Types Of Fever

What are the different types of fever? Fever is commonly a symptom of different diseases and infections. Most diseases, whether caused by bacteria, virus or fungi, have fever as a symptom and therefore it cannot be used to classify any type of ailment. Basically, fever is an increased body temperature beyond the normal. A normal body temperature, measured orally, usually ranges from 36.1 to 37.3 degree Celsius. Therefore, anybody with a temperature above this is said to suffer from some kind of fever. There are different types of fever which can be classified as to the cause, symptoms and its pattern.

Continuous Fever

With these types fever, the patient experiences a relatively higher body temperature than the normal. However, he or she may not observe harsh fluctuations. A variation of roughly 1 degree Celsius may be observed within 24 hours. Continuous fever is usually a symptom of: Urinary Tract Infections (UTI), brucellosis, typhoid and lobar pneumonia. Typhoid fever is usually continuous and prolonged and subsides only on medication. People with this signs are normally advised to seek medical attention as it may worsen at times.

Remittent Fever

This type of fever is experienced when the temperature fluctuations, within 24 hours, is beyond 1 degree Celsius. Patients with infective endocarditis usually experience this type of fever.

Intermittent Fever

Here, fever is experienced intermittently, that is, fever strikes for a certain period of time and then the normal temperature is re-attained. It is usually a symptom for malaria, cepticemia and black-fever. Intermittent fever is also called quotidian fever when it is observed for 24 hours, tertian fever when it extends to 48 hours and quartan fever when observed periodically for 72 hours. Patients with plasmodium malariae usually experience quartan fever. Episodic fever is a type that occurs when there is a periodic pattern of high and low body temperature. These types of fever are also dangerous and in most cases they lead to death. Therefore, victims should always seek medical attention as fast as possible.

Relapsing Fever

Relapsing fever is one that keeps re-emerging after a definite period of time. It is a sign of weak or compromised immune system which may occur as a result some medical procedures or past infections.

Pel-Ebstein Fever

A number of medical personnel have always argued that these types of fever exists. Patients with pel-Ebstein fever experience a high fever for a week and low fever for the following week. The pattern goes on periodically. It is a symptom of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a white blood cells cancer.

These are just broad category in which different types of fever can be classified. But what really makes the body temperature to rise? When the body is attacked by any bacteria or fungi, it usually increases its temperature so as to destroy any pathogens. This adaptive mechanism causes fever. This is the main reason why fever is a symptom of most disease conditions. Fever can be fatal therefore, it is important to seek medical attention when experienced and avoid any circumstances that can make you stand higher chance of getting infections.