An increase in body temperature (or, in medical terms, hyperthermia), is a normal physiological reaction to the invasion of an infectious agent into the body.

However, not always immune response initiated by disease-causing agents, in some cases this is how a response to other exogenous and endogenous factors occurs.

The danger of this condition lies in the possibility of developing severe complications. An increase in body temperature in the range of 38.1-39 degrees in medical practice called febrile.

Such hyperthermia does not always require treatment. What you need to know about the increase in body temperature to 38.5?

In any case, when the temperature rises, you should consult a doctor. Urgent health care required in several situations:

• Body temperature is not knocked down by improvised means.
• The temperature continues to rise.
• Seizures are observed.
• There are problems with breathing.
• The temperature rises to the level of 39-40 degrees.
• The stiffness of the neck muscles began.

In all other cases, self-help is possible (but not self-treatment, this is a big difference).

First aid to the sick

First aid is required only when the level of hyperthermia exceeds 38 degrees. Lowering the temperature is not necessary (as a rule).

1. It is required to provide an inflow of fresh air into the room.
2. The patient should be given a plentiful warm drink (fruit drinks, compotes, teas, clean water no gases).
3. Give the patient an antipyretic drug. Ibuprofen, Nurofen, etc. They should be taken with caution and only before consulting a doctor, no longer.

With thermometer values ​​above 39, the most reasonable thing would be to call an ambulance.

Treatment

Only these means can be treated. Without a doctor's prescription, therapy should be limited to taking antipyretics for a period until the doctor's consultation.

If the temperature is 38.5 in an adult, what should the patient do? Therapy will be medical, and is aimed at eliminating the root cause of the disease.

Relief of hyperthermia is symptomatic treatment. But you can only use it on your own.

Among the drugs:

• Anti-inflammatory non-steroidal origin and antipyretic drugs (Ibuprofen, Ketorol, Nurofen, Nise, etc.). Used in the form of tablets.
• Painkillers (analgesics). These include: Analgin, Tempalgin, Baralgin.

Alternative methods of therapy

All folk remedies must be applied with great care. Perhaps the development of allergic reactions.

When the temperature is 38-38.2 in an adult, what should a patient do at home? Folk recipes can be a good help in therapy, but no more.

These funds cannot be used as the main method of treatment. good effect should be expected only by combining them with medications.

The most effective are the following recipes:

• Strong tea. Classic recipe to take the temperature off. To prepare, brew a teaspoon of tea leaves with 2/3 cups of water. Insist for 15 minutes. Do not add sugar. Drink in small sips.

• Take two medium potatoes. Grate them on a coarse grater along with the peel. Mix with a tablespoon of vinegar. Spread the mixture on cheesecloth or other cloth. Put the application on the forehead. Keep the compress for two hours, then change.
• Take a medium onion, an apple and a tablespoon of honey. Grate vegetables and fruit until gruel. Mix ingredients. Take a tablespoon three times a day.
• Eat a citrus fruit: two oranges, a whole grapefruit, or three lemon slices.
• Mix apple juice, lemon juice with a tablespoon of honey. Fruit must be whole. Now you need to drink the indicated mixture in three doses.
• Take vodka, cold water. Mix in a ratio of 1: 1, use the product for rubdowns. Do not use to bring down the temperature of children!
• Tea with mint and ginger.
• A decoction of black currant leaves.
• Chamomile tea.
• Raspberry jam. simple and nice way treatment. Drink with strong unsweetened tea.

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Possible causes of febrile hyperthermia

The causes of an increase in body temperature are always pathological in nature. Self-diagnosis is not recommended.

Although the manifestations of various diseases are quite specific, the risk of making a mistake is high. You should briefly consider the typical causes and symptoms of possible pathologies:

Tonsillitis

It is an inflammation of the palatine tonsils and soft palate. The causative agent is Staphylococcus aureus, for which the mucous membranes act as an excellent nutrient medium.

Tonsils are designed to protect the upper respiratory tract from infectious agents, therefore, when attacked by pathogenic flora, they are the first to suffer.

A private form of tonsillitis is angina, which occurs with a significant increase in temperature in adults up to 37.5-38.5 degrees (febrile condition).

The disease develops as acute pathology. Characterized intense pain in the throat of a burning, raw character.

In addition to the pain syndrome, the following are noted: the formation purulent plugs(yellowish lumps with a sharp, putrid smell), breathing problems due to swelling of the upper respiratory tract, white coating on soft palate etc.

Sometimes the disease can be accompanied only by pain without hyperthermia.

Pharyngitis

According to statistics, approximately 75% of people have had this disease at least once in their lives and do not suspect it themselves.

Another disease of the upper respiratory tract. In medical practice, pharyngitis is understood as inflammation of the mucous membrane of the palate with subsequent damage to the underlying anatomical structures.

