Long time temperature 37. Natural causes of fever in women
If the body temperature rises above 38 degrees, then you most likely caught a cold. But sometimes it also happens that the body temperature seems to be low - 37, but it lasts for several days and even weeks. Experts call this temperature subfebrile, and sometimes it can indicate very serious health problems.
Subfebrile body temperature
If your body is like “cotton wool”, your mind is shackled by apathy, and the temperature has already been holding for a week at 37, you need to figure out the reasons why you are in such a deplorable state. In no case should you panic and call the hospitals, calling an ambulance.
But this condition should not be ignored either. You need to analyze everything, and then you can safely go to an appointment with a therapist.
Subfebrile temperature causes
1. The most common source of subfebrile temperature is the onset of a cold. A person, as a rule, also feels other symptoms of malaise - sore throat, muscle aches, cough, headache, rhinitis, etc.
Such a temperature can also last for some period after the disease, when the main symptoms of the infection are eliminated, but the body recovers gradually, so the regulatory processes have not yet returned to normal.
2. Sometimes there is also a condition called thermoneurosis. Under heavy loads, stress, a sharp change in time and climatic zones, thermoregulation may fail. This may happen more often during childhood. But in people with unstable, mobile vegetative system (vegetative-vascular dystonia), thermoneuroses are often observed as a reaction to external influences.
3. If, along with an increase in temperature, discomfort and seething in the stomach are observed, food disgusts you, and you practically do not leave the toilet, then this is an intestinal infection. It is she who can make the temperature stay for several days.
4. Elevated temperature may be the result of a psychogenic effect on the consciousness of surrounding phenomena and objects. As a result, you get intense experiences, anxieties and fears that can provoke a painful state.
5. The temperature may also not subside due to a typical fever, which often portends an exotic disease brought from abroad. In no case should you panic, because this will not fix the situation. In this situation, it is urgent to contact an infectious disease specialist for the necessary tests and treatment.
6. A constant temperature of 37 may be a sign of acquired or congenital hyperthermia, the causes of which can be sorted out by a qualified specialist.
8. Prolonged temperature can also cause a tumor - a malignant formation. Therefore, it is better to be safe immediately and consult a doctor to exclude the possibility of such options. You will be sent to the oncologist's office and laboratory tests.
9. A temperature of 37 may not subside for a week due to autoimmune changes. It is also recommended to visit the hospital and check for possible abnormalities in the functioning of body systems - to exclude rheumatoid conditions, changes in hormonal balance and thyroid disorders.
Other causes of subfebrile temperature
1. Subfebrile condition often occurs with pneumonia or pneumonia. After suffering a cold, people often notice that the temperature is 37, there is shortness of breath and a characteristic cough. To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor needs an x-ray of the lungs.
The picture will show everything and confirm or exclude the presence of inflammatory processes. If you have similar symptoms, consult a physician, because pneumonia is a fairly serious disease, especially if left untreated.
2. Neuroinfection. There are infectious agents that can affect the central nervous system. The hypothalamus, a special part of the brain, is responsible for regulating our body temperature. With the penetration of neurotropic viruses into the body, this part of the brain can be "spoiled", which leads to a violation of the body's thermoregulation.
Other symptoms of damage to the hypothalamus by viruses include increased fatigue, irritability, and possible problems with sleep. In this situation, the help of a therapist is necessary, because with the help of blood tests you can find out whether or not there is a viral infection, and, if necessary, begin treatment.
3. Traumatic brain injury. They often lead to concussion, and low-grade fever may also be present. In case of a head injury, in any case, it is necessary to contact a neurologist and remain calm. Otherwise, everything can end with inflammatory processes in the arachnoid membrane of the brain.
A concussion can be diagnosed using an MRI, based on the results of which the neurologist prescribes drugs that stimulate the metabolism of nerve cells and thereby help them recover faster. Symptoms of a concussion also include headache, dizziness, nausea, a feeling of weakness in the body, increased sweating, tinnitus, sleep disturbance.
4. Hyperthyroidism. This is a disease in which there is an increased production of thyroid hormones. This leads to an increased metabolism, which, accordingly, provokes an increase in body temperature.
In the future, a person may begin to tremor when their hands tremble, tachycardia, irritability and excessive sweating may also appear. In the presence of such symptoms, it is necessary to consult an endocrinologist.
Temperature 37 lasts a week
If you feel normal, but the temperature is 37 for a week or even longer, it is possible that this condition is normal for you. A temperature in the range of 35.7 - 37.2 is considered normal.
Perhaps this is good news.
A slight increase in temperature can be caused not only by negative, but also by positive reasons. The fact is that the cause of the increase in temperature may well be pregnancy. This can be determined with a test or blood test. During pregnancy, subfebrile temperature can accompany a woman even throughout the entire period.
Here, both the individual reactions of the body to pregnancy and the acquired symptoms of SARS can play a role. Self-medication in this case is fraught with consequences, so you should safely go to a gynecologist or pharmacist for a consultation in order to choose the right drug if necessary.
But in general, sometimes a temperature of up to 37.3 in pregnant women is considered normal, and it can both constantly stay at this level and periodically rise to this value.
What to do if subfebrile temperature persists?
As mentioned earlier, a doctor's consultation is necessary, since the causes of this condition are purely individual in the same way as the ways to solve them. The doctor in this case should prescribe a urine and blood test. A complete blood count usually clearly shows if there are any hidden processes active in the body that you should be aware of.
If subfebrile temperature is observed in a small child, it is imperative to call a doctor in order to exclude a developing disease. However, in parallel, it is necessary to consider whether the child is teething or has recently been vaccinated. If the child is older, attention should be paid to whether he was overexcited at the holiday, whether he overworked at school or sections, etc.
Unfortunately, adults are not inclined to seek help with such a low temperature. In this case, you can advise the following - do not take antipyretic drugs. You can do something to increase immunity - introduce fruits rich in vitamin C into the diet, for example, relax and get enough sleep, because it can just be overwork.
If other symptoms join the temperature - diarrhea or inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, for example, you already need to be treated by a specialist.
Subfebrile condition is a slight increase in body temperature from 37.5 to 37.9 degrees. Higher rates are often accompanied by other signs that make it possible to diagnose the disease. But the cause of prolonged subfebrile condition is often difficult to determine, and the patient has to visit many doctors and take a huge number of tests.
Causes
The human body, as a warm-blooded creature, has the ability to maintain a stable temperature throughout life. A slight increase in temperature is possible with nervous strain, after eating, during sleep and at certain periods of the menstrual cycle. When it becomes necessary to protect the body from the effects of negative environmental factors, the temperature rises to high levels, causing fever and making it impossible for the reproduction of pathogenic microflora.
However, the causes of subfebrile temperature can also be diseases that require the body's immune system to at least a minimal rise in temperature to combat them.
Normal performance
What is normal body temperature? Everyone knows that the average is within the normal range of 36.6 degrees. However, an excess of a few tenths of a degree is allowed, since the normal human body temperature depends on individual characteristics. For some, the thermometer mark does not rise above 36.2, while others may experience a constant temperature of 37.2.
A similar indicator is considered normal (37) if a person does not have general weakness, chills, weakness, excessive sweating, fatigue and pain. In children under one year old, the temperature can also stay at a similar level (37-37.3), since babies still have an imperfect thermoregulation system.
However, you need to understand that if subfebrile temperature lasts for a long time, it means that there is a small inflammatory process in the body that must be detected and eliminated.
Measurement Rules
How to measure the temperature correctly? There are several sites that are most often used for these purposes. The most objective data allows you to get a temperature measurement in the anus or in the armpit.
The temperature in the anus is most often measured in young children, and in adult patients, the armpit is considered the traditional measurement site. Each part of the body has its own temperature standards:
- Mouth: 35.5 - 37.5
- Armpit: 34.7 - 37.3
- Anus: 36.6 - 38.0
The main causes of subfebrile temperature are given in the table.
Subfebrile temperature on the background of infections
Temperature during infection is a normal phenomenon, which shows that the body is fighting pathogens. ARVI almost always causes a slight increase in temperature, and is also accompanied by general weakness, pain in the joints and head, runny nose and cough. Subfebrile temperature in a child can also appear against the background of so-called childhood infections (chickenpox or smallpox), and it is often supplemented by other signs of a certain disease.
If the subfebrile temperature lasts for a year or so, the symptoms of malaise gradually disappear, but the focus of inflammation does not disappear. That is why it is necessary to detect the cause of subfebrile condition as soon as possible, although this can be quite difficult.
There are a number of diseases that cause subfebrile body temperature more often than other infections:
- Ulcers that do not scar, in patients with diabetes;
- Diseases of the ENT organs (, pharyngitis,);
- Abscesses at the injection site;
- dental caries;
- Inflammatory processes in the genitals ();
- Diseases of the digestive system:,;
- Inflammation of the genitourinary system (cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis).
