Fever: why it occurs for no reason and when it’s time to sound the alarm

36.6 is not a constant body temperature of a healthy person; if you monitor it throughout the day, this value will fluctuate slightly. The lowest result, about 36 degrees, will be at the time of morning sleep. If a person is hot after physical activity, the temperature may rise slightly

Body temperature is affected by heat, humidity, and too warm clothing. Women experience a slight jump in temperature (by half a degree) on certain days of the menstrual cycle. But this will be a one-time increase. A cause for concern may be an increase in temperature from 37.2 to 37.9 over a period of more than a month - this is a low-grade fever.

If a low-grade fever lasts more than two weeks, and is accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep, shortness of breath, then you should not delay seeing a therapist. Often, a low-grade fever signals a problem in the body when other symptoms have not yet appeared.

Causes of low-grade fever

There are diseases that provoke a slight increase in temperature over a long period of time.

• Chronic infectious process (tuberculosis, chronic diseases of the nasopharynx, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, prostatitis, adnexitis, bacterial endocarditis, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV infection).
• Inflammatory process
• Oncology
• Autoimmune diseases (rheumatism, ulcerative colitis, drug allergies, arthritis, post-infarction syndrome)
• Parasites
• Pathologies of the endocrine system (thyrotoxicosis, severe menopause)
• Thermoneurosis (vegetative dysfunction affecting heat exchange)

If the cause of fever is an infection, then it is characterized by:

• decrease after taking antipyretic;
• poor tolerance;
• There are fluctuations throughout the day.

But there are reasons when a healthy person has a low-grade fever:

• when overheated
• under stress
• when taking certain medications
• hereditary factor, when a child is born and lives with a high temperature
• upon activation of the hypothalamus
• during pregnancy
• before menstruation.

This temperature is not susceptible to the action of antipyretic drugs, is easily tolerated and does not have pronounced daily fluctuations.

An examination will help determine the cause.

Analyzes and studies for low-grade fever.

You should always start with a general practitioner. It is the general practitioner who will refer you for initial tests, and then, after the results obtained, will recommend an appointment with a specialist: an endocrinologist, cardiologist, gynecologist, otolaryngologist, infectious disease specialist.

Prolonged rise in temperature after COVID-19

Many patients who have recovered from COVID-19 often continue to have an increase in body temperature to 37.2 - 37.5. Why is this happening? Let's figure it out.

The thermoregulation center is located in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus controls the processes of the endocrine system, which is closely interconnected with the most important organs for thermoregulation - the adrenal glands and the thyroid gland. Thus, when the ambient temperature drops, the release of thyroid hormones, which accelerate metabolism, increases and, as a result, heat formation increases. When the weather changes, the adrenal glands release hormones into the blood that constrict or dilate blood vessels, including those of the skin. Because of this, the level of heat transfer changes.

Physiological fluctuations in body temperature during the day can be 1-1.3 degrees. Moreover, it always increases in the evening and can be normal from 16 to 18 hours in the axillary region within the range of 37.0 - 37.2. This is due to biorhythms and physiological processes in the body (lactation, menstruation in women, reaction to stress, pain, food intake, physical activity, special climatic conditions).

Coronavirus is known to have a damaging effect on the nervous system. Those. fluctuations in body temperature are explained by direct damage to the nervous system. Recovery takes a long time, sometimes several months.

The symptom of low-grade fever is a manifestation of post-Covid syndrome, which has not yet been treated. This is a kind of asthenic syndrome that arose after an illness associated with a significant inflammatory process. Recovery may take several months.

But the nervous system can be helped to recover faster:

► Sleep 7-9 hours every night.

► If possible, arrange a “quiet hour” during the day.

► Minimize the time spent on screens of devices such as a smartphone, tablet, computer or TV.

► Get enough rest.

► Maintain the room temperature at 22 degrees, constantly ventilate for fresh air.

► Maintain water regime – circular shower, contrast shower.

► Eat a balanced and healthy diet: eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, protein, no fast food, fried foods, alcohol or caffeine. It is possible to use enteral nutrition with a high content of protein and energy, for example Nutridrink Compact Protein 125 g (1 plastic bottle) per day for 3-4 weeks.

