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Is fever after infection part of the illness or the cure?
Author: Jon Gardner
Date: March 2012
Journal: Emergency Nurse
Issue: Volume 19, Number 10
Keywords: Antipyretics, fever, sepsis, systemic temperature
An increase in temperature above the normal range of 35.6°C-38.2°C (Ryan and Levy 2003) can indicate the presence of infection or sepsis. When the body detects infection, a series of responses to control infection are initiated that result in a rise in systemic temperature. Research suggests that this rise in temperature can be regarded as a cure, in that it is part of the autonomic response to remove infection and create a favourable environment for antibiotics. Nevertheless, it remains common practice to try to reduce fever with medication and physical cooling methods. This article explores the physiological changes that occur during bacterial sepsis that result in increased temperature, and discusses the pros and cons of administering antipyretic medication. The aim is to enable nurses to understand and support patients who present with fever.
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The RCN Publishing Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal College of Nursing, the world's largest organisation for nurses. RCN Publishing produces one weekly, eight monthly and two quarterly nursing publications. Nursing Standard, the flagship journal, is the UK's biggest selling weekly for nursing. It is produced by RCN Publishing Company along with a suite of specialist nursing journals - Cancer Nursing Practice, Mental Health Practice, Learning Disability Practice, Nursing Children and Young People, Nursing Management, Emergency Nurse, Nursing Older People, Nurse Researcher and Primary Health Care. RCN Publishing Company also produce the RCN Bulletin, a major source of up-to-the-minute information for RCN members in all specialities, grades and working environments. With the latest nurse vacancies