Mostly pharyngitis affects people employed professional activity, which is associated with exposure to high temperatures, smokers.

The disease proceeds with subfebrile and febrile (38.1-38.9) thermometer values. For him, a feeling of dryness and burning in the throat, difficulty breathing, problems with the voice are typical (he may disappear altogether or be hoarse).

With a complicated form of pharyngitis, pain in the ears, nasopharynx, and active production of mucus are noted.

• Laryngitis. Inflammation of the larynx. Among ENT pathologies, this one is considered the most painful for the patient, because it causes a long, “clogging” cough that does not subside day or night.
• Tracheitis. Inflammation of the trachea. Typical temperature is 38.4-38.9 degrees. life-threatening pathology.
• Bronchitis. Inflammation of the bronchi.

Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia)

A deadly disease, often accompanied by a temperature of 38.2-38.5 in an adult, and in some cases up to 40 degrees.

Pathology leads to a violation of gas exchange, therefore it is dangerous not so much with hyperthermia as with accompanying symptoms.

A number of symptoms are pathognomonic for her:

1. pain behind the sternum when trying to inhale or exhale,
2. breathing problems (inability to take a full breath due to swelling),
3. discharge of a large amount of viscous yellowish sputum.

Flu

Influenza infection is always characterized by high thermometer values. Typical temperature is 38.6-38.8 degrees, aching bones (especially the legs), pain in the eyes. Nausea and vomiting may occur.

Other infectious diseases

This includes otitis, sinusitis, etc. Hyperthermia is characteristic of any serious infectious disease, and we can talk not only about febrile temperature, but also about values ​​​​of 39.9 and more.

This can be deadly: if the temperature rises too high, the blood cells begin to clot, resulting in death..

advanced forms of cancer

It is characterized by general and focal symptoms. General is hyperthermia, headache, weakness, weakness.

In some cases, nausea and vomiting are noted. Focal manifestations depend on the localization of the neoplastic process.

So, stomach cancer is manifested by dyspeptic symptoms, lung cancer by a violation of gas exchange, etc.

As a result of excessive proliferative activity of malignant cells, their death occurs: atypical anatomical structures simply not enough food.

At 3-4 stages of the disease, mass metastasis is observed with the formation of secondary foci.

Dying cells begin to decay, poisoning the body with toxins. Irritation of special centers of the brain leads to an increase in body temperature, since the body takes toxins as the result of the vital activity of bacterial microflora.

Usually we have to talk about relatively small values ​​​​of the thermometer. The temperature of 38.4 -38.5 is kept constant and is not stopped by typical antipyretics.

Hypothalamus lesions

United by the common name of the hypothalamic syndrome. The essence of the pathological process is the destruction of the nuclei of the indicated brain structure (it is known that it is the hypothalamus that is responsible for normal thermoregulation).

Destruction may be due to tumors (glial origin: astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, ependymomas), compression of the organ as a result of high blood pressure liquor, etc. Headaches, body temperature 38.3-38.7, mental and behavioral disorders are pathognomonic.

Childhood diseases

In adulthood, childhood diseases are especially difficult to tolerate (chickenpox, measles, etc.).

The cause of their occurrence in adults is an old infectious focus.

Sometimes it is impossible to identify the source of the lesion at a glance.

In this case, you need to look for the cause in the infectious focus (carious teeth, chronic diseases nasopharynx, etc.).

hyperthyroidism

The thyroid gland is a kind of heating boiler of the body. If we draw the analogy further, at a certain point in time, the heating boiler may start to work too intensively.

In this case, the body temperature rises to 38.5 degrees. The disease is characterized by a change in the structure of the neck, protrusion eyeballs(exophthalmos), violations of thermoregulation.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Arthritis of a rheumatoid nature is an autoimmune-inflammatory disease in which the destruction of articular and musculoskeletal structures occurs.

The disease most affected persons of young, working age. In this case, a temperature of 38.4 - 38.8 degrees is observed.

Main signs: pain syndrome in the area of ​​the affected joint (intense pain, worse at night and in the morning, weakens by noon), a feeling of squeezing the limb (tight glove or sock), violations motor activity musculoskeletal structure susceptible to the pathogenic process.

Diseases not of bacterial origin

• Constitutional hyperthermia. Associated with violations of processes in the vegetative nervous system. It occurs in young girls of a slender physique during a period of stress, emotional stress.
• Hormonal imbalance. First of all, with ovarian hypofunction in women.
• Diseases of the pituitary gland. Leading are endocrine manifestations. Among them: hyperprolactinemia, hypogonadism, etc.
• Fever of unknown origin. Not a disease, but a kind of question mark. This includes all pathologies that remain undiagnosed until some time.
• Malignant neuroleptic syndrome. Occurs at long-term use neuroleptics (antipsychotics) high doses. Symptoms are dyskinesia (impaired motor activity and muscle tone), lethargy, drowsiness, weakness.
• Febrile schizophrenia. This is casuistry, because in practice it is difficult to distinguish this form mental illness from neuroleptic malignant syndrome. An extremely rare variant of psychopathology. It accounts for no more than 1 case per 20,000 patients.