To detect the localization of the inflammatory process, the patient is prescribed a series of tests and examinations:
- General blood and urine tests(increased white blood cell count or ESR level suggests the presence of inflammation);
- Additional diagnostic methods: x-ray, CT or ultrasound to examine the suspected organ;
- Consultation of doctors of narrow specialization: dentist, surgeon, gastroenterologist, ENT.
In case of successful detection of the inflammatory process, treatment should be started immediately, but it must be understood that chronic diseases are amenable to drug exposure much worse than acute forms of diseases.
Infections that are rarely diagnosed
There are a number of infectious diseases that are also accompanied by fever, but are rarely diagnosed.
Brucellosis
This disease most often affects people who, by profession or lifestyle, often have to come into contact with animals (for example, farm workers or veterinarians). in addition to subfebrile temperature, the disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Unclear consciousness
- fever
- Impaired vision and hearing
- Pain in joints and head.
- Toxoplasmosis
This infection is also quite common, but in most cases it occurs without any symptoms. Toxoplasmosis occurs in people who eat undercooked meat or have frequent contact with cats.
The most common diagnostic method is the Mantoux reaction. It is the introduction under the skin of a special protein from the destroyed shell of the causative agent of tuberculosis. The protein itself cannot provoke the disease, but skin manifestations indicate the presence or predisposition of a person to tuberculosis.
It is the Mantoux reaction that is considered the most accurate for diagnosing tuberculosis in children:
- The procedure is carried out annually;
- Children under 5 years of age should have a positive Mantoux reaction (papule sizes from 5 to 15 mm);
- A negative reaction indicates a congenital predisposition to tuberculosis or poor-quality conduct (complete absence) of BCG vaccination;
- If the size of the papule exceeds 15 mm, additional examinations are necessary;
- A sharp increase in the reaction in comparison with previous examinations is called a turn (infection with a microbacterium). Therefore, such babies are prescribed small doses of special drugs for the prevention of tuberculosis.
In order for the Mantoux reaction to be objective, it is necessary to adhere to some recommendations:
- You can not wet the injection site;
- It is important to understand that the sample itself cannot provoke tuberculosis;
- Citrus and sweet foods do not affect the size of the papule. An exception may be cases of allergies to these products (see).
Diaskintest is considered a more accurate diagnostic method. The reaction is also evaluated after 72 hours, however, the Diaskin test does not depend on the presence or absence of BCG vaccination, and positive results in almost 100 percent of cases indicate infection. However, even this exact method can give biased data. For example, if the patient had complications after BCG or was infected with bovine tuberculosis.
Treating tuberculosis is vital, although difficult. Without therapy, the disease leads to severe intoxication and causes the death of the patient. That is why it is important to vaccinate BCG children on time and conduct regular checks. Modern medicines make it possible to eliminate tuberculosis, although the number of cases of bacterial resistance to drugs has recently increased.
HIV
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection attacks the immune system, making the body susceptible to even the smallest infections. The ways of HIV infection are as follows:
- From mother to fetus;
- During unprotected intercourse;
- Use of contaminated tools in the offices of dentists or cosmetologists;
- During injections with infected syringes;
- With blood transfusions.
It is impossible to become infected by contact or airborne droplets, since infection requires a large amount of infection to enter the body.
Symptoms of HIV include:
- Muscle and joint pain
- High or subfebrile temperature
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Enlarged lymph nodes
The virus can be hidden in the body and develop for decades. Later, AIDS develops against the background of HIV, which can be accompanied by the following diseases:
- Thrush in the mouth
- Toxoplasmosis of the brain
- Pathological changes in the oral mucosa
- Kaposi's sarcoma
- Herpes with multiple recurrences
- Dysplasia and cervical cancer
- that is not treated with antibiotics
- molluscum contagiosum
- Sharp and strong weight loss
- Inflammation of the parotid glands
Diagnostic methods that allow you to determine HIV in the body include:
- Enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) is the simplest test that many workers must undergo at the request of employers. However, a one-time study is not always objective, since the presence of a virus in the blood can be determined even several months after a possible infection, so the analysis is often carried out twice.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most effective method that allows you to detect the virus in the blood within a few weeks after infection.
- To confirm the diagnosis, the method of immune suppression and viral load is additionally carried out.
If the HIV diagnosis has been confirmed, the patient is prescribed antiretroviral drugs. They cannot completely destroy the virus, but at least they significantly slow down the development of AIDS and allow the patient to live longer.
Malignant neoplasms
When a cancerous tumor begins to form in the body, metabolic processes change and all organs begin to work differently. As a result, paraneoplastic syndromes appear, including the temperature rise in tumors to subfebrile levels.
Very often, the development of malignant tumors makes a person more susceptible to other infections that can cause fever and fever.
It should be noted that paraneoplastic syndromes often recur, are poorly amenable to standard drug therapy, and their manifestations decrease in the treatment of the oncological process.
Frequent paraneoplastic syndromes may have the following manifestations:
- A fever that cannot be eliminated;
- Changes in the blood: and anemia;
- Skin manifestations of the syndrome appear: itching without a rash and causes, black acanthosis (accompanies cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, ovaries and breasts and Darier erythema (breast cancer or).
- Endocrine system disorders, which include hypoglycemia (low glucose levels in lung or digestive tract cancer), gynecomastia (enlarged breasts in men with lung cancer), and Cushing's syndrome, which is accompanied by increased production of the hormone ACTH in the adrenal glands (often accompanied by malignant tumors in the lungs, prostate, thyroid, and pancreas).
However, it is important to consider that such manifestations do not occur in all patients. But if a constant subfebrile temperature is accompanied by one of the symptoms listed above, you should definitely consult a doctor for a diagnosis.
Viral hepatitis B and C
With viral hepatitis, severe intoxication of the body occurs and the temperature rises. Every patient has a different onset. Someone immediately begins to suffer from pain in the hypochondrium, a fever appears and, in others, the manifestations of viral hepatitis are practically absent.
Slow viral hepatitis manifests itself as follows:
- Pain in muscles and joints
- General weakness and malaise
- Slight yellowing of the skin
- Increased sweating
- Subfebrile temperatures
- Discomfort in the liver after eating.
It is important that most viral hepatitis is chronic, so the symptoms may appear brighter during an exacerbation (see). Viral hepatitis can be contracted in the following ways:
- From mother to fetus
- During unprotected intercourse
- From contaminated syringes
- Through unhygienic medical instruments
- During blood transfusion
- During the use of contaminated dental or cosmetic instruments.
To diagnose viral hepatitis, the following examinations are carried out:
- ELISA is an analysis that detects antibodies to hepatitis. This diagnostic method allows not only to determine the phase of the disease, but also the risks of infection of the fetus and divide hepatitis into acute and chronic.
- PCR is a highly accurate method that allows you to detect the smallest particles of the virus in the blood.
The acute form of viral hepatitis is often not treated, but is limited to symptomatic therapy. An exacerbation of chronic viral hepatitis is eliminated with antiviral agents, and choleretic drugs are also prescribed to the patient. Chronic hepatitis without appropriate treatment can lead to cirrhosis and cancer.
Anemia
Anemia is a separate disease or comorbidity in which the level of hemoglobin in the blood decreases. This pathology can occur for many reasons, but iron deficiency in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is considered the most common. Anemia can be caused by vegetarianism, chronic bleeding, and during heavy menstruation. There is also latent anemia, in which hemoglobin remains normal, but the iron content is reduced.
The main signs of overt and latent anemia are:
- Urinary and fecal incontinence
- A slight increase in temperature with anemia to subfebrile marks
- Poor health in stuffy rooms
- Constantly cold extremities
- Stomatitis and inflammation of the tongue (glossitis)
- Loss of energy and reduced performance
- Dry skin and itching
- Dizziness and headache
- Propensity to eat inedible foods and aversion to meat
- Dull and brittle hair and nails
- Increased daytime sleepiness
If there are many of the above symptoms, the patient is recommended to take additional tests to confirm the presence of anemia. First of all, a blood test is carried out for hemoglobin, ferritin level, and as an additional examination, a diagnosis of the digestive tract is prescribed. When confirming the diagnosis, the patient is prescribed (Tardiferon, Sorbifer). The course of treatment often lasts 3-4 months and is necessarily accompanied by the intake of ascorbic acid.
Thyroid diseases
The disease hyperthyroidism provokes an increased work of the thyroid gland and an increase in temperature to at least 37.2 degrees. Signs of the disease are:
- Permanent subfebrile condition
- Sudden weight loss
- Increased irritability
- High blood pressure
- Rapid pulse
- loose stool
For diagnosis, a blood test is performed for the content of hormones and ultrasound of the gland, and according to the data obtained, appropriate treatment is prescribed.
