heaviness in the limbs, chills up and down back; despite the fever, no thirst.

Pyrogenium: It is indicated in blood poisonings where the temperature keeps fluctuating, the pulse is weak and rapid; restless, aches all over, has chilled, is alternatively hot and cold, and complains bed is hard.

Rhus Tox: For fever along with extreme restlessness and body aches. Want to remain in constant motion throughout in order to avoid restlessness. Fevers as a result of getting wet in the rain.

Eupatorium perfoliatum: Known as "Bone-set", from the prompt manner in which it relieves pain in limbs and muscles that accompanies some forms of febrile disease, like malaria and influenza. Perspiration relieves all symptoms except headache, chills preceded by thirst with great soreness and aching of bones. Nausea, vomiting of bile at the close of chill or hot stage; throbbing headache.

Some of the effective Schwabe products for fever and for general wellbeing like to improve immunity like Alpha-CF, Echinacea angustifolia 1X, Munostim, Alpha-WD, etc. are listed below.

Tonsilitis