In women, an increase in temperature may be due to the onset menstrual cycle. This is normal.

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There are many reasons for the possible rise in temperature to the level of 38-38.9 degrees. Only a doctor can understand the sources of the problem after objective examination. Diagnosis is the prerogative of the treating specialist.

Diagnostic methods

Only doctors are involved in the diagnosis. Since there are many underlying causes of hyperthermia, we are talking about an interdisciplinary problem.

To solve it, specialists of several directions are involved: therapists, endocrinologists, infectious disease specialists, otolaryngologists, rheumatologists.

The first person to contact is a general practitioner. It will help determine the further tactics of diagnosis and treatment.

The examination begins with a questioning of the patient about complaints, as well as with the collection of anamnesis.

This is necessary so that the doctor can draw up a primary picture of the pathology and decide on further diagnostic tactics.

In the future, it is the turn of a number of instrumental and laboratory research. Among them:

1. X-ray of the chest organs. Needed to conduct a survey of the lungs. Allows you to identify pneumonia, neoplastic processes, etc.
2. Electroencephalogram. Allows you to determine the activity of the brain. In some cases, it leads to suspicion malignant neoplasms brain tissue, febrile schizophrenia.
3. MRI/CT diagnostics of the affected area pathological process. Appointed only by indications. It is considered the most informative diagnostic method, since it makes it possible to examine the area under study in detail. Due to its high cost, it is inaccessible for residents of the CIS countries.
4. Endoscopic examination of the throat and nasopharynx. Without laryngoscopy and other similar examinations, it is impossible to detect laryngitis, tracheitis, tonsillitis.

In some cases, a number of specific studies will be required:

• Joint arthroscopy.
• X-ray of the joints.
• Ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs.

About ways to measure body temperature

It would seem that there is nothing complicated in measuring body temperature. If there is no thermometer at hand, then you can touch the forehead of the sick person with your lips, but mistakes often occur here, this method will not allow you to accurately determine the temperature.

Another more accurate technique is counting the pulse. An increase in temperature by 1 degree leads to an increase in heart rate of 10 beats per minute. Thus, it is possible to roughly calculate how much the temperature has risen, knowing the indicator of its normal pulse. Fever is also indicated by an increase in the frequency respiratory movements. Normally, children take about 25 breaths per minute, and adults - up to 15 breaths.

Measurement of body temperature with a thermometer is carried out not only in the armpit, but also orally or rectally (holding the thermometer in oral cavity or anus). For young children, a thermometer is sometimes placed in the inguinal fold. There are a number of rules that should be followed when measuring temperature so as not to get a false result.

• The skin at the measurement site must be dry.
• During the measurement, you can not make movements, it is advisable not to talk.
• When measuring the temperature in the armpit, the thermometer should be held for about 3 minutes (the norm is 36.2 - 37.0 degrees).
• If you are using oral method, then the thermometer should be held for 1.5 minutes ( normal rate 36.6 - 37.2 degrees).
• When measuring the temperature in the anus, it is enough to hold the thermometer for one minute (the norm with this technique is 36.8 - 37.6 degrees)

Norm and pathology: when is it time to “knock down” the temperature?

It is generally accepted that normal body temperature is 36.6 degrees, however, as you can see, this is rather relative. The temperature can reach 37.0 degrees and be considered normal, it usually rises to such levels in the evening or during the hot season, after physical activity. Therefore, if before going to bed on the thermometer you saw the number 37.0, then there is nothing to worry about yet. When the temperature exceeds this limit, it is already possible to speak of a fever. It is also characterized by a feeling of heat or chills, redness skin.

When should the temperature be brought down?

The doctors of our clinic recommend the use of antipyretics when the body temperature reaches 38.5 degrees in children and 39.0 degrees in adults. But even in these cases, one should not take large dose antipyretic, it is enough to lower the temperature by 1.0 - 1.5 degrees to effective fight with infection continued without threat to the body.

A dangerous sign of fever is blanching of the skin, their "marbling", while the skin remains cold to the touch. This indicates a spasm of peripheral vessels. Typically, this phenomenon is more common in children, and is followed by convulsions. In such cases, it is urgent to call an ambulance.

infectious fever

For bacterial or viral infections The temperature rises almost all the time. How much it increases depends, firstly, on the amount of the pathogen, and secondly, on the state of the body of the person himself. For example, in the elderly, even an acute infection may be accompanied by a slight increase in temperature.

It is curious that with various infectious diseases, body temperature can behave differently: rise in the morning and subside in the evening, increase by a certain number of degrees and decrease after a few days. Depending on this, Various types fevers - perverted, recurrent and others. For physicians, this is very valuable. diagnostic criterion, since the type of fever makes it possible to narrow down the range of suspected diseases. Therefore, in case of infection, temperature should be measured in the morning and evening, preferably during the day.