Autoimmune diseases
These pathologies are associated with the fact that the body begins to destroy itself. The immune system fails and causes inflammation in various tissues and organs. This also causes an increase in temperature. The most common autoimmune diseases are:
- Sjögren's syndrome
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Diffuse goiter of a toxic nature
- Thyroid disease - Hashimoto's thyroiditis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
In order to diagnose such pathologies in time, the patient needs to pass a series of tests and undergo examinations:
- LE cell assay is used to detect systemic lupus erythematosus
- The ESR indicator allows you to determine the presence of inflammation in the body
- Rheumatoid factor
- Blood test for C-reactive protein
Treatment begins only after confirmation of the diagnosis and includes the use of hormonal drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs that reduce the activity of the immune system. High-quality treatment allows you to keep the disease under control for a long time and reduce the number of relapses.
Psychogenic factors
Subfebrile temperatures very often appear with an accelerated metabolism, which can occur with mental disorders. If a person is constantly stressed and suffers from overwork, the metabolism is disturbed in the first place. To avoid psychogenic factors of fever, the following examinations of the patient's mental state should be carried out:
- Check the emotional excitability scale
- Give the patient a questionnaire to detect psychic attacks
- Tested on the Toronto alexithymic scale
- Diagnosis using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
- Fill out an individual topological questionnaire
- Examination is carried out on the Beck scale.
After receiving data on the state of the psyche, you need to contact a psychotherapist and start taking tranquilizers or antidepressants. Often, subfebrile temperature disappears when the patient calms down.
Subfebrile condition provoked by drugs
Long-term use of certain drugs can cause an increase in temperature to subfebrile. These funds include:
- Preparations based on the thyroid hormone (thyroxine)
- Adrenaline, norepinephrine and ephedrine
- Painkillers based on narcotic substances
- Drugs for Parkinson's disease
- Antihistamines and antidepressants
- With chemotherapy for cancer treatment
- Antibiotics
- Antipsychotics
Cancellation or replacement of the drug will help to eliminate the elevated temperature.
Consequences of diseases
Subfebrile temperatures in children
The causes of subfebrile condition in a child can be all the factors described above. However, due to the imperfection of the thermoregulation system, children are not recommended to bring down the temperature of 37.5. If the baby eats well and behaves actively, it is not advisable to look for the cause of subfebrile condition or somehow deal with it. But if in children older than a year the fever lasts for a long time and is accompanied by general weakness and lack of appetite, you should consult a doctor.
Method for detecting the cause of subfebrile condition
Basically, even a prolonged increase in temperature to subfebrile indicators is not associated with serious pathologies. But in order to exclude serious pathologies, you should consult a doctor. During diagnostics, the following algorithm is used:
- Determine the nature of the temperature (infectious or non-infectious)
- Take general blood, urine and feces tests for worm eggs
- A biochemical blood test is necessary to determine the presence of C-reactive protein
- X-ray of the respiratory organs and sinuses
- Ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract and heart
- Bacteriological culture of urine to diagnose possible inflammation in the genitourinary system
- tuberculosis tests.
If the cause has not been found, additional diagnostics are carried out:
- They consult with a rheumatologist, psychotherapist, hematologist, oncologist and phthisiatrician.
- Exclude brucellosis, viral hepatitis, toxoplasmosis and HIV by conducting appropriate tests.
Thank you
Temperature increase body to low subfebrile numbers - a fairly common phenomenon. It can be associated both with various diseases, and be a variant of the norm, or be an error in the measurements.
In any case, if the temperature is kept at 37 o C, it is necessary to inform a qualified specialist about this. Only he, after conducting the necessary examination, can say whether this is a variant of the norm, or indicates the presence of a disease.
Temperature: what can it be?
It should be borne in mind that body temperature is a variable value. Fluctuations during the day in different directions are acceptable, which is quite normal. None symptoms it is not followed. But a person who discovers a constant temperature of 37 o C for the first time can be extremely worried because of this.A person's body temperature may be as follows:
1.
Reduced (less than 35.5 o C).
2.
Normal (35.5-37 o C).
3.
Increased:
- subfebrile (37.1-38 o C);
- febrile (above 38 o C).
What you need to know about normal temperature:
- According to statistics, the most common normal body temperature is 37 o C, and not 36.6 o C, contrary to popular belief.
- The norm is physiological fluctuations in thermometry during the day in the same person within 0.5 o C, or even more.
- Lower values are usually noted in the morning hours, while the body temperature in the afternoon or evening can be 37 o C, or slightly higher.
- In deep sleep, thermometry readings may correspond to 36 o C or less (as a rule, the lowest readings are noted between 4 and 6 o'clock in the morning, but 37 o C and above in the morning can indicate pathology).
- The highest measurements are often recorded from about 4 pm until night (for example, a constant temperature of 37.5 o C in the evening may be a variant of the norm).
- In old age, the normal body temperature may be lower, and its daily fluctuations are not so pronounced.
Where can you measure body temperature:
1.
In the armpit.
Although this is the most popular and simple measurement method, it is the least informative. The results can be affected by humidity, room temperature and many other factors. Sometimes there is a reflex increase in temperature during the measurement. This may be due to excitement, for example, from a visit to the doctor. With thermometry in the oral cavity or rectum, there can be no such errors.
2.
In the mouth (oral temperature):
its indicators are usually 0.5 o C higher than those determined in the armpit.
3.
In the rectum (rectal temperature):
normally, it is 0.5 o C higher than in the mouth and, accordingly, 1 o C higher than in the armpit.
It is also quite reliable to determine the temperature in the ear canal. However, for an accurate measurement, a special thermometer is required, so this method is practically not used at home.
It is not recommended to measure oral or rectal temperature with a mercury thermometer - an electronic device should be used for this. For thermometry in infants, there are also electronic dummy thermometers.
Do not forget that a body temperature of 37.1-37.5 o C may be associated with an error in measurements, or talk about the presence of a pathology, for example, an infectious process in the body. Therefore, expert advice is still required.
Temperature 37 o C - is this normal?
If the thermometer is 37-37.5 o C - do not get upset and panic. Temperatures greater than 37 o C may be associated with measurement errors. In order for thermometry to be accurate, the following rules must be observed: 1. The measurement should be carried out in a calm, relaxed state, not earlier than 30 minutes after physical exertion (for example, after an active game, a child's temperature can be 37-37.5 o C and higher).
2. In children, measurement data can be significantly increased after screaming and crying.
3. It is better to carry out thermometry at about the same time, since low rates are more often noted in the morning, and by the evening the temperature usually rises to 37 o C and higher.
4. When taking thermometry in the armpit, it must be completely dry.
5. In cases where the measurement is taken in the mouth (oral temperature), it should not be taken after eating or drinking (especially hot), if the patient is short of breath or breathes through the mouth, and also after smoking.
6. Rectal temperature may rise by 1-2 o C or more after exercise, hot baths.
7. A temperature of 37 o C or a little higher can be after eating, after physical activity, against the background of stress, excitement or fatigue, after exposure to the sun, while in a warm, stuffy room with high humidity or, conversely, excessively dry air.
Another common cause of a temperature of 37 o C and above can constantly be a faulty thermometer. This is especially true for electronic devices, which quite often give an error in the measurement. Therefore, when receiving high readings, determine the temperature of another family member - suddenly it will also be too high. And it is even better that in this case there is always a working mercury thermometer in the house. When an electronic thermometer is still indispensable (for example, to determine the temperature of a small child), immediately after purchasing the device, take measurements with a mercury thermometer and an electronic one (you can use any healthy family member). This will make it possible to compare the results and determine the error in thermometry. When conducting such a test, it is better to use thermometers of different designs; you should not take the same mercury or electric thermometers.
4.
Diseases of the reproductive system.
When women have a temperature of 37-37.5 o C and the lower abdomen hurts, this may be a sign of infectious diseases of the genital organs, for example, vulvovaginitis. A temperature of 37 o C and above can be observed after procedures such as abortion, curettage. In men, fever may be indicative of prostatitis.
5.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Infectious inflammatory processes in the heart muscle are often accompanied by low numbers of fever. But, despite this, they are usually accompanied by such severe symptoms as shortness of breath, heart rhythm disturbances, edema, and a number of others.
6.
Foci of chronic infection.
They can be found in many organs. For example, if the body temperature is kept within 37.2 o C, then this may indicate the presence of chronic tonsillitis, adnexitis, prostatitis and other pathologies. After sanitation of the infectious focus, fever often disappears without a trace.
7.
Children's infections.
