Fever Overview

Man with a fever

Fever

Fever is a common sign and symptom observed in a variety of clinical settings.1

The normal body temperature is about 36.5°C to 38°C, with the typical temperature at 37°C. In a healthy afebrile person, the hypothalamic thermoregulatory centre of the brain regulates body temperature by balancing the heat produced during metabolism and that released through respiration and evaporation.1 However, when this balance is offset due to different reasons, fever sets in.

One common symptom in a variety of conditions2

  • Doctor taking a case history

    Fever is considered a natural reaction when the body is ill and is one of the oldest indications of disease. It often occurs due to infection, inflammation and trauma to the body. As it is a response of the body involving multi-systemic mechanisms that occur when the body is ill, fever is considered a significant contributor to the pathogenesis, clinical presentation and outcome of many illnesses and disease.

  • Fevers can be classified into acute, subacute and chronic.

    Fever Duration

    Acute

    		 < 7 days and characteristic of most infectious diseases.
    Subacute Not more than 2 weeks and seen in certain infections such as typhoid fever.
    Chronic Also known as persistent fever lasting for > 2 weeks and typical in chronic bacterial infections such as tuberculosis, cancers and viral infections like HIV.

  • Fevers can also have specific patterns depending on its cause and this together with other signs and symptoms are used to diagnose the underlying disease, infection or condition.

Meet Ollie

Mother and baby

Ollie’s got a fever

Ollie’s 1 years old and has been having a fever for the past two days. His mum is worried because he’s been fussy and not eating well. She’s been doing tepid sponging but the fever isn’t going down too much. She wants something to help him get rid of the fever and at the same time, something that is safe for him.

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Understanding fever

Child with fever

What causes fever?

Learn more about the causes of fever.

Causes

Thermometer icon

How do they present?

Refresh your knowledge on the signs and symptoms of fever and learn about “red flag” symptoms that indicate a referral to the doctor.

Signs and symptoms

Medicines

What can you recommend to your patients for fever?

Find out more about both non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments for fever in both adults and children.

Management

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Panadol Actifast pack shot

Releases paracetamol 2X faster*3

With 2x faster disintegration and absorption than standard paracetamol tablets, Panadol Actifast relieves pain faster3 and can even be taken on an empty stomach†.4,5

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Conditions

Conditions

Our overviews of common pain conditions explore the causes, signs, symptoms and impact of each condition, and summarise the latest evidence-based management recommendations.

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Patient care

Patient care resources

Access educational resources to share with your patients, to help them have a better understanding of their pain condition.

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