What infections raise the temperature?

Usually when acute infection there is a sharp temperature jump, while there are common features intoxication: weakness, dizziness or nausea.

1. If fever is accompanied by cough, sore throat, or chest, shortness of breath, hoarseness, then we are talking about a respiratory infectious disease.
2. If the body temperature rises, and with it diarrhea begins, nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain occur, then there is practically no doubt that this is an intestinal infection.
3. A third option is also possible, when against the background of fever there is a sore throat, redness of the pharyngeal mucosa, cough and runny nose are sometimes noted, and there are also abdominal pains and diarrhea. In this case, one should suspect rotavirus infection or the so-called intestinal flu". But with any symptoms, it is better to seek help from our doctors.
4. Sometimes a local infection on any part of the body can cause a fever. For example, fever is often accompanied by carbuncles, abscesses, or phlegmon. It also occurs with (, carbuncle of the kidney). Only in case acute fever almost never happens, because the absorption capacity of the mucosa Bladder is minimal, and substances that cause an increase in temperature practically do not penetrate into the blood.

Sluggish chronic infectious processes in the body can also cause fever, especially during an exacerbation. However, a slight increase in temperature is often observed at normal times, when there are practically no other obvious symptoms of the disease.

When does the temperature rise again?

1. An unexplained increase in body temperature is noted with oncological diseases . This usually becomes one of the first symptoms along with weakness, apathy, loss of appetite, sudden weight loss and a depressed mood. In such cases, the temperature rises for a long time, but at the same time remains febrile, that is, does not exceed 38.5 degrees. As a rule, with tumors, the fever is undulating. Body temperature rises slowly, and when it reaches its peak, it also slowly decreases. Then comes the period when normal temperature, and then it begins to rise again.
2. At lymphogranulomatosis or Hodgkin's disease undulating fever is also common, although other types may be seen. An increase in temperature in this case is accompanied by chills, and when it decreases, then pouring sweat occurs. excessive sweating usually seen at night. Along with this, Hodgkin's disease manifests itself as enlarged lymph nodes, sometimes itching is present.
3. Body temperature rises when acute leukemia . Often it is confused with a sore throat, because there is pain when swallowing, a feeling of palpitations, lymph nodes enlarge, often there is increased bleeding (hematomas appear on the skin). But even before the onset of these symptoms, patients report a sharp and unmotivated weakness. It is noteworthy that antibiotic therapy does not positive results, that is, the temperature does not decrease.
4. Fever may also indicate endocrine diseases. For example, it almost always appears with thyrotoxicosis. At the same time, body temperature usually remains subfebrile, that is, it does not rise more than 37.5 degrees, however, during periods of exacerbations (crises), a significant excess of this limit can be observed. In addition to fever, thyrotoxicosis is disturbed by mood swings, tearfulness, hyperexcitability, insomnia , sudden loss body weight against the background of increased appetite, trembling of the tip of the tongue and fingers, menstrual irregularities in women. With hyperfunction parathyroid glands the temperature can rise to 38 - 39 degrees. In the case of hyperparathyroidism, patients complain of intense thirst, frequent urge to urinate, nausea, drowsiness, and pruritus.
5. Special attention should be addressed for fever, which appears a few weeks after the transferred respiratory diseases(most often after a sore throat), since it can talk about the development rheumatic myocarditis. Usually the body temperature rises slightly - up to 37.0 - 37.5 degrees, but such a fever is very serious occasion to contact our doctor. In addition, body temperature may rise with endocarditis or, but in this case, the main attention is not paid to chest pains, which cannot be relieved by available analgesics.
6. Curiously, the temperature often rises with peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum, though it also does not exceed 37.5 degrees. The fever is aggravated if there is internal bleeding. Its symptoms are sharp dagger pains, vomiting " coffee grounds"or tarry feces, as well as a sudden and growing weakness.
7. Cerebral disorders (, traumatic brain injury or brain tumors) provoke an increase in temperature, irritating the center of its regulation in the brain. Fever in this case can be very different.
8. drug fever most often occurs in response to the use of antibiotics and some other drugs, while it is part of allergic reaction, therefore it is usually accompanied by itching of the skin and rashes.

What to do with high temperature?

Many, having discovered that they have an elevated temperature, immediately try to reduce it, using antipyretics available to everyone. However, their thoughtless use can harm even more than the fever itself, because fever is not a disease, but just a symptom, so suppressing it without establishing the cause is not always correct.

Especially it concerns infectious diseases when under conditions elevated temperature pathogens must be killed. If you try to reduce the temperature at the same time, infectious agents will remain alive and unharmed in the body.