Often the occurrence of a rash and a temperature of 37 o C or higher may be a symptom of chicken pox, rubella or measles. Rashes usually appear at the height of fever, may be accompanied by itching and discomfort. However, a rash can be a symptom of more serious diseases (blood pathology, sepsis, meningitis), so do not forget to call a doctor if it occurs.
Often there are situations when, after an infectious disease, the temperature is 37 o C and above for a long time. This feature is often referred to as the "temperature tail". Elevated temperature readings can persist for several weeks or months. Even after taking antibiotics against an infectious agent, an indicator of 37 o C can remain for a long time. This condition does not require treatment, and goes away on its own without a trace. However, if, along with low-grade fever, cough, rhinitis, or other symptoms of the disease are observed, this may indicate a relapse of the disease, the occurrence of complications, or indicate a new infection. It is important not to miss this condition, as it requires a visit to the doctor.
Other causes of subfebrile temperature in a child are often:
- overheat;
- reaction to prophylactic vaccination;
- teething.
One of the frequent causes of a temperature increase in a child above 37-37.5 o C is teething. At the same time, thermometry data rarely reach numbers above 38.5 o C, so usually it is enough just to monitor the baby’s condition and use physical cooling methods. Temperature above 37 o C may be observed after vaccination. Usually, the indicators are kept within subfebrile numbers, and with their further increase, you can give the child an antipyretic once. An increase in temperature as a result of overheating can be observed in those children who are excessively wrapped and dressed. It can be very dangerous and cause heat stroke. Therefore, when the baby overheats, it should be undressed first. An increase in temperature can be observed in many non-communicable inflammatory diseases. As a rule, it is accompanied by other, rather characteristic signs of pathology. For example, a temperature of 37°C and blood-streaked diarrhea may be symptoms of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. In some diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, low-grade fever may appear several months before the first signs of the disease.
An increase in body temperature to low numbers is often noted against the background of allergic pathology: atopic dermatitis, urticaria and other conditions. For example, shortness of breath with difficulty exhaling, and a temperature of 37 o C and above, can be observed with an exacerbation of bronchial asthma.
Subfebrile fever can be observed in the pathology of the following organ systems:
1.
The cardiovascular system:
- VSD (vegetative dystonia syndrome) - a temperature of 37 o C and a little higher may indicate sympathicotonia, and is often combined with high blood pressure, headaches and other manifestations;
- high blood pressure and temperature of 37-37.5 o C can be with hypertension, especially during crises.
3. Respiratory system: a temperature of 37-37.5 o C may accompany chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
4. Nervous system:
- thermoneurosis (habitual hyperthermia) - often observed in young women, and is one of the manifestations of autonomic dystonia;
- tumors of the spinal cord and brain, traumatic injuries, hemorrhages and other pathologies.
6. Kidney pathology: a temperature of 37 o C and above may be a sign of glomerulonephritis, dysmetabolic nephropathy, urolithiasis.
7. Sex organs: subfebrile fever can be observed with ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids and other pathologies.
8. Blood and immune system:
- a temperature of 37 o C accompanies many immunodeficiency states, including oncology;
- a small subfebrile fever can occur with blood pathology, including with ordinary iron deficiency anemia.
Indicators 37-37.5 o With are a variant of the norm after surgery. Their duration depends on the individual characteristics of the organism and the volume of surgical intervention. A slight fever may also be observed after some diagnostic manipulations, such as laparoscopy.
Which doctor should I contact with elevated body temperature?
Since an increase in body temperature can be due to a wide range of different causes, the choice of a specialist who needs to be contacted with a high temperature is determined by the nature of the person's other symptoms. Consider the doctors of which specialties you need to contact in various cases of fever:- If, in addition to fever, a person has a runny nose, pain, sore or sore throat, cough, headaches, aching muscles, bones and joints, then it is necessary to contact therapist (), since we are talking, most likely, about SARS, colds, flu, etc .;
- a persistent cough, or a constant feeling of general weakness, or a feeling that it is difficult to inhale, or wheezing when breathing, then you should consult a general practitioner and phthisiatrician (sign up), since these signs can be symptoms of either chronic bronchitis, or pneumonia, or tuberculosis;
- If elevated body temperature is combined with pain in the ear, leakage of pus or fluid from the ear, runny nose, itching, soreness or sore throat, a feeling of mucus flowing along the back of the throat, a feeling of pressure, bursting or pain in the upper part of the cheeks (cheekbones under the eyes) or above the eyebrows, then you should refer to otolaryngologist (ENT) (make an appointment), since most likely we are talking about otitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis or tonsillitis;
- If elevated body temperature is combined with pain, redness of the eyes, photophobia, leakage of pus or non-purulent fluid from the eye, you should contact ophthalmologist (make an appointment);
- If elevated body temperature is combined with pain during urination, back pain, frequent urge to urinate, then you need to consult a urologist / nephrologist (make an appointment) And venereologist (make an appointment), because a similar combination of symptoms may indicate either kidney disease or sexual infection;
- If elevated body temperature is combined with diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and nausea, then you should contact infectious disease doctor (make an appointment), since a similar set of symptoms may indicate an intestinal infection or hepatitis;
- If elevated body temperature is combined with moderate pain in the abdomen, as well as various phenomena of dyspepsia (belching, heartburn, feeling of heaviness after eating, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, etc.), then you should contact Gastroenterologist (make an appointment)(if there is none, then to the therapist), because. this indicates diseases of the digestive tract (gastritis, gastric ulcer, pancreatitis, Crohn's disease, etc.);
- If an elevated body temperature is combined with severe, unbearable pain in any part of the abdomen, then you should urgently contact surgeon (make an appointment), as this indicates a serious condition (for example, acute appendicitis, peritonitis, pancreatic necrosis, etc.) requiring immediate medical attention;
- If an elevated body temperature in women is combined with moderate or mild pain in the lower abdomen, discomfort in the genital area, unusual vaginal discharge, then you should contact gynecologist (make an appointment);
- If an elevated body temperature in women is combined with severe pain in the lower abdomen, bleeding from the genitals, severe general weakness, then you should urgently contact a gynecologist, as these symptoms indicate a serious condition (for example, ectopic pregnancy, uterine bleeding, sepsis, endometritis after abortion, etc.), requiring immediate treatment;
- If an elevated body temperature in men is combined with pain in the perineum and in the prostate gland, then you should contact a urologist, as this may indicate prostatitis or other diseases of the male genital area;
- If elevated body temperature is combined with shortness of breath, arrhythmia, edema, then you should contact your therapist or cardiologist (make an appointment), as this may indicate inflammatory diseases of the heart (pericarditis, endocarditis, etc.);
- If elevated body temperature is combined with pain in the joints, rashes on the skin, marble coloration of the skin, impaired blood flow and sensitivity of the extremities (cold hands and feet, blue fingers, numbness, running "goosebumps", etc.), red blood cells or blood in the urine, pain when urinating or pain in other parts of the body, then you should contact rheumatologist (make an appointment), as this may indicate the presence of autoimmune or other rheumatic diseases;
- Temperature in combination with rashes or inflammations on the skin and ARVI phenomena may indicate various infectious or skin diseases (for example, erysipelas, scarlet fever, chickenpox, etc.), therefore, when such a combination of symptoms appears, you need to contact a therapist, an infectious disease specialist and dermatologist (make an appointment);
- If elevated body temperature is combined with headaches, jumps in blood pressure, a feeling of interruptions in the work of the heart, then you should consult a therapist, as this may indicate vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- If elevated body temperature is combined with tachycardia, sweating, enlarged goiter, then you need to contact endocrinologist (make an appointment), as this may be a sign of hyperthyroidism or Addison's disease;
- If elevated body temperature is combined with neurological symptoms (for example, obsessive movements, coordination disorder, sensory impairment, etc.) or loss of appetite, unreasonable weight loss, then you should contact oncologist (make an appointment), as this may indicate the presence of tumors or metastases in various organs;
- An elevated temperature, combined with very poor health, which worsens over time, is a reason to immediately call an ambulance, regardless of what other symptoms a person has.
What studies and diagnostic procedures can be prescribed by doctors when the body temperature rises to 37-37.5 o C?
