What Illness Could Cause a Continuous High Fever of 39 Degrees That Wont Go Down?
A fever reaching 39 degrees is considered high, and if it persists without remission, it can pose significant risks to the patient. The main cause of persistent high fever is inflammation, which can be triggered by various factors. It is crucial to understand the specific underlying cause, which may be related to bacterial or viral infections, or even tumor-related issues. In such cases, it is essential to promptly identify and control the inflammation and initiate treatment to reduce the patient's temperature.
1. What Causes Continuous High Fever of 39 Degrees?
There are numerous potential causes for persistent high fever, with the majority being related to infectious agents. High fever often results from various bacteria or viruses infecting certain tissues or organs in the body. Patients may also experience other symptoms, such as cough and sputum production when the lungs are infected, pain and hematuria when the urinary system is affected, and abdominal pain and diarrhea when the digestive system is involved. However, there are also other possible causes, including tumors and rheumatic diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus.
2. What Should Be Done for Continuous High Fever?
Persistent high fever can potentially cause brain damage, leading to symptoms such as hyperthermia, convulsions, coma, and even life-threatening situations. When high fever persists, medications like Ibuprofen Sustained-release Capsules and Paracetamol Tablets can be taken to reduce the fever. Simultaneously, physical cooling methods like ice packs, alcohol wiping of the head, neck, armpits, and groin can be used to assist in fever reduction. It is also important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. If the fever persists after these measures, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly and undergo relevant tests such as blood analysis, urine and stool routine tests, anti-"o" tests, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, procalcitonin, and chest X-rays to identify the underlying cause and initiate targeted treatment.
3. What Is Fever?
Fever, also known as hyperthermia, refers to an abnormally high body temperature due to pathological reasons. It is generally considered a systemic response of the body to pathogenic factors. Fever occurs when the thermoregulatory center is directly affected by pyrogens, when there is dysfunction in the temperature regulation center, or when there is excessive heat production or inadequate heat dissipation due to various reasons, resulting in a body temperature beyond the normal range. The normal adult body temperature is relatively constant, with oral temperature generally ranging from 36.2 to 37.2 degrees Celsius and axillary temperature from 36 to 36.8 degrees Celsius. The causes of fever are complex and can be attributed to both infectious and non-infectious diseases.
