What causes fever?
Most of the time, fever is caused by infectious illnesses which are viral or bacterial in origin whose evolution is favourable.
Fever may also arise:
- in the case of dehydration,
- as a result of heat stroke,
- after a vaccination,
- in the presence of foreign bodies (allergens, transplant, etc.),
- as a result of an alteration to an organ or tissue, etc.
- after taking certain medication (neuroleptics, anaesthetics, etc.),
- in the case of certain metabolic illnesses such as hyperthyroidism.
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Important:
You must always seek the cause of the fever to apply a more specific treatment.
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Fever in children or infants
Fever in a child is often caused by trivial infections with a positive evolution. From what temperature should you apply a febrifugal treatment (to fight the fever)? This depends on the child’s general condition and comfort.
Fever in a young child can cause complications:
 Febrile convulsions
Febrile convulsions are frequent, especially in children under five years old. These fits occasionally occur and result from elevated body temperature. So-called simple febrile seizures are the most common. They occur in children between nine months and five years old, are generalised and brief (lasting less than 15 minutes). The result of a neurological examination performed at the end of the seizure will be normal.
Dehydration
Water loss through sweating can lead to dehydration. There is a significant risk of dehydration if the child has associated digestive disorders (diarrhoea, vomiting).
Severe hyperthermia syndrome
This includes severe hyperthermia, collapse, multivisceral failure, especially cerebral with coma and convulsions, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. One out of two affected children dies. Survivors generally suffer from neurological damage. The cause of this syndrome is unknown.
Fever in a woman of procreational age
A woman of procreational age has a temperature slightly below 37°C at the start of her cycle. When ovulation starts, her temperature rises sharply. This phenomenon may be used to favour or prevent pregnancy.
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