A fever, often referred to as a fever in the medical community, is an increase in body temperature that exceeds the normal body temperature by 0.5 ℃. Each person’s body temperature varies slightly, and the same person’s body temperature varies from time to time, so the determination of fever should be compared with one’s usual body temperature under the same conditions. In clinical practice, we often consider an axillary temperature greater than 37.2°C to be feverish. Some people think that a fever is caused by a cold. In fact, fever is often caused by infection or some other non-infectious factors that can cause fever. Infections, the most common cause of fever, include infections of the lower respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, and other parts of the body, in addition to the well-known upper respiratory tract infections (colds). In addition, there are many other factors that may cause fever, such as immune diseases, allergies, trauma, tumors, metabolic diseases, and some unexplained fevers. What is happening in our body when we have a fever? Many of the discomforts that our body feels are caused by temporary changes in the body’s internal environment triggered by our organism in the course of its fight against disease. In the case of fever caused by infection, most of the time the pathogens in the body are unknowingly eliminated by the immune system; once the body’s immune function is reduced or the pathogens are too strong, the body has to mobilize the internal environment to provoke a stronger force to fight the pathogens, and to summon this strong force, a higher body temperature is required. There are three main stages of fever: 1. The chilling period First of all, our body temperature tuning point is turned up. The tuning point is equivalent to the set temperature of the air conditioner in this room of the body. At the beginning, the room temperature is lower than the set temperature, which we call the chilling period. In order to quickly reach the set temperature, the epidermis vasoconstriction, sweat gland inhibition to reduce heat dissipation, muscle trembling to increase heat production, and at the same time send a signal to the thermoregulatory center, roaring: too cold, find a way to raise the body temperature! Many people feel cold during this phase and experience chills and other manifestations. 2, hyperthermia The body temperature rises to a set temperature and then enters the hyperthermia phase. At this time we actually feel bouts of dry heat. In order to maintain a high body temperature and enhance the immune system, the air conditioning in the room is on full power and does not relax. This phase is probably the most uncomfortable time in the whole fever process, as we feel that there is no way to vent the heat in our body. 3.Anti-fever period After a few hours to days or even longer battle, the immune system has achieved initial victory and entered the anti-fever period. It takes a lot of energy to maintain a high body temperature, and the tired body begins to cool down rapidly. The body temperature regulates the point of return to normal, during which the body produces less heat and dissipates substantially more heat, manifested by flushing and sweating all over the body, when we feel an indescribable comfort all over the body. In this way, fever is not a bad thing. However, in a particularly tough fight, the red-eyed immune system will demand a higher and higher body temperature. A body temperature above 41.5°C can cause damage to the delicate nervous system, and we need to intervene before that happens. Does sweating help? “Sweating” has been a tradition in our country for 2,000 years to combat fever, and is still seen by many as the cheapest and most effective way to combat fever. Many children have developed fever-covering syndrome because of their parents’ adherence to the tradition, causing pediatricians to sigh in dismay. So are adults not allowed to sweat either? Strictly speaking, sweating is not advisable. Many people argue that they cover a sweat out of the fever receded, but in fact, sweating is the result of fever, not the cause of fever. In the body temperature has not risen to the point of adjustment before, and then how to cover can not cover the sweat. The sweat is the result of the body’s spontaneous heat dissipation during the fever reduction stage, not the muffled out. If you have to find some face for the tradition of covering sweat, it is in the cold war period when our hands and feet are cold and shivering, covered in the quilt can help raise body temperature and reduce the discomfort caused by the cold. Once you enter the hyperthermia period, when your body no longer feels cold, you should never cover up again. Although we should create a better environment for the immune system to fight, but not pick up the sesame seeds and lose the watermelon, covering yourself uncomfortable, but also accidentally burned head. What is the right thing to do when you have a fever? Fever is a reaction of the body against various disease-causing factors, and has a positive role in the fight against disease, we should not and cannot blindly kill it. However, there is a limit to how much fever our body can tolerate, and once this limit is exceeded, it may lead to serious consequences. This threshold varies from person to person and from disease to disease. For most people, this threshold is your tolerance level. If the fever is within the limits of what the body can tolerate, such as a fever when the body temperature is not too high, the body temperature is below 39°C, and the fever does not last too long, then it may be possible to reduce the fever after general treatment; if the fever seriously interferes with your life and work, or lasts too long, it is necessary to take active measures. Drink more water: others ask you to drink more water when you have a fever is really not perfunctory, fever when the metabolic rate increases, the body water consumption is fast, need to be replenished in a timely manner. Fever reducing drugs: the above two are auxiliary measures, this one is the symptomatic treatment. At present, the first choice for adults to reduce fever acetaminophen drugs, many cold medicines on the market contain this ingredient. No need to take it regularly every day, nor in excess, just take it for a short time when you are not feeling well. Promptly seek medical attention: As the causes of fever can be complicated and numerous. The above describes the routine treatment principles for common fever patients. For those whose fever does not subside after conventional treatment, or those with high fever (body temperature of 39.5 to 41°C), accompanied by convulsions, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms should be sent to the doctor in time to identify the cause and give timely symptomatic and causal treatment.