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Fever makes you feel worse, but it is the organism's ally in the fight against viruses and bacteria. Sometimes, however, high temperature can be dangerous and then it needs to be quickly lowered. Check when a fever can be dangerous.

An elevated body temperatureusually tells you that something is wrong with your body. This is how it reacts to the action of some harmful factor and signals its readiness to defend itself.The fevertherefore proves that the immune system is working well. Usually, however, we forget about it, focusing rather on the terrible well-being, headaches or muscle pains. These ailments, as well as flushing on the cheeks, rapid breathing and heart rate are the most noticeableeffects of a fever . The higher it is, the more rapidly a disease develops and the more troublesome its symptoms can be.

When does fever help fight disease?

A fever is a symptom of a disease, and at the same time a natural process of the body's self-defense against harmful substances. When the body temperature is elevated, the concentration of iron and zinc in the plasma decreases, which inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria.

If the temperature reaches 38-38.5 ° C, the immune mechanisms are stimulated to be more active.

It also speeds up the metabolism, which makes the body get rid of toxins more efficiently. So as long as the temperature is not higher, it does not need to be combated immediately - unless it is associated with a very bad mood.

Worth knowing

Clinical trials have confirmed the beneficial effect of moderate fever on the course of viral and bacterial infections in humans. Its aim is to shorten the duration of the disease, relieve symptoms and reduce mortality. Most pediatricians emphasize the negative effects of high or prolonged fever, which are manifested by an increase in heat production, increased oxygen consumption, increased carbon dioxide production, and increased heart rate.

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When does a fever become dangerous?

The body temperature of 38-38.5 degrees C is a defensive symptom. Crossing this border becomes a problem. Excessive temperature rise ceases to fulfill a defensive function and begins to pose a serious threat to he alth. Change in body temperatureexceeding its normal level by 4 ° C leads to damage to cellular structures and disruption of many chemical processes in the body. The brain is the most sensitive to high temperature - a fever above 41 ° C disrupts its functioning and may lead to irreversible damage to the structure of proteins in nerve cells. But even a lower fever, if it persists for a long time, can be dangerous because it exhausts the body more and more.

Although a fever is a defensive symptom, it can be dangerous, especially if it is prolonged and high. The body is increasingly weakened and exhausted, and immune responses are inhibited.

With high fever, chills, profuse sweats, sometimes disturbed consciousness appear. Dehydration may also occur, which is associated with inhibition of perspiration. An adult person may react with a collapse with a sharp change in body position. Febrile convulsions are very dangerous in young children (they resemble an epilepsy attack and last a few minutes).

In addition, high fever can be dangerous for people with coronary heart disease (especially in the elderly), because it accelerates the heart rate, thus increasing the need for oxygen. If it is not supplied in adequate amounts, symptoms of cardiac ischemia may develop. Rapid increases and decreases of fever are also dangerous, because they can lead to circulatory failure.

When the temperature rises above 41 ° C, it disrupts the work of the brain (coma) and can cause irreversible damage to it. Man withstands temperatures elevated to 42-43 ° C. Exceeding this limit leads to irreversible changes in the body's cells, and even death.

Worth knowing

Consequences of fever:

  • body temperature up to 39 ° C - most often it does not disturb the body's functions
  • body temperature up to 40.5-41 ° C - there are impaired consciousness and impaired central temperature control mechanism
  • 41-42 ° C - causes tissue damage
  • 42-43 ° C - loss of regulatory mechanisms of the thermoregulation center
  • ≥ 42 ° C - irreversible brain damage
  • 43.5-45 ° C - may be fatal

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Category:

Immune system