Therefore, do not rush to run for pills, but lower the temperature competently, when the need arises, our specialists will help you with this. If the fever bothers you for a long time, you should contact one of our doctors: as you can see, she can talk about many things. noncommunicable diseases, so without carrying out additional research not enough.

Causes of high body temperature. To assess the condition of a person with a high temperature, let's find out why the temperature rises too high, for most people it is 38.5 C. It must be understood that a high temperature in an adult is not as dangerous as a temperature in a child. If the temperature is not very high, you can bring it down on your own without a threat to life. What temperature to knock down an adult? There are many reasons for an increase in temperature in an adult.

Causes of elevated temperature

Slightly elevated body temperature, which does not decrease in any way, but jumps from time to time - how to treat it? How to treat fever and should it be done at all?

Why does body temperature vary?

We all know that the normal body temperature is 36.6 C. In fact, this indicator is in the same person in different periods life is changing. For example, a thermometer gives different numbers during the month, even when full health. This is typical mainly for girls. Their body temperature usually rises slightly during ovulation and normalizes with the onset of menstruation.

But fluctuations in body temperature can occur within one day. In the morning, immediately after waking up, the temperature is minimal, and by the evening it usually rises by 0.5 C. Stress, food, physical activity, taking a bath or drinking hot (and also strong) drinks, being on the beach, too warm clothes, emotional outburst and much more can contribute to a slightly elevated body temperature. High temperature at small child much more dangerous than high fever in adults.

The cause of high temperature in adults may be long stay in the open sun in hot weather, and long stay child in a hot room.

Each person's body has some temperature, most often normal. If you measure the temperature in the mouth, then healthy person it will be no higher than 37. In an adult, body temperature can be brought down by taking aspirin or paracetamol every four hours.

Is elevated body temperature normal?

And then there are people for whom the normal value of body temperature is not 36.6, but 37 C or even a little higher. As a rule, this applies to young men and women of the asthenic type of physique, who, in addition to the graceful physique, still have a vulnerable mental organization.

Fever is not uncommon, especially in children. According to statistics, it is typical for every fourth child aged 10 to 15 years. Usually such children are somewhat closed and slow, apathetic or, conversely, anxious and irritable. But in adults, this phenomenon is not unique.

However, it is not worth blaming everything on the characteristics of the body. Therefore, if normal temperature body was always normal and suddenly became elevated for a long time and in different time days is cause for concern.

There are different reasons for elevated body temperature ...

The following factors can be attributed to the causes of an increase in body temperature in an adult.

Inflammation may be the cause of elevated body temperature or infection. But sometimes the thermometer readings remain above the norm even after recovery. And the elevated body temperature can last for several months. This is how the syndrome of post-viral asthenia often manifests itself. Doctors in this case use the term "temperature tail". A slightly elevated body temperature caused by the consequences of an infection is not accompanied by changes in the analyzes and passes on its own.

However, there is a danger of confusing asthenia with incomplete recovery, when an elevated temperature indicates that the disease, which had subsided for a while, began to develop again. Therefore, just in case, it is better to take a blood test and find out if the white blood cells are normal. If everything is in order, you can calm down, the temperature will jump, jump and eventually “come to your senses”.

Other common cause elevated body temperature- Experienced stress. There is even a special term - psychogenic temperature. At the same time, fever is accompanied by symptoms such as bad feeling, shortness of breath and dizziness.

Well, if in the foreseeable past you have not endured any stress or infectious diseases, and your body temperature is elevated, then it is better to be examined. After all prolonged rise in body temperature may be dangerous diseases .

We exclude dangerous diseases as the cause of fever

At elevated body temperature, the first thing to do is to exclude all suspicions of inflammatory, infectious and other serious diseases (tuberculosis, thyrotoxicosis, Iron-deficiency anemia, chronic infectious or autoimmune diseases). First you need to contact a therapist who will make individual plan examinations. As a rule, if there is an organic cause of elevated body temperature, there are other characteristic symptoms: pain in different areas body, weight loss, lethargy, increased fatigue, sweating. When probing, an enlarged spleen or lymph nodes may be detected. Usually, finding out the causes of fever begins with a general and biochemical analysis of urine and blood; lung x-ray, ultrasound internal organs. Then, if necessary, more detailed studies are prescribed - for example, blood tests for rheumatoid factor or hormones thyroid gland. In the presence of pain of unknown origin, and especially with a sharp decrease in body weight, consultation with an oncologist is necessary.

The reason for the elevated temperature is a metabolic disorder

If examinations have shown that there are no organic reasons for elevated body temperature, it is too early to relax, because there is still cause for concern.

Where does the elevated temperature come from, even if there are no organic causes? It appears not at all because the body accumulates too much heat, but because it gives it poorly to the environment. Violation of the thermoregulation system at the physical level can be explained by a spasm of superficial vessels located in the skin of the upper and lower extremities. Also, in the body of people with elevated body temperature, failures in endocrine system(causes may be dysfunction of the adrenal cortex and metabolism).