► Walk in the fresh air and have regular light physical activity (physical therapy, yoga, especially breathing practices, meditation).

► Taking vitamin D in a prophylactic dosage of 2000 IU per day, Magne B6 forte, 1 tablet 3 times per day for 1 month.

► The use of acupuncture is also recognized as evidence-based medicine as a way to recover from illnesses.

However, it is very important for people who have problems with the endocrine system to contact an endocrinologist and monitor their indicators. Additionally, you can determine the level of iron, ferritin, and vitamin D in the blood. If there are abnormalities in the tests, begin appropriate treatment. And in any case, if a low-grade fever appears and persists for a long time, you should consult a doctor to identify possible problems.

What else is important besides measuring body temperature?

People in the process of recovery, especially the elderly, should regularly monitor their pulse and blood pressure, be vigilant about cardiac complaints, and monitor oxygen levels using a pulse oximeter. Normal oxygen saturation is between 96 and 100% and should not fall below 88% during exercise. Therefore, it is important to measure saturation before, during and after exercise.

If after suffering a coronavirus infection you do not feel the same as before, then the All Medicine Clinic has special rehabilitation programs after COVID-19 that will help improve your well-being!

You can find out more by phone or by following the links:

Outpatient rehabilitation program at the All Medicine Clinic

Thermoneurosis in adults and children: symptoms and treatment, how to conduct an aspirin test – Your psyche

A prolonged increase in temperature indicates that not everything is in order in the human body and immediate consultation with a doctor is required.

But sometimes it happens that doctors cannot find the cause of inflammation , and the temperature still does not drop.

In this case, the person is diagnosed with thermoneurosis. What kind of disease is this, and how does it manifest in adult patients?

Read about the symptoms and treatment of neurosis-like syndrome here.

Causes

1. The reasons for the development of thermoneurosis, as well as other types of nervousness, have not yet been clarified.
2. It has been scientifically proven that the autonomic nervous system is influenced by a person’s lifestyle, the frequency of stressful situations, nutrition, bad habits and more.
3. Most likely, thermoneurosis develops as a response of the human body to various injuries, stress, overwork and other factors.
4. Can cause thermoneurosis in an adult:

Symptoms

Thermoneurosis in adults can manifest itself with various symptoms and signs. The main one is a sharp increase in human body temperature. It ranges from 37 to 38.1.

Immediately after a night's sleep, the patient may experience a body temperature of 38 degrees . But throughout the day the patient's temperature remains at 37-37.5 degrees .

In addition, this condition may also cause symptoms such as:

• fainting;
• dizziness;
• headaches;
• rapid heartbeat, as well as a pulse that goes off scale;
• pale skin;
• poor concentration;
• tachycardia, bradycardia;
• irritability, anxiety, tearfulness;
• rapid fatigue;
• increased weather sensitivity. The human body reacts to even minor changes in pressure.

One of the important signals is sleep disturbance. Shallow sleep, difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night.

There is a constant feeling of tension in the head - a consequence of the fact that at night the nervous system cannot fully recover. This condition can lead to an emotional breakdown.

The digestive system is also sensitive to psychological factors. Loss of appetite, flatulence, problems with stool, abdominal pain.

In this case, the person is not diagnosed with either an ulcer or an intestinal infection . With thermoneurosis, quite often a person complains of nausea, which may be accompanied by dry mouth.

The nervous system is connected to all internal organs.

the entire body suffers from this disease .

With thermoneurosis, a person also experiences problems with breathing, namely, the person complains of lack of air, suffocation, and heavy breathing. Breathing problems are often observed in emotionally important situations or during conflict.

Diagnostics

To make an accurate diagnosis, a modern and, most importantly, high-quality approach is required. First of all, it is important to exclude the presence of serious diseases .

After all, an increase in temperature without the presence of inflammation or infection can be caused by the presence of a serious illness.

Aspirin test

How to test it? A fairly effective diagnostic method is the use of Aspirin . His method is to give the patient an Aspirin tablet.