Since body temperature can rise against the background of a wide range of various diseases, the list of studies that a doctor prescribes to identify the causes of this symptom is also very wide and variable. However, in practice, doctors do not prescribe the entire list of examinations and tests that can theoretically help identify the cause of elevated body temperature, but use only a limited set of certain diagnostic tests that most likely allow you to identify the source of temperature. Accordingly, for each specific case, doctors prescribe a different list of tests, which are selected in accordance with the accompanying symptoms that a person has in addition to fever, and indicating the affected organ or system.Since the most common elevated body temperature is due to inflammatory processes in various organs, which can be either infectious (for example, tonsillitis, rotavirus infection, etc.) or non-infectious (for example, gastritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, etc.) .), then always if it is present, regardless of the accompanying symptoms, a general blood test and a general urinalysis are prescribed, allowing you to find out in which direction the further diagnostic search should go and what other tests and examinations are necessary in each specific case. That is, in order not to prescribe a large number of studies of different organs, they first do a general analysis of blood and urine, which allow the doctor to understand in which direction to "look for" the cause of elevated body temperature. And only after identifying an approximate spectrum of possible causes of temperature, other studies are prescribed to clarify the pathology that caused hyperthermia.
The indicators of a general blood test make it possible to understand whether the temperature is caused by an inflammatory process of an infectious or non-infectious origin, or is not associated with inflammation at all.
So, if the ESR is increased, then the temperature is due to an inflammatory process of an infectious or non-infectious origin. If the ESR is within the normal range, then the elevated body temperature is not associated with the inflammatory process, but is due to tumors, vegetative-vascular dystonia, endocrine diseases, etc.
If, in addition to the accelerated ESR, all other indicators of the general blood test are within the normal range, then the temperature is due to a non-infectious inflammatory process, for example, gastritis, duodenitis, colitis, etc.
If according to the general blood test, anemia is detected, and other indicators, except for hemoglobin, are normal, then the diagnostic search ends here, since the fever is caused precisely by the anemic syndrome. In such a situation, anemia is treated.
A general urine test allows you to understand whether there is a pathology of the organs of the urinary system. If there is such an analysis, then other studies are carried out in the future to clarify the nature of the pathology and begin treatment. If the urine tests are normal, then to find out the cause of the elevated body temperature, they do not conduct a study of the organs of the urinary system. That is, a general urinalysis will immediately identify the system in which the pathology caused an increase in body temperature, or, on the contrary, dismiss suspicions about diseases of the urinary tract.
Having determined fundamental points from a general analysis of blood and urine, such as infectious or non-infectious inflammation in humans, or a non-inflammatory process at all, and whether there is a pathology of the urinary organs, the doctor prescribes a number of other studies to understand which organ is affected. Moreover, this list of examinations is already determined by the accompanying symptoms.
Below we give options for the lists of tests that a doctor can prescribe at elevated body temperature, depending on other concomitant symptoms that a person has:
- With a runny nose, sore throat, sore or sore throat, cough, headache, aching muscles and joints, only a general blood and urine test is usually prescribed, since such symptoms are caused by SARS, influenza, colds, etc. However, during an influenza epidemic, a blood test may be ordered to detect the influenza virus to determine whether a person is dangerous to others as a source of influenza. If a person often suffers from colds, then he is prescribed immunogram (to sign up)(total lymphocyte count, T-lymphocytes, T-helpers, T-cytotoxic lymphocyte, B-lymphocytes, NK cells, T-NK cells, HCT test, phagocytosis assessment, CEC, immunoglobulins of IgG, IgM, IgE, IgA classes ) to determine which parts of the immune system are not working properly and, accordingly, which immunostimulants need to be taken to normalize the immune status and stop frequent episodes of colds.
- At a temperature combined with a cough or a constant feeling of general weakness, or a feeling that it is difficult to inhale, or wheezing when breathing, it is imperative to do chest x-ray (book) and auscultation (listen with a stethoscope) of the lungs and bronchi to find out if the person has bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, or tuberculosis. In addition to x-rays and auscultation, if they did not give an accurate answer or their result is doubtful, the doctor may prescribe sputum microscopy to distinguish between bronchitis, pneumonia and tuberculosis, determination of antibodies to Chlamydophila pneumoniae and respiratory syncytial virus in the blood (IgA, IgG), determination of the presence of mycobacterium DNA and Chlamydophila pneumoniae in sputum, bronchial swabs, or blood. Tests for the presence of mycobacteria in sputum, blood, and bronchial washings, as well as sputum microscopy, are usually prescribed for suspected tuberculosis (either asymptomatic persistent fever or fever with cough). But tests for the determination of antibodies to Chlamydophila pneumoniae and respiratory syncytial virus in the blood (IgA, IgG), as well as the determination of the presence of Chlamydophila pneumoniae DNA in sputum, are carried out to diagnose bronchitis, tracheitis and pneumonia, especially if they are frequent, long-lasting or not treatable antibiotics.
- Temperature, combined with a runny nose, a feeling of mucus running down the back of the throat, a feeling of pressure, fullness or pain in the upper part of the cheeks (cheekbones under the eyes) or above the eyebrows, requires a mandatory x-ray of the sinuses (maxillary sinuses, etc.) ( make an appointment) to confirm sinusitis, frontal sinusitis or other type of sinusitis. With frequent, long-term or antibiotic-resistant sinusitis, the doctor may additionally prescribe the determination of antibodies to Chlamydophila pneumoniae in the blood (IgG, IgA, IgM). If the symptoms of sinusitis and fever are combined with blood in the urine and frequent pneumonia, then the doctor may prescribe a blood test for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA, pANCA and cANCA, IgG), since systemic vasculitis is suspected in such a situation.
- If the fever is combined with a feeling of mucus running down the back of the throat, a feeling that cats are scratching in the throat, sore and tickle, then the doctor prescribes an ENT examination, takes a swab from the oropharyngeal mucosa for bacteriological culture in order to determine the pathogenic microbes that caused inflammatory process. An examination is usually carried out without fail, but a smear from the oropharynx is not always taken, but only if a person complains of the frequent occurrence of such symptoms. In addition, with the frequent occurrence of such symptoms, their persistent failure even with antibiotic treatment, the doctor may prescribe the determination of antibodies to Chlamydophila pneumonia and Chlamydia trachomatis (IgG, IgM, IgA) in the blood, tk. these microorganisms can provoke chronic, often recurrent infectious and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system (pharyngitis, otitis media, sinusitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, bronchiolitis).
- If fever is combined with pain, sore throat, enlarged tonsils, presence of plaque or white plugs in the tonsils, constantly red throat, then an ENT examination is mandatory. If such symptoms are present for a long time or often appear, then the doctor prescribes a smear from the oropharyngeal mucosa for bacteriological culture, as a result of which it will become known which microorganism provokes the inflammatory process in the ENT organs. If the sore throat is purulent, then the doctor must prescribe blood for the ASL-O titer in order to identify the risk of developing complications of this infection, such as rheumatism, glomerulonephritis, myocarditis.
- If the temperature is combined with pain in the ear, outflow of pus or any other liquid from the ear, then the doctor must conduct an ENT examination. In addition to the examination, the doctor most often prescribes a bacteriological culture of discharge from the ear to determine which pathogen caused the inflammatory process. In addition, tests can be prescribed to determine antibodies to Chlamydophila pneumonia in the blood (IgG, IgM, IgA), for the ASL-O titer in the blood, and for the detection of type 6 herpes virus in saliva, scrapings from the oropharynx and blood. Tests for antibodies to Chlamydophila pneumonia and for the presence of the herpes virus type 6 are performed to identify the microbe that caused otitis media. However, these tests are usually prescribed only for frequent or long-term otitis media. A blood test for ASL-O titer is prescribed only for purulent otitis to identify the risk of developing complications of streptococcal infection, such as myocarditis, glomerulonephritis and rheumatism.
- If the elevated body temperature is combined with pain, redness in the eye, as well as the discharge of pus or other liquid from the eye, then the doctor performs a mandatory examination. Next, the doctor may prescribe a culture of the detachable eye for bacteria, as well as a blood test for antibodies to adenovirus and for the content of IgE (with particles of dog epithelium) in order to determine the presence of adenovirus infection or allergies.
- When elevated body temperature is combined with pain during urination, back pain or frequent trips to the toilet, the doctor will first of all and without fail prescribe a general urinalysis, determination of the total concentration of protein and albumin in daily urine, urinalysis according to Nechiporenko (sign up), Zimnitsky's test (sign up), as well as a biochemical blood test (urea, creatinine). These tests in most cases allow you to determine the existing disease of the kidneys or urinary tract. However, if the listed tests did not clarify, then the doctor may prescribe bladder cystoscopy (make an appointment), bacteriological culture of urine or scrapings from the urethra to identify a pathogenic agent, as well as the determination by PCR or ELISA of microbes in scrapings from the urethra.
