Fever
Definition
A fever is a rise in body temperature to greater than 100°F (37.8°C).
Description
A healthy person's body temperature fluctuates between 97°F (36.1°C) and 100°F (37.8°C), with the average being 98.6°F (37°C). The body maintains stability within this range by balancing the heat produced by the metabolism with the heat lost to the environment. The "thermostat" that controls this process is located in the hypothalamus, a small structure located deep within the brain. The nervous system constantly relays information about the body's temperature to the thermostat. In turn, the thermostat activates different physical responses designed to cool or warm the body, depending on the circumstances. These responses include:
- decreasing or increasing the flow of blood from the body's core, where it is warmed, to the surface, where it is cooled
- slowing down or speeding up the rate at...
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