Doctors consider this condition as a manifestation of the syndrome vegetative dystonia and even gave it a name - thermoneurosis. And although it's not a disease in pure form, because no organic changes occur, but still not the norm. After all, prolonged fever is stress for the body. Therefore, this condition must be treated. Neurologists at elevated temperatures in such cases recommend massage and acupuncture (to normalize the tone of peripheral vessels), psychotherapy.

Greenhouse conditions do not help, but rather interfere with getting rid of thermoneurosis. Therefore, for those who suffer from this disorder, it is better to stop taking care of yourself, and begin to harden and strengthen the body. People with problematic thermoregulation need: correct mode days; regular meals with plenty fresh vegetables and fruits; taking vitamins; sufficient stay for fresh air, physical education and hardening.

The reason for the increased temperature is an error in its measurement!

A thermometer placed under the arm may not give completely correct information - due to the abundance sweat glands V. this area is likely to be inaccurate. If you are used to measuring the temperature in your mouth (where it is half a degree higher than under your arm), then know that the numbers will go off scale if you ate, drank a hot drink or smoked an hour before. The temperature in the rectum is on average 1 C higher than in the armpit, but remember that the thermometer can be “mistaken” if you take measurements after taking a bath or exercising. Temperature measurement in the ear canal is considered the most reliable today. But this requires a special thermometer and exact observance of all the rules of procedure.

"The norm for each person is an objective, real, individual phenomenon ... A normal system is always an optimally functioning system."

V. Petlenko

Body temperature is a complex indicator of the thermal state of the human body, reflecting the complex relationship between heat production (heat production) various bodies and tissues and heat exchange between them and external environment. average temperature human body usually fluctuates between 36.5 and 37.2 degrees Celsius, due to internal exothermic reactions and the presence of "safety valves" to remove excess heat during sweating.

The "thermostat" (hypothalamus) is located in the brain and is constantly engaged in thermoregulation. During the day, a person's body temperature fluctuates, which is a reflection of circadian rhythms (more about which you can read in the previous mailing number - " biological rhythms" dated 09/15/2000, which you will find in the "archive" on the mailing site): the difference between body temperature early in the morning and in the evening reaches 0.5 - 1.0 ° C. Temperature differences between internal organs (several tenths of a degree) were revealed; difference between the temperature of internal organs, muscles and skin can be up to 5 - 10 ° C.

In women, the temperature varies depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle, if a woman’s body temperature is usually 37 ° C, it drops to 36.8 ° C in the first days of the cycle, drops to 36.6 ° C before ovulation, then, on the eve of the next menstruation, it rises to 37.2°C, and then again reaches 37°C. In addition, it was found that in men the temperature in the testicles is 1.5 ° C lower than on the rest of the body surface and the temperature of some parts of the body differs depending on physical activity and their positions.

For example, a thermometer placed in the mouth will show a temperature 0.5°C lower than that of the stomach, kidneys, and other organs. The temperature of various areas of the body of a conditional person at a temperature environment 20°С internal organs - 37°С armpit- 36°С deep muscle part of the thigh - 35°С deep layers calf muscle- 33°C elbow area - 32°C hand - 28°C center of the foot - 27-28°C Critical body temperature is considered to be 42°C, when it occurs metabolic disorders in the brain tissues. The human body is better adapted to the cold. For example, a decrease in body temperature to 32 ° C causes chills, but does not pose a very serious danger.

At 27°C, coma occurs, there is a violation of cardiac activity and respiration. Temperatures below 25°C are critical, but some people manage to survive hypothermia. So, one man, covered with a seven-meter snowdrift and dug out after five hours, was in a state of inevitable death, and rectal temperature was 19°C. He managed to save his life. Two more cases are known when patients, supercooled to 16 ° C, survived.

Elevated temperature

Hyperthermia is an abnormal increase in body temperature above 37 ° C as a result of a disease. This is a very common symptom that can occur when there is a malfunction in any part or system of the body. An elevated temperature that does not subside for a long time indicates dangerous state person. Elevated temperature is: low (37.2-38°C), medium (38-40°C) and high (over 40°C). Body temperature above 42.2°C leads to loss of consciousness. If it does not subside, then brain damage occurs.

Hyperthermia is divided into intermittent, temporary, permanent and recurrent. Intermittent hyperthermia (fever) is considered the most common type, characterized by daytime temperature swings above normal. Temporary hyperthermia means a daily decrease in temperature to normal levels, and then a new increase above normal. Temporary hyperthermia with a large temperature interval usually causes chills and increased sweating. It is also called septic fever.

