Management of fever
Group B1
Fundamental Of Nursing
Definition
Fever or pyrexia is defined as a
Rise in the body temperature
Above 37.2 degree celcius .
The cause of fever is infections ,
Diseases of the nervous system
Certain malignant neoplasms ,
Blood diseases such as
Leukaemia , embolism and
Thrombosis , heat stroke from
Exposure to hot environments ,
Dehydration , surgical trauma
andCrushing injuries , skin
Abnormalities that interfere
withHeat loss , allergic
reactions to Foreign proteins
and pyrogens etc
In fever , all the systems of the
Body are affected . It may very
With the nature of the disease .
Respiratory system :
Shallow and rapid breathing .
Circulatory system :
Increased pulse rate and
Palpitation .
Alimentary system : dry
Mouth , coated tounge , loss of
Appetite , indigestion , nausea ,
Vomiting , constipation or
Diarrhea .
Nervous system : headache
, restlessness , irritability ,
Insomnia , convulsions ,
delirium
Urinary system : diminished
Urinary output , burning
Micturition , high colored urine
.
Musculo-skeletal-system
Malaise , fatigue , body pain , :
Join pain .
Integumentary system :
Heavy sweating , hot flushes ,
Goose flush , shivering or rigors
.
Fever is not a disease but it is a
Sign. Fever is a protective
Function of the body , because
The rise in temperature
prevents
The growth of organisms
causing
The disease
Fever if not too high , hastens
the
Destruction of bacteria by
Increasing phagocytosis and by
Producing immune bodies .
A temperature of 100 to 105
Degree for several hours will
Destroy the organisms of
syphilis
And gonorrhea
Symptoms
Body temperature vary slightly
From person to person and at
Different times of day . The
Average temperature has
Traditionally been defined as
98.6
F (37.8C) . A temperature taken
Using a mouth thermometer
( oral temperature that 100F
(37.8C) or higher is generally
Considered to be a fever .
Depending on What causing a
Fever, other fever signs and
Symptoms may include :
Sweating , Chills and Shivering ,
Headache , Muscle aches ,
Loss
Of appetite , Irritability,
Dehydration , General
weakness .
A fever has many causes and
Can be a symptoms of almost
Any illness . Among the most
Common are : Colds or Flu ,
Earaches , Bronchitis , Strep
Throat , Urinary tract infections
,
Mononucleosis .
However , if you or your child
are
Experiencing a higher than
Normal body temperature and
no
Other symptoms of illness , do
Not assume something is
wrong .
A person body temperature
Changes throughout the day
and
Varies with many normal
Activities and For example ,
Stress , excitement
, heavy clothing , food , certain
Medications , a menstrual cycle
And exercise can all raise body
Temperature . Also , children
tend
To have a slightly higher body
Temperature than adults .
If a baby has a fever , they may
:
Feel hot to the touch .-1
Have flushed cheeks .-2
Be sweaty or clammy
Management of
Fever
Fevers are usually treated when
a
Child is in discomfort.
This applies to both children
and
Adults . Its also important to
Remember that fever is a sign
That something is happening
Within the body , and treating
it
Does not treat the underlying
Cause of the fever .
However , children less than 3
Months old , with a body
Temperature of >38.0 degree ,
Presenting with other “red flag”
Symptoms should be seen by a
doctor.
Managing fever in
Adults
To determine if a patient has a
Fever , the most common and
Accurate route of taking a
Temperature in adults is a
Thermometer placed under the
Tongue (oral route) .
For practical clinical purposes ,
a
Patient is considered febrile or
Pyrexial if the oral temperature
Exceeds 37.5 C (99.5F) or the
Rectal temperature exceeds
38C
(100.5F).
If the temperature is > 39.4C ,
the
Patient should seek medical
attention
Do not forget to ask the patient
For other symptoms they are
Experiencing to help determine
The cause of fever ( such as
“red
Flag” symptoms ) , and if they
Require any other treatment
Recommendations , other than
Medications to treat fever .
Managing fever in
Children
Assessment of fever in
Children
For infants and children under
3
Years of age , it is
recommended
That their temperature be
taken
Rectally for the assessment of
Fever . For children older than
3
Years of age , other methods of
Taking a temperature are orally
( under the tongue ) , under the
Armpit , or in the ear . However
,
Measuring a child temperature
Under the armpit or in the ear ,
Are considered less accurate
.As in adults , it is important to
Assess children for other
Symptoms accompanying the
Fever , as well as “ red flag “
Symptoms that would require a
Referral to a doctor .