This drug will reduce the temperature if there is inflammation in the body . With thermoneurosis, the body will not react to this drug in any way.

To make this diagnosis, the examination must be comprehensive.

Additional examination

In addition to the aspirin test, the doctor should also prescribe studies such as:

• Ultrasound;
• encephalogram;
• blood for infection.

In addition, before making such a diagnosis, it is important to exclude the presence of gynecological, endocrine and infectious diseases.

Treatment

How to treat the disease?

Typically, with thermoneurosis, body temperature can independently decrease when internal and external factors change. For example, if the circumstances under which a person was stressed have changed, then the temperature can return to normal on its own.

That is why, if the cause of the development of the disease is stress, then in this case only relaxation and rest are required .

If the causes of the disease are more serious (for example, brain disorders), the temperature may persist for several months. In this case, treatment will not be quick, and rehabilitation may take about two years.

Taking medications usually provides only temporary relief.

Sustainable results can only be ensured by a set of measures that include treatment methods such as:

• reflexology;
• acupuncture;
• meditation, as well as other methods of relaxation;
• herbal-based sedatives;
• normalization of nutrition;
• hardening, as well as physical activity;
• Homeopathic medicines.

Medicines

The following drugs are used to treat thermoneurosis:

1. Sedative medications .
   They help cope with increased anxiety, fears, and sleep problems. Usually, products with herbal composition are used: tincture of valerian, hawthorn, peony, motherwort, etc. Such drugs are safe, but in order for the signs of thermoneurosis to disappear, treatment must be continued for 2-7 weeks.
2. General strengthening drugs and vitamins. To strengthen the body and the functioning of the central nervous system, vitamins B, C, PP, folic acid, etc. are also used.
3. Nootropics . They improve cerebral circulation in children and adults. For treatment, the doctor may prescribe Celebrolysin, Glycine, Piracetam, Cortexin, Nootropil, as well as other medications.
4. Antidepressants and anxiolytics can help solve the problem. They normalize brain function and relieve anxiety. Amitriptyline, Imipramine, Maprotiline, Clomipramine, Mianserin.

Independent work

How to help yourself:

1. Reconsider your lifestyle. A person should go in for sports, go to the pool, ride a bike - such exercises strengthen the immune system and help to relax.
   In addition, you should eat well and get enough sleep.
2. Learn to give free rein to your emotions. This is one of the important points that should never be neglected. If the patient is worried about a chronically high temperature due to nervousness, then this indicates that the person is keeping emotions inside himself, not allowing them to come out. Thus, it turns out that a person is like a kettle that boils, but no one turns it off. And this only means that you need to look for ways to let your emotions out, for example, venting to a loved one.
3. You need to forget about your illness. If a patient takes his temperature several times a day and gets upset when he sees elevated readings, then he is stressing himself out even more—focusing his attention even more on the existing problem. The more often the patient measures his temperature, the more he will think that he has a high temperature, and nothing helps. This will stimulate the temperature to rise. That is why the patient needs to pull himself together and put the thermometer in a distant drawer. There is a temperature, and it will be there throughout the day - a person knows this even without a thermometer. Therefore, there is no point in constantly measuring it.
4. Eliminate the source of stress. If something makes a person nervous, then the cause of the stress must be eliminated or at least the attitude towards this problem must be reconsidered.
   A person must understand that this stress has caused the development of a serious illness that disturbs the patient’s mental balance. Accordingly, it is important to understand that thermoneurosis will be present in the patient’s life as long as he has such a life situation.

Prevention

The best prevention of thermoneurosis is a stable nervous system .

It is important not only to maintain a work and rest schedule, but also to eat right.

The patient's diet must include foods containing magnesium . With a lack of this vitamin, even minor stress can lead to dire consequences.

Thermoneurosis is a pathology that many patients try to ignore. In fact, such a condition can cause many problems for a person.

• It is important to learn to control your emotions, deal with stressful situations correctly and not give in to fear.
• , it is easier to prevent any disease than to treat it later.
• Thermoneurosis in adults - symptoms and treatment: