Ailments and Situations - Fever - Causes and What to Expect

Causes:

Several ailments can cause a fever. The most common cause is an infection. Other causes include inflammation, cancer, immune disorders, etc.

 
What to Expect:

A fever can pose a problem for people with cardiac or respiratory conditions due to the increased demand for oxygen that fevers cause and the increase in heart rate and respiratory rate that often accompany a fever. If you suffer from these conditions and you come down with a fever, see your naturopath or other health practitioner.

A high fever in the first trimester of pregnancy can lead to birth defects.

Some children may experience febrile seizures that can last up to five minutes. There is a higher risk of these seizures if the temperature reaches a high lever very quickly. It is also associated more with certain infections. Your child may be sleepy following the seizure. Children usually outgrow them with no increased risk of having seizures later in life. They can be quite traumatic for the caregiver, but are rarely serious. If you have any concerns, contact your naturopath or other health practitioner.

DO NOT give aspirin to a child with a fever. The use of aspirin has been associated with an increased risk of developing Reye's Syndrome, a condition characterized by acute encephalopathy and fatty infiltration of the liver.

High temperature must be watched closely. If you experience a temperature above 39ºC, contact your naturopath or other health practitioner.

Heatstroke can also cause an increase in temperature. If this is the case, contact your naturopath or other health practitioner.

If your fever continues for an undue amount of time or recurs, see you naturopath or other health practitioner. A low-grade, recurrent fever may indicate a chronic infection, inflammation, or cancer.