Permanent hyperthermia - constant increase temperature with small differences (fluctuations). Recurrent hyperthermia means intermittent febrile and apyretic (characterized by the absence of fever) periods. Another classification takes into account the duration of hyperthermia: short (less than three weeks) or prolonged. Prolonged hyperthermia can occur with an increase in temperature for unknown reasons, when careful research cannot explain the causes that cause it. Infants and young children have high temperatures for longer periods of time, with large swings and more rapid growth temperature than in older children and adults.

Possible Causes of Hyperthermia

Consider the most likely options. Some should not cause you concern, but others may make you worry.

Everything is fine

middle of the menstrual cycle(of course, if you are a woman). In many women, the temperature usually rises slightly during ovulation and normalizes with the onset of menstruation. Return to measurements after 2-3 days.

Evening has come. It turns out that temperature fluctuations in many people can occur within one day. In the morning, immediately after waking up, the temperature is minimal, and by the evening it usually rises by half a degree. Go to bed and try to measure the temperature in the morning.

You recently went in for sports, danced. Physically and emotionally intense activity increases blood circulation and warms up the body. Calm down, rest for an hour and then put the thermometer under your arm again.

You are slightly overheated. For example, you just took a bath (water or sun). Or maybe they drank hot or strong drinks, or simply dressed too warmly? Let your body cool down: sit in the shade, ventilate the room, remove excess clothing, drink soft drinks. Well, how? Again 36.6? And you were worried!

You've been through a lot of stress. There is even a special term - psychogenic temperature. If something very unpleasant happened in life, or maybe there is an unfavorable atmosphere at home or at work that makes you constantly nervous, then perhaps this very reason “warms up” you from the inside. Psychogenic fever is more often accompanied by symptoms such as general malaise, shortness of breath and dizziness.

Subfebrile condition is your norm. There are people for whom the normal value of the mark on the thermometer is not 36.6, but 37 ° C or even a little higher. As a rule, this refers to asthenic boys and girls, who, in addition to their graceful physique, also have a fine mental organization. Did you recognize yourself? Then you can rightfully consider yourself a "hot thing."

Time to see a doctor!

If you do not have any of the above circumstances, and at the same time, measurements made by the same thermometer show overestimated numbers for several days and at different times of the day, it is better to find out what this may be due to. Subfebrile temperature may accompany such diseases and conditions as:

Tuberculosis. With the current alarming situation with the incidence of tuberculosis, it will not be superfluous to do a fluorography. Moreover, this study is mandatory and it must be carried out by all persons over 15 years of age annually. This is the only way to reliably control this dangerous disease.

thyrotoxicosis. In addition to elevated temperature, nervousness and emotional instability, sweating and palpitations are most often noted, fatigue and weakness, weight loss against the background of normal or even increased appetite. To diagnose thyrotoxicosis, it is enough to determine the level thyroid-stimulating hormone in blood. Its decrease indicates an excess of thyroid hormones in the body.

Iron-deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency is often due to hidden bleeding minor, but permanent. Often their causes are heavy menstruation (particularly with uterine fibroids), as well as stomach or duodenal ulcers, tumors of the stomach or intestines. Therefore, it is necessary to look for the cause of anemia.

Among the symptoms are weakness, fainting, pale skin, drowsiness, hair loss, brittle nails. A blood test for hemoglobin can confirm the presence of anemia.

Chronic infectious or autoimmune diseases, as well as malignant tumors. As a rule, in the presence of an organic cause of subfebrile fever, an increase in temperature is combined with other characteristic symptoms: pain in different parts of the body, weight loss, lethargy, increased fatigue, sweating. When probing, an enlarged spleen or lymph nodes may be detected.

Usually, finding out the causes of the appearance subfebrile temperature starts with general biochemical analysis urine and blood, X-ray of the lungs, ultrasound of internal organs. Then, if necessary, more detailed studies are added - for example, blood tests for rheumatoid factor or thyroid hormones. In the presence of pain of unknown origin, and especially with a sharp weight loss, consultation with an oncologist is necessary.

Syndrome of postviral asthenia. Occurs after ARVI. Doctors in this case use the term "temperature tail". A slightly elevated (subfebrile) temperature caused by the consequences of an infection is not accompanied by changes in the analyzes and passes on its own. But, in order not to confuse asthenia with incomplete recovery, it is still better to donate blood and urine for tests and find out if leukocytes are normal or elevated. If everything is in order, you can calm down, the temperature will jump, jump and eventually “come to your senses”.

The presence of a focus chronic infection(for example, tonsillitis, sinusitis, inflammation of the appendages and even caries). In practice, such a cause of fever is rare, but if there is a focus of infection, it must be treated. After all, it poisons the entire body.

Thermoneurosis. Doctors consider this condition as a manifestation of the syndrome of vegetovascular dystonia. Along with subfebrile temperature, there may be feelings of lack of air, increased fatigue, sweating limbs, attacks of unreasonable fear. And although this is not a disease in its purest form, it is still not the norm.