- If you have a fever that is accompanied by pain when urinating or frequent trips to the toilet, your doctor may order tests for various sexually transmitted infections (such as gonorrhea (sign up), syphilis (sign up), ureaplasmosis (sign up), mycoplasmosis (sign up), candidiasis, trichomoniasis, chlamydia (sign up), gardnerellosis, etc.), since such symptoms may also indicate inflammatory diseases of the genital tract. For tests for genital infections, the doctor may prescribe vaginal discharge, semen, prostate secretions, a urethral swab, and blood. In addition to analyzes, it is often prescribed Ultrasound of the pelvic organs (make an appointment), which allows you to identify the nature of the changes occurring under the influence of inflammation in the genital organs.
- At elevated body temperature, which is combined with diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and nausea, the doctor first of all prescribes a stool test for scatology, a stool test for helminths, a stool test for rotavirus, a stool test for infections (dysentery, cholera, pathogenic strains of intestinal coli, salmonellosis, etc.), fecal analysis for dysbacteriosis, as well as scraping from the anus for sowing in order to identify the pathogen that provoked the symptoms of an intestinal infection. In addition to these tests, the infectious disease specialist prescribes blood test for antibodies to hepatitis A, B, C and D viruses (sign up), since such symptoms may indicate acute hepatitis. If a person, in addition to fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea, also has yellowness of the skin and sclera of the eyes, then only blood tests for hepatitis (antibodies to hepatitis A, B, C and D viruses) are prescribed, as this indicates about hepatitis.
- In the presence of elevated body temperature, combined with abdominal pain, dyspepsia (belching, heartburn, flatulence, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, blood in the stool, etc.), the doctor usually prescribes instrumental studies and a biochemical blood test. With belching and heartburn, a blood test for Helicobacter pylori is usually prescribed and fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FGDS) (), which allows you to diagnose gastritis, duodenitis, stomach or duodenal ulcer, GERD, etc. With flatulence, bloating, periodic diarrhea and constipation, the doctor usually prescribes a biochemical blood test (amylase, lipase, AST, AlAT, alkaline phosphatase activity, protein, albumin, bilirubin concentration), urine test for amylase activity, stool test for dysbacteriosis and coprology and Ultrasound of the abdominal organs (make an appointment), which allow diagnosing pancreatitis, hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, biliary dyskinesia, etc. In complex and incomprehensible cases or suspicion of tumor formations, the doctor may prescribe MRI (make an appointment) or x-ray of the digestive tract. If there is frequent bowel movement (3-12 times a day) with unformed feces, ribbon stools (feces in the form of thin ribbons) or pain in the rectal area, then the doctor prescribes colonoscopy (make an appointment) or sigmoidoscopy (make an appointment) and analysis of feces for calprotectin, which reveals Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, intestinal polyps, etc.
- At elevated temperature, in combination with moderate or mild pain in the lower abdomen, discomfort in the genital area, abnormal vaginal discharge, the doctor will definitely prescribe, first of all, a smear from the genital organs and ultrasound of the pelvic organs. These simple studies will allow the doctor to figure out what other tests are needed to clarify the existing pathology. In addition to ultrasound and smear on flora () the doctor may prescribe tests for genital infections ()(gonorrhea, syphilis, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, candidiasis, trichomoniasis, chlamydia, gardnerellosis, fecal bacteroids, etc.), for the detection of which they give vaginal discharge, scraping from the urethra or blood.
- At elevated temperature, combined with pain in the perineum and prostate in men, the doctor will prescribe a general urine test, prostate secret on microscopy (), spermogram (), as well as a smear from the urethra for various infections (chlamydia, trichomoniasis, mycoplasmosis, candidiasis, gonorrhea, ureaplasmosis, fecal bacteroids). In addition, the doctor may prescribe an ultrasound of the pelvic organs.
- At a temperature in combination with shortness of breath, arrhythmia and edema, it is imperative to do ECG (), chest x-ray, Ultrasound of the heart (make an appointment), as well as take a general blood test, a blood test for C-reactive protein, rheumatic factor and titer ASL-O (sign up). These studies allow you to identify the existing pathological process in the heart. If the studies do not allow clarifying the diagnosis, then the doctor may additionally prescribe a blood test for antibodies to the heart muscle and antibodies to Borrelia.
- If fever is combined with skin rashes and symptoms of SARS or influenza, then the doctor usually prescribes only a general blood test and examines rashes or redness on the skin in various ways (under a magnifying glass, under a special lamp, etc.). If there is a red spot on the skin that increases over time and is painful, the doctor will prescribe an analysis for the ASL-O titer to confirm or refute erysipelas. If the rashes on the skin cannot be identified during the examination, then the doctor can take a scraping and prescribe its microscopy to determine the type of pathological changes and the causative agent of the inflammatory process.
- When temperature is combined with tachycardia, sweating and enlarged goiter, Ultrasound of the thyroid gland (), as well as take a blood test for the concentration of thyroid hormones (T3, T4), antibodies to steroid-producing cells of the reproductive organs and cortisol.
- When the temperature is combined with headaches, jumps in blood pressure, a feeling of interruptions in the work of the heart, the doctor prescribes blood pressure control, ECG, ultrasound of the heart, ultrasound of the abdominal organs, REG, as well as a complete blood count, urine and biochemical blood test (protein, albumin , cholesterol, triglycerides, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, C-reactive protein, AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, lipase, etc.).
- When the temperature is combined with neurological symptoms (for example, coordination disorder, sensitivity deterioration, etc.), loss of appetite, unreasonable weight loss, the doctor will prescribe a general and biochemical blood test, a coagulogram, as well as an x-ray, Ultrasound of various organs (make an appointment) and, possibly, tomography, since such symptoms can be a sign of cancer.
- If the temperature is combined with pain in the joints, rashes on the skin, marble coloration of the skin, with impaired blood flow in the legs and arms (cold hands and feet, numbness and feeling of running "goosebumps", etc.), red blood cells or blood in the urine and pain in other parts of the body, then this is a sign of rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. In such cases, the doctor prescribes tests to determine whether a person has a joint disease or an autoimmune pathology. Since the spectrum of autoimmune and rheumatic diseases is very wide, the doctor first prescribes x-ray of joints (make an appointment) and the following non-specific tests: complete blood count, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, lupus anticoagulant, antibodies to cardiolipin, antinuclear factor, IgG antibodies to double-stranded (native) DNA, ASL-O titer, antibodies to nuclear antigen, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), antibodies to thyroperoxidase, the presence of cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes viruses in the blood. Then, if the results of the listed tests are positive (that is, markers of autoimmune diseases are found in the blood), the doctor, depending on which organs or systems have clinical symptoms, prescribes additional tests, as well as X-ray, ultrasound, ECG, MRI, to assess the degree of activity of the pathological process. Since there are many analyzes for detecting and evaluating the activity of autoimmune processes in various organs, we present them in a separate table below.
| Organ system | Analyzes to determine the autoimmune process in the organ system |
| Connective tissue diseases |
|
| Joint diseases |
|
| Antiphospholipid Syndrome |
|
| Vasculitis and kidney damage (glomerulonephritis, etc.) |
|
| Autoimmune diseases of the digestive tract |
|
| autoimmune liver disease |
|
| Nervous system |
|
| Endocrine system |
|
| Autoimmune skin diseases |
|
| Autoimmune diseases of the heart and lungs |
|
Temperature 37-37.5 o C: what to do?
How to bring down the temperature of 37-37.5 o C? Reducing this temperature with drugs is not required. They are used only in cases of fever above 38.5 o C. An exception is an increase in temperature in late pregnancy, in young children who have previously had febrile convulsions, as well as in the presence of severe diseases of the heart, lungs, nervous system, which may worsen against a background of high fever. But even in these cases, it is recommended to reduce the temperature with medications only when it reaches 37.5 o C and above.The use of antipyretic drugs and other self-medication methods can make it difficult to diagnose the disease, as well as lead to unwanted side effects.
In all cases, the following guidelines must be followed:
1.
Think: Are you doing the right thermometry? The rules for taking measurements have already been mentioned above.
2.
Try to change the thermometer to eliminate possible errors in the measurements.
3.
Make sure that this temperature is not a variant of the norm. This is especially true for those who previously did not regularly measure the temperature, but revealed increased data for the first time. To do this, you need to contact a specialist to exclude the symptoms of various pathologies and prescribe an examination. For example, if a temperature of 37 o C or a little higher is constantly determined during pregnancy, while there are no symptoms of any diseases, this is most likely the norm.
If the doctor has identified any pathology leading to an increase in temperature to subfebrile numbers, then the goal of therapy will be the treatment of the underlying disease. It is likely that after treatment, the temperature indicators will return to normal.
In what cases should you contact a specialist immediately:
1.
Subfebrile body temperature began to rise to febrile figures.
2.
Despite the fact that the fever is small, it is accompanied by other severe symptoms (severe cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, urinary incontinence, vomiting or diarrhea, signs of an exacerbation of chronic diseases).
