What Temperature Trends and Duration Reveal About Illness
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Depending on its pattern and how long it lasts, a fever can tell us quite a lot about what might be going on inside the body.1
What is a Fever?
A fever occurs when the body's temperature rises above the typical 37.2 °C.2a However, most health care providers consider it a fever when it hits 38 °C or higher.2b Often, fevers are the body's way of telling us that something is not right within the body.2c
Patterns in the Puzzle
Different illnesses can manifest in unique fever patterns:
- Intermittent Fever: Temperature rises but returns to normal daily.3a
- Remittent Fever: Temperature decreases daily but doesn't reach normal. The change in temperature varies between 0.3 ° C and 1.4 ° C.3b
- Hectic Fever: Either Intermittent or Remittent fever where the temperature difference (between highest and lowest) is 1.4 ° C or more.3c
- Sustained Fever: Elevated temperature with very little change (0.3 ° C or less) throughout the day.3d
- Relapsing Fever: Episodes of fever spikes are separated by days or weeks of normal temperature in between.3e
Duration: The Timeline Tells a Tale
The duration of a fever can provide clues about the underlying illness. If a fever lasts a few days, it's typically due to a mild infection4a and simply your body’s way of beating the infection.4a Fevers that linger longer, or are recurring, may hint at more serious conditions.4b
What Does It All Mean?
Here's the golden rule: if fever is chronic or recurring, or lasts longer than a few days, always consult a health care professional.
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References:
- Riverview Health. Are all fevers and fever symptoms the same? Available from : https://eruc.riverview.org/2021/10/12/are-all-fevers-and-fever-symptoms-the-same/. Last accessed August 2023.
- Hopkins Medicine. Fever. Available from : https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/fever. Last accessed August 2023.
- Dall L, Stanford JF. Fever, chills, and night sweats. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The history, physical, and laboratory examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 211. Available from : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK324/. Last accessed August 2023.
- CareCentral Urgent Care. When to worry about fever in adults. Available from : https://carecentralurgentcare.com/when-to-worry-about-fever-in-adults/. Last accessed August 2023.
- Panado® Tablets approved professional information, July 2016.
- Panado® Capsules approved professional information, August 1984.
- Panado® Effervescent (Tablet) approved professional information, July 2016.
- Panado® Paediatric Strawberry Syrup approved professional information, March 2002.
- Panado® Paediatric Syrup Alcohol and Sugar-Free approved professional information, May 2022.
- Panado® Infant Drops approved professional information, August 1990.
- Panado® Paediatric Alcohol Free – Grape Flavour Syrup approved professional information, October 2022.
- Circana, MT, May 2024 MAT.
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