Who Gets Fever?
Labels Fever
Fever is caused by so many common illnesses, including colds and flu,
that it happens to everyone many times in the course of a lifetime. Young
children are particularly likely to get bacterial and viral infections, such
as strep throat and ear infections, that cause fever. Sometimes minor viral
infections cause high fevers in children, whereas illnesses that are more
serious cause milder fevers. People of all ages get fever.
Helpful fever
Some evidence suggests that an elevated body temperature
can make the immune system more effective and weaken certain
bacteria. However, most of this evidence comes from animals or experiments
on human cells in test tubes. Scientists really do not know whether
fever actually helps people fight off infections. It may be that fever helps
in certain cases but not in others.
Fever often can be helpful in another way. It can be an important sign
that a person is sick. The movements of temperature up and down can
indicate whether a person is getting better or worse.
Harmful fever
Fever often makes an illness more unpleasant. In addition,
a feverish body needs more oxygen, which means that the heart and
lungs have to work harder as the fever rises, which can be a problem for
people who already have heart or lung problems.
Fever can make mental problems worse for elderly people who have
dementia (de-MEN-sha), which is a form of mental confusion and loss
of memory that can develop gradually as people age. High fever also can
cause temporary mental confusion, called delirium (de-LEER-e-um),
even in healthy people.
Febrile convulsion
Children under five years of age can have a different
problem if their temperature rises quickly. They may experience
a kind of seizure called a febrile convulsion (FEB-ryl kon-VUL-shun).
Their muscles may twitch, and they may lose consciousness for several
minutes. Usually, a febrile convulsion needs no treatment and may not
recur. However, febrile convulsions can be frightening. They also can lead
to injury; for example, if a child falls.
Extremely high temperatures of around 107 degrees F or higher can
cause permanent brain damage at any age if they last for a long time.
Temperatures that high usually result from hyperthermia, not from an
illness-related fever.
that it happens to everyone many times in the course of a lifetime. Young
children are particularly likely to get bacterial and viral infections, such
as strep throat and ear infections, that cause fever. Sometimes minor viral
infections cause high fevers in children, whereas illnesses that are more
serious cause milder fevers. People of all ages get fever.
Helpful fever
Some evidence suggests that an elevated body temperature
can make the immune system more effective and weaken certain
bacteria. However, most of this evidence comes from animals or experiments
on human cells in test tubes. Scientists really do not know whether
fever actually helps people fight off infections. It may be that fever helps
in certain cases but not in others.
Fever often can be helpful in another way. It can be an important sign
that a person is sick. The movements of temperature up and down can
indicate whether a person is getting better or worse.
Harmful fever
Fever often makes an illness more unpleasant. In addition,
a feverish body needs more oxygen, which means that the heart and
lungs have to work harder as the fever rises, which can be a problem for
people who already have heart or lung problems.
Fever can make mental problems worse for elderly people who have
dementia (de-MEN-sha), which is a form of mental confusion and loss
of memory that can develop gradually as people age. High fever also can
cause temporary mental confusion, called delirium (de-LEER-e-um),
even in healthy people.
Febrile convulsion
Children under five years of age can have a different
problem if their temperature rises quickly. They may experience
a kind of seizure called a febrile convulsion (FEB-ryl kon-VUL-shun).
Their muscles may twitch, and they may lose consciousness for several
minutes. Usually, a febrile convulsion needs no treatment and may not
recur. However, febrile convulsions can be frightening. They also can lead
to injury; for example, if a child falls.
Extremely high temperatures of around 107 degrees F or higher can
cause permanent brain damage at any age if they last for a long time.
Temperatures that high usually result from hyperthermia, not from an
illness-related fever.
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