Thus, even a seemingly low temperature can be a sign of serious illness. Therefore, if you have any doubts about your condition, you should inform your doctor about them.
Prevention measures
Even if the doctor did not reveal any pathology in the body, and a constant temperature of 37-37.5 o C is a variant of the norm, this does not mean that you can do nothing at all. Prolonged subfebrile indicators are chronic stress for the body. To gradually bring the body back to normal, you should:
- timely identify and treat foci of infection, various diseases;
- avoid stress;
- to refuse from bad habits;
- observe the daily routine and get enough sleep;
Body temperature 37 - 37.5 - causes and what to do about it?
Before use, you should consult with a specialist.
A temperature that has risen to 37 - 38 ° C is called subfebrile condition. This state of the body should not cause panic. Subfebrile temperature indicators most often indicate physical or mental overwork, emotional overstrain, nervous breakdown after stressful situations.
But it happens that the elevated body temperature does not want to subside after a week. Is this normal or a sign of a serious problem? What to do in this situation?
What does subfebrile temperature mean?
In humans, as in all warm-blooded animals, the body does not heat up above a certain value, and also does not cool below a certain mark throughout life. The temperature of a healthy person, measured in the armpit, is 36.6°C.
But daily temperature fluctuations within one degree are quite acceptable, they are usually noted after a night's sleep, a hearty dinner, stressful situations, hard and tedious work. Also, slight changes in temperature may indicate the development of mental pathologies, and in women - about certain phases of the menstrual cycle.
Interestingly, not all healthy people have a temperature of 36.6°C.
- In some individuals, the body does not heat up above 36.2°C all their lives, and a certain number of people have to exist with a temperature of 37.0 - 37.2°C.
- But still, in the vast majority of the world's population, fever is a sure sign of a slowly developing inflammatory response. Therefore, subfebrile condition should not be taken lightly: if the temperature stays above 37 ° C for a week, then you should definitely go to the doctor.
In an adult, subfebrile temperature contributes to the activation of metabolism, inhibits the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms. But in a child who has not reached the age of one, a temperature of 37 ° C may be the norm, since the function of thermoregulation has not yet been established in the infant's body. It should also be borne in mind that when measuring body temperature with a thermometer, errors are possible.
The thermometer shows incorrect values if a person has sweated in hot and heavy clothes, sunbathed on the beach, or went in for sports. And the body heats up slightly in people suffering from thyrotoxicosis.
Why does the temperature rise to 37 degrees and stay for weeks?
In an adult, body temperature can jump a degree or two under the influence of various factors. Common causes of subfebrile condition are the following pathologies:
- allergic reactions;
- viral diseases;
- bacterial infections;
- inflammatory processes in muscle or joint tissue;
- hormonal changes;
- heart attack;
- hemorrhages in internal organs.
It should be understood that a temperature of 37 - 38 ° C is not an independent disease. It only warns about the development of an inflammatory reaction in the body. Subfebrile temperature, which does not subside within a week, can be considered normal only in the following cases:
- with constant and intense sports loads;
- in the second half of the menstrual cycle;
- when the female body enters the period of menopause;
- during pregnancy and lactation.
In women who are breastfeeding, the temperature can be kept at around 37 ° C for a week, and even 2 weeks. The fever becomes especially noticeable in the first few days of the formation of milk in the mammary glands. But young mothers should be aware that low-grade fever during lactation, accompanied by pain in the chest, is often a sign of purulent mastitis.
If a cough occurs after subfebrile condition, then it is safe to speak about the development of an acute respiratory disease in the body. Body temperature always rises with the following pathologies of the respiratory system:
- cold;
- flu;
- rhinitis;
- angina;
- bronchitis;
- laryngitis.
The temperature, which lasts for a week or longer at around 37.0 - 37.5 ° C, may be a symptom of severe pathological processes that are slowly occurring in the body. Subfebrile condition is fixed in people suffering from the following serious diseases:
- infections in the intestinal tract;
- tuberculosis;
- toxoplasmosis;
- helminthiasis;
- ulcerative colitis;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- systemic lupus erythematosus.
The temperature can be kept at around 37 ° C for more than a week with diseases of the heart and circulatory system, nervous disorders, chronic lung dysfunction, after surgical interventions. Also, the thermometer often shows a high temperature with a deficiency of immunity and the appearance of malignant tumors.
Sometimes doctors fix a slight fever in patients with hypertension, autonomic dysfunction, chronic adrenocortical insufficiency. Moreover, with these diseases, subfebrile condition is accompanied by migraine, loss of appetite, lethargy and impotence.
- If, when the temperature rises to 37.0 - 37.5 ° C, pain occurs in the abdominal cavity, then disorders of the gastrointestinal tract or urinary system can be suspected.
- Subfebrile condition is accompanied by infectious inflammation of the ureters and bladder, kidney pathology, cystitis. In women, prolonged low-grade fever and pain in the lower abdomen are symptoms of gynecological diseases of an infectious nature.
- And even a slight heat can warn of the reproduction of worms in the intestines.
Many people start to worry if, with simple respiratory diseases, their temperature does not drop from 37 ° C for a long time, it remains elevated even for the 3rd week. With a mild cold that occurs without symptoms, there is nothing to worry about: subfebrile condition will disappear as soon as the immune system has completely dealt with the infection.
But if respiratory pathology, in addition to fever, is accompanied by pain in the muscle tissue, profuse runny nose, swollen lymph nodes, then you need to urgently go to the doctor.
What help does subfebrile temperature provide to the body?
Subfebrile condition is a protective factor of the body. It helps the immune system to destroy the infection. Pathogenic microorganisms die after almost two days of continuous exposure to high temperatures. Therefore, prolonged subfebrile temperature benefits the body in infectious diseases; medical specialists do not advise knocking it down.
Also, with subfebrile condition, interferon is actively synthesized in the body - a protein that is important for maintaining immunity, making cells immune to the effects of viruses. But it should be borne in mind that at a body temperature of 37 - 38 ° C, not all types of pathogenic microorganisms die, some microbes are not sensitive to slight heat.
At what temperature should an ambulance be called?
If at subfebrile temperature a person can normally exist for a week or longer, then when the body is heated to 40 ° C, serious disturbances in the functioning of the body occur in just a day. In case of severe heat, medical assistance must be called.
- A temperature equal to 41 ° C is called critical, with which a person has convulsions.
- A temperature of 42 ° C is considered fatal, with it, irreversible negative changes begin in the brain.
In this situation, it is impossible to delay medical intervention, otherwise the person will die. Fortunately, according to medical statistics, critical temperature is diagnosed extremely rarely, with ordinary infectious diseases it is almost never observed.
How to treat a temperature of 37-38
It is not necessary to bring down a subfebrile temperature that is not accompanied by other symptoms, even if it has been observed for a week. With an artificial decrease in temperature, the fight against the infection by the immune system is delayed, recovery is delayed. Antipyretics with slight heat are indicated to be used only in the following cases:
- in the third trimester of pregnancy;
- with nervous disorders;
- with severe pathologies of the cardiac and pulmonary systems.
You should immediately go to the doctor if the subfebrile temperature suddenly jumped to a high level. Also, a visit to the doctor and a medical examination should not be ignored if, in addition to fever, the following symptoms occur:
- intense cough;
- pain in the chest;
- urge to vomit;
- violations of the emission of urine;
- difficult breathing.
High fever is most often a symptom of inflammatory respiratory diseases. It is impossible to quickly cure a cold or flu, but it is quite possible to bring down a strong fever in order to alleviate the condition of a sick person.
With a significant increase in temperature, doctors prescribe antibiotics to patients, but in most cases, it is enough to take an antipyretic to reduce the fever. You should not immediately grab onto medicines, it is advisable to try to bring down the fever first not with medication, but with other methods described below.
- Fluid intake. In extreme heat, the human body is dehydrated within a day. Therefore, at a high temperature, it is imperative to drink enough water. Abundant consumption of drinks allows you to cool the body a little. For the treatment of acute respiratory diseases, teas with lemon, raspberry or currant sprigs, honey, natural berry juices are suitable.
- Vodka rubdowns. To reduce fever, it is useful to wipe a sick person with a towel moistened with vodka. When ethyl alcohol evaporates from the skin, cooling of the body is observed. After the procedure, the patient will be cold, and may even experience chills. But there is no need to worry: this is a normal reaction of the body. Instead of vodka, you can use food vinegar for wiping.
- Enema. With a strong fever, an enema based on an aqueous solution of an antipyretic drug helps to cope. This method of treatment should be used only as a last resort, when the fever does not want to go away for a long time.
Antipyretic drugs should be handled with care. Their reception is indicated if the high temperature lasts for a day or gradually increases to a critical level. A huge number of antipyretic drugs are sold in pharmacies, the following drugs are considered the most reliable, effective and popular:
- Paracetamol;
- ibuprofen;
- Aspirin.
