THE LITTLE KNOWN ABOUT FEVER. -PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Fever, also referred to as pyrexia, is defined as having a temperature above the normal range due to an increase in the body’s temperature set point with values using values between 37.2 and 38.3 °C (99.0 and 100°F)
Temperature is regulated in the hypothalamus. The trigger of a fever, called a pyrogen, results in the release of prostaglandin E2 which in turn acts on the hypothalamus, which creates a systemic response in the body, causing heat-generating effects to match a new higher temperature set point.
Fever can be misdiagnosed of hyperthermia which goes beyond 41-42°C and does respond to NSAID antipyretics. Fever is one of body’s physiological process to fight infections. Its mechanism triggers muscle contractions and causes feeling of cold and chills and this makes the body produce more heat to counter the thermal negative feedback. The patient may complain of headaches, fatigue, with sweating.
CAUSES OF FEVER.
Fever is not always caused by Malaria as many people assume. Its a natural way of body responding to inflammation induced by microbes infection. This includes but not limited to :1.Bacterial infection such as pneumonia.2.Viral infections like influenza, common cold. 3.Parasitic infection like Malaria. 4.Cancers5.Responses to vaccination 6.Possible side effect of medication.
COMMON MISCONCEPTION OF FEVER -MALARIA.
Most people would assume otherwise that fever associated with any other symptom(s) is automatically malaria. This is seen especially in malaria infested areas like Lake region and Coast in Kenya. There are different types of fever and the one common for malaria is Intermittent fever, where the temperature elevation is present only for a certain period, later cycling back to normal. So if the fever is continuous ie persist for 24hr but does not flactuate for 1°C in 24 hrs or if fever is remittent ie flactuating for more than 1°C in 24hr, then the fever is not malarial.
BASELINE
As much as OTC drugs are available for treatment of fever, ie Paracetamols, self medication can be dangerous if the real cause is not established. Avoid Microbial resistance by having an appropriate lab tests and thereby a proper diagnosis. So avoid taking anti-malarial drugs everytime you feel fever whether associated with other signs and symptoms or not UNLESS you are diagnosed of Malaria. For medical checkups and Malaria diagnosis. :Contact us 0720 050 551.AfyaFitness20 Quality Affordable Trusted Healthcare.
