| A rise in the temperature of the body;
frequently a symptom of infection. A fever occurs when your temperature
rises above its normal range. What's normal for you may be a little
higher or lower than the average temperature of 98.6 F. That's why
it's hard to say just what a fever is. But a "significant"
fever is usually defined as an oral or ear temperature of 102 F
or a rectal temperature of 103 F. If you're an adult, a fever may
be uncomfortable, but it usually isn't dangerous unless it rises
above 103 F. For very young children and infants, however, even
slightly elevated temperatures may indicate a serious infection.
Causes of Fever
Infections are the most common causes of fevers. But there is a
long list of other causes, which includes acute bronchitis, AIDS
and HIV infection, autoimmune disorders, cancer, colds or flu-like
illnesses, collagen vascular disease, rheumatoid diseases, ear infections,
Hodgkin's disease, infectious mononucleosis, inflammatory bowel
disease, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia, medications (such
as antibiotics, antihistamines, barbiturates, and drugs for high
blood pressure), neuroblastoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, pneumonia,
appendicitis, tuberculosis, and meningitis, periarteritis nodosa,
regional enteritis, sore throats, strep throat, systemic lupus erythematosus,
ulcerative colitis, upper respiratory infections (such as tonsillitis,
pharyngitis or laryngitis), urinary tract infections, viral and
bacterial infections, viral gastroenteritis or bacterial gastroenteritis.
Mechanism of Fever
Body temperature is set by the hypothalamus, which is situated
at the base of the brain. It acts as a thermostat for the whole
system. When something's wrong, the normal temperature is simply
set a few points higher. The feeling of chilliness and shivering
may start when the body tries to elevate its temperature. This phenomena
is to generate heat. Profuse sweating may be felt when the temperature
begins to return to normal. This mechanism helps to dissipate the
excess heat.
Symptoms of Fever
Apart from the high temperature, symptoms like sweating, shivering,
headache, muscle aches, lack of appetite, dehydration and general
weakness may present, depending upon the cause of the fever. Very
high fevers between the temperatures 103° and 106°F may
produce hallucinations, confusion, irritability and convulsions.
Homoeopathy
Homeopathic Treatment for Fever
Homeopathy treats the person
as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient
as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic
medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination
and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient,
physical and mental constitution etc.
Following homeopathic medicines
have been found effective in many cases of Fever:
#Aconite. [Acon]
This remedy typifies a synochal sthenic fever, and corresponds to
hyperaemia congestion and chill preceding inflammatory fever. Frequent
chilliness is common in fevers calling for Aconite. There is redness
of the face, great heat and oftentimes an outward pressing headache.
A slight degree of delirium does not contra-indicate Aconite. The
mental symptoms are all important; there is anxiety, and restlessness
from the violent circulatory storm; there is dry skin, violent thirst,
full bounding frequent pulse and sweating relieves. If it is brought
on by exposure to dry cold winds or chilling of the body after overheat,
especially when warm and sweaty it is well indicated. It suits the
young and robust and has no relation to the weak and sickly. The
never failing characteristics of mental anguish must be present.
The attack of fever often terminates with a critical sweat. Veratrum
viride. This remedy suits cases similar to Aconite, but it has more
arterial excitement and no anxiety.
#Gelsemium. [Gels]
This remedy suits dull, stupid, apathetic conditions. The patient
is dizzy and drowsy, the chill is partial; there is a full flowing
pulse with an element of weakness in it. It corresponds especially
to remittent types of fever and to fevers brought on by warm, relaxing
weather. The fever is accompanied by languor, muscular weakness
and a desire for absolute rest and is unaccompanied by thirst. Ferrum
phosphoricum. This remedy stands midway between Aconite and Gelsemium
in febrile conditions, and it may be differentiated from its neighbors
by the pulse, which, under Aconite, is full and bounding and under
Gelsemium soft and flowing, and by the mental symptoms, Aconite
being marked by anxiety and Gelsemium by drowsiness and dullness.
Baptisia. Hughes praises this remedy in simple continued fevers,
where he believes it is specific. Gastric fever, he claims, will
never run into typhoid if treated with this remedy. Pulsatilla has
a thirstless fever, hot head, dry lips and chilliness all over,
especially in the evening. Chilliness predominates with the remedy,
there being but little heat.
#Sulphur. [Sulph]
An excellent fever remedy, it comes in after Aconite when the skin
is dry and hot and there is no sweat; the fever seems to burn the
patient up,the tongue is dry and red and the patient at first is
sleepless and restless, but soon becomes drowsy. There are no blood
changes; it is a chronic Aconite or a passive Aconite does to the
arteries.
#Belladonna. [Bell]
This remedy is marked by erethism, violent delirium, headache, throbbing
carotids and cerebral symptoms. Eyes red and glistering; the skin
is hot and burning; the heat seems to steam out from the body; it
may be followed by a profuse sweat which brings no relief. The characteristics
are briefly: General dry heat with chills, little or no thirst,
in fact, the patient may have a dread of water, cool extremities
and throbbing headache. The fever is worse at night. The Nux vomica
fever is characterized by great heat; the whole body is burning
hot, the face is especially red and hot, yet the patient feels chilly
when uncovering.
#Bryonia. [Bry]
Suits especially a quite form of fever; true, the patient may be
restless and toss about, but is always made worse thereby. There
is intense headache, dull, stupefying with a sensation as if the
head would burst at the temples; sharp pains over the eyes, faintness
on rising up, dry mouth and a tongue coated white in the middle.
Cold, chilly sensations predominate in fevers calling for Bryonia,
and there is much thirst for large drinks of water at rather infrequent
intervals. The fever of Bryonia is unmarked by the violence, acuteness
and general storm of Aconite or the decomposition and great debility
of the acids. It is neither synochal nor so markedly asthenic in
character, it is between the two and is dependent upon local affections,
state of stomach, liver, chest, etc.
#Rhus toxicodendron. [Rhus-t]
A form of catarrhal fever, so-called, which is met with frequently
calls for Rhus more than for any other remedy. It commences with
weakness of the whole body with desire to lie down, soreness or
bruised sensations in the limbs, aching of limbs and bones, great
pain in back, restlessness, worse while lying still, sickness at
the stomach, loss of appetite, repugnance for food, great thirst,
dry tongue and mouth. It is useful on that borderland where febrile
cases merge into a typhoid condition. Mercurius. Here the fever
is characterized by weariness, prostration and trembling. It is
slow, lingering fever, generally a gastric or a bilious, remittent
fever. It is characterized by the following combination of symptoms
which no other drug has: Profuse salivation, dry throat and great
thirst for cold water.
Ferrum phosphoricum: This remedy stands midway
between Aconite and Gelsemium in febrile conditions, and it may
be differentiated from its neighbors by the pulse, which, under
Aconite, is full and bounding and under Gelsemium soft and flowing,
and by the mental symptoms, Aconite being marked by anxiety and
Gelsemium by drowsiness and dullness.
Baptisia tinctoria: Gastric fever will never run
into typhoid if treated with this remedy.
Pulsatilla pratensis: Thirstless fever, hot head,
dry lips and chilliness all over, especially in the evening. Chilliness
predominates with the remedy, there being but little heat.
Nux vomica: The Nux vomica fever is characterized
by great heat; the whole body is burning hot, the face is especially
red and hot, yet the patient feels chilly when uncovering.
Mercurius solubilis: Here the fever is characterized
by weariness, prostration and trembling. It is a slow, lingering
fever, generally a gastric or a bilious, remittent fever. It is
characterized by the following combination of symptoms which no
other drug has : Profuse salivation, dry throat and great thirst
for cold water. |
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