It should be remembered that both antibiotic and antipyretic medications have side effects, so you should not get carried away with taking them. With excessive use of antibiotics and drugs against fever, a sick person may experience a violation of blood clotting, irritation of the mucous membranes of the stomach.
Attention, only TODAY!
Do you feel drowsiness, lack of energy and apathy? All of these can be symptoms of fever. So, the thermometer confirmed your fears. The temperature does not drop below 37 degrees for a long time - a week, two, a month ... What to do? No, of course, the situation is not critical, there is no acute threat to life, and there is no need to call a resuscitation team either. However, finding out the reason is strictly necessary.
Why is the temperature rising?
Elevated human temperature is a protective reaction of our body. It is called pyrogens. These are special substances that, on the one hand, can serve as the waste products of a number of pathogens, on the other hand, can be produced by our immune cells. In simple terms, temperature is the weapon with which our body fights viruses. At 38°C it produces interferon. It is he who serves as a threat to pathogens.
As a rule, with such symptoms, the patient is prescribed antibiotics, as well as drugs to reduce the temperature. The latter is detrimental not only to viruses, but also to our body, putting a heavy strain on the heart and lungs. A completely different matter is the body temperature of 37 degrees, which doctors call subfebrile. It can last for a long time, and finding out its cause can be difficult even for experienced therapists after a thorough medical examination. What does a temperature of 37 degrees mean?
No reason to panic
Reason number one is the lack of any reason, pardon the tautology! School textbooks on anatomy and medical encyclopedias have rooted in our minds the fact that a normal human temperature is exactly 36.6 degrees. Anything less than this value is an indicator of a breakdown, and anything more is a symptom of an infection or inflammatory process. But is this always true?
It turns out that the temperature norm for each individual and can vary between 35.5-37.5 degrees. This vital indicator is influenced by a number of factors - gender and age, level of physical activity, hormonal levels. In some cases, it may depend on the temperature and humidity of the air, as well as the time of day. Between five and eleven o'clock in the evening, its value can rise by 0.5 degrees. In children, in some cases, the normal temperature can reach 37.5 degrees. Sometimes it increases in women during menstruation and menopause. However, a temperature of 37 in an adult is not an alarm signal only when no other symptoms are observed. Otherwise, you should immediately consult a therapist in order to avoid serious consequences.
The common cold is the prime suspect
If you have a long time, the reasons should first of all be looked for in colds. As a rule, it is accompanied by other symptoms - headache, body aches, runny nose, sore throat and dry cough. Subfebrile temperature can persist even after the transfer of acute viral diseases. The body needs some time to restore strength and bring the main indicators back to normal.
Complications of colds and viral diseases
However, due to our negligence, on the one hand, and the resistance of modern virus strains to antibiotics, on the other hand, colds and viral diseases can turn into chronic tonsillitis and have other complications. Inflammatory processes in the tonsils (both pharyngeal and palatine) can also cause a temperature of 37. To avoid such negative consequences, colds and viral diseases must be treated until all symptoms disappear completely and the temperature returns.
Is it a cold?
“Temperature 37, I have a cold,” such messages are not uncommon on thematic forums. However, are you sure that it is and not, say, focal pneumonia? We are often mistaken in believing that the main thing is high temperature. It is a myth. The thermometer shows 37 degrees. The temperature is not critical, but requires your attention. If she is accompanied by a cough and general weakness, then it is better to play it safe and take an x-ray. With this disease, inflammatory processes occur in the lung tissue. Often they are not caused by infections, but against their background, a fungal or fungal infection may well develop. This disease requires immediate treatment with antibiotics. Remember that late diagnosis worsens the prognosis. Despite the presence of various types of the strongest antibiotics, in cases of a neglected form of pneumonia, a fatal outcome is possible.
If in the last century tuberculosis was considered a disease of the poor, today, unfortunately, no one is immune from it. The causative agent of this disease is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. According to WHO, every third inhabitant of the Earth is its carrier. However, infected does not mean sick. In the first case, microbacteria are not active in the human body. Such people do not experience symptoms of the disease and cannot infect others. However, in the case of a weakened immune system, which is caused by stress, malnutrition, excessive exercise and lack of sleep, microbacteria can affect the lungs, and in some cases other organs and systems.
The number of patients with tuberculosis today, according to official data, is 1% of the population. In reality, this figure is many times higher. Every day, without suspecting it, we often encounter tuberculosis patients. This disease affects representatives of various strata of society. Doctors and pharmacists, public transport drivers and salespeople, kindergarten teachers and university professors. This disease does not choose. However, with a healthy immune system, you can only get infected from a patient with an open form of tuberculosis. In this case, microbacteria enter the environment with saliva and sputum.
To detect tuberculosis, a fluorographic study is necessary. In many clinical cases, the temperature was 37 for a month, after which the patient was diagnosed with this disease. A slight cough for a long time is another reason to see a doctor. However, tuberculosis is not a sentence. In the vast majority of cases, this ailment can be overcome if you follow the treatment regimen. To prevent tuberculosis, vaccination is now carried out.
Stress as a cause of fever
“The temperature was 37 for a month, and then it recovered,” - many of us faced this situation. We almost never associate fever with stress. Today they have become so commonplace for us that we simply do not react to them, which cannot be said about our body. It reacts to external stimuli at the physical and chemical levels. When we are nervous, pressure rises, the heartbeat quickens, and adrenaline enters the bloodstream. All systems begin to work more actively, as a result of which the temperature also rises. It turns out that such a phenomenon is so common that experts even introduced a special term for it - "psychogenic temperature". In this case, a person may also experience dizziness, shortness of breath and general malaise. Frequent stress can cause chronic fatigue syndrome over time. If you had a temperature of 37 for a month, then this may indicate just about him. With such a disease, the functions of the nervous, endocrine and immune systems can be disrupted. A simple rest will not get rid of such serious consequences. In this case, the help of a narrow specialist is required.
Exacerbation of the "chronicle"
The thermometer shows 37 degrees. The temperature can be caused by exacerbation of chronic diseases and inflammation in various organs. Dysfunctions of the cardiovascular system and thyroid gland, peptic ulcers, gastritis, pyelonephritis, etc. For a long time, the main symptom of these diseases may be subfebrile temperature. She may also be accompanied by pain in certain areas. In these cases, you need to contact a specialist. The temperature will return to normal when the inflammation subsides.
Malignant neoplasms
A slight increase in temperature, especially in the evening, can be caused by malignant neoplasms. It leads to intoxication. A higher temperature (from 37.5 to 38 degrees) indicates that the process of tumor decay has begun in the body, to which inflammation has joined. In many cases, oncology develops against the background of already existing chronic diseases. However, in some cases, malignant cells can affect healthy tissues and do not manifest themselves for a long time. If the temperature was 37 for a month, and no sharp pains were observed, unfortunately, this is not a reason to discard this version. It will be useful to pass a general examination. The latter is shown annually. Diagnosis of the disease in the early stages is the key to the success of its treatment. One of the countries with the lowest cancer death rates today is Israel. The employment contract, which is signed by specialists when applying for a job, provides for dismissal in case of failure to pass a medical examination once a year. Such discipline would not interfere with us.
The reason for the rise in temperature to 37 degrees may not only not upset you, but also serve as an occasion for the greatest joy in life. In some cases, it is pregnancy. Sometimes subfebrile temperature accompanies all nine months during which a woman bears a fetus. It can be determined by physiological characteristics and the individual reaction of the female body to pregnancy. However, be careful: an increase in temperature in an "interesting position" can also be caused by viral infections and inflammatory processes. Self-medication is fraught with the most negative consequences. Consultation with a gynecologist is strictly required!
Temperature 37: what to do?
The above are the possible causes of subfebrile temperature. But what if, due to the absence of pain and other symptoms, you yourself cannot make even an approximate diagnosis in order to contact a specialist? So, instead of the usual cheerfulness, you feel weakness and loss of strength, and the temperature on the thermometer is 37. What should I do? It's time to move on to concrete action. First of all, you need to contact a therapist and take a blood test. If there is inflammation in the body, then his results will show it.
What to pay attention to?
Can I read the analysis myself? Yes, and for this you do not need a medical degree. On the resulting form with the result, you will see your indicator and rate. The disease will be indicated by an increased number of leukocytes, as well as an upward deviation. But hemoglobin, on the contrary, will be reduced. Such results can be caused by a variety of ailments. For more accurate data, it is necessary to undergo a fluorographic study, as well as ultrasound of the pelvic organs and the abdominal cavity. This will exclude or confirm a number of diseases, in particular, tuberculosis.