Therefore, this condition must be treated. To normalize the tone of peripheral vessels, neurologists recommend massage and acupuncture. A clear daily regimen, sufficient sleep, outdoor walks, regular hardening, sports (especially swimming) are useful. Often stable positive effect provides psychotherapeutic treatment.

Interesting Facts

highest body temperature July 10, 1980 at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, pc. Georgia, USA, 52-year-old Willie Jones, who suffered from heat stroke, was admitted. His temperature was 46.5°C. The patient was discharged from the hospital after 24 days.

The most low temperature human body was registered on February 23, 1994 in Regina, Saskatchewan Ave., Canada, with 2-year-old Carly Kozolofsky. After the door of her house was accidentally locked and the girl remained in the cold for 6 hours at a temperature of -22°C, her rectal temperature was 14.2°C.
From the Guinness Book of Records

Temperature in some animals:

Hibernating bat - 1.3°
Golden hamster - 3.5°
Elephant - 3.5°
Horse - 37.6°
Cow - 38.3°
Cat - 38.6°
Dog - 38.9°
Baran - 39°
Pig - 39.1°
Rabbit - 39.5°
Goat - 39.9°
Chicken - 41.5°
Lizard in the sun - 50-60°C.

Illness always takes us by surprise. It is especially unpleasant when the temperature rises, and especially when it occurs in children. So what causes temperature?

The reason for the rise in temperature

High temperatures usually cause us fear and panic. Not knowing what the temperature could be from, we call a doctor, start drinking various pills, we are afraid that the rising temperature will harm the body.

In fact, high temperature is natural reaction our body for infection. When pathogenic microbes and viruses enter our body, they are met by leukocytes, which immediately begin active struggle with an infection. As a result of this, the hypothalamus, which is a kind of thermostat in our body, gives the command to raise the body temperature. At elevated temperature

Often a high temperature is a sign of a serious illness, and if you are not a doctor, then you should not self-diagnose and self-medicate. This is fraught with serious consequences.

Many people know what to drink from the temperature. Paracetamol is usually used. It relieves temperature well and anesthetizes, but it is worth noting that it is only necessary to bring it down when it rises above 38.5. Knocking down a lower temperature, you do not allow the body to fight the infection.

What causes high fever?

1. Flu. This viral disease accompanied by fever, aching joints, muscle pain, general weakness and catarrhal symptoms.
2. Angina is accompanied by fever and acute pain in the throat.
3. Pneumonia, in addition to high fever, is characterized by pain in the chest, aggravated by inhalation.
4. Acute pyelonephritis occurs with pain in the kidney area, protein appears in the urine, the temperature rises and arterial pressure, edema appears.
5. Hemorrhagic fever or "mouse disease" is characterized by a very high temperature, total absence urination in the first days of illness, muscle pain and redness of the skin.
6. Gastroenterocolitis (dysentery, salmonellosis, cholera, paratyphoid, etc.) are accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, sharp pains in the abdomen, temperature.
7. Meningitis and encephalitis are characterized by high fever, rash, blurred vision, tension in the neck muscles.
8. Viral hepatitis A or jaundice - high fever, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.

Too high body temperature is dangerous for the body, especially for children, moreover, it can be a sign of a serious illness. Therefore, it is extremely important to call an ambulance doctor in time to exclude the possibility of illness or take the patient to the hospital to provide him timely assistance and treatment.

There are cases of misunderstanding of what keeps the temperature of 37 degrees for a long time. In this case, it is also recommended to consult a doctor to prescribe tests to find out what keeps the temperature from. This condition may be a sign of certain diseases.

Diseases with prolonged fever

• Diseases of the urinary system
• Viral hepatitis
• Syphilis, toxoplasmosis, mycoplasmosis
• Tuberculosis
• HIV infection
• Diseases gastrointestinal tract and helminthic invasion
• Thyroid diseases
• Pneumonia
• Myocarditis, pericarditis, endocarditis

Many of these diseases do not manifest themselves in anything for a long time, except for subfebrile temperature and some weakness. People do not pay attention to this state of their body, which is fundamentally wrong. Everyone knows that the disease is easier to treat initial stage than in its running form.

Temperature in children

In young children, many diseases can be accompanied by fever, especially during teething, and many mothers know why a child has a fever if he does not have a cold and nothing hurts him.

What to give the child from the temperature should be decided by the pediatrician, and parents know which remedy is suitable for their baby. Often these are drugs based on paracetamol or ibuprofen in suppositories, tablets or suspensions. The dosage and frequency of administration should be chosen according to age, it is indicated in the instructions for the medicine.

In general, temperature is a serious matter and you should not just “treat” it with antipyretics. Of course, we do not have the opportunity to run to the doctor with every SARS, but still you should be more attentive to your body. If suddenly you notice any pain or condition that is not characteristic of colds, then, of course, it is worth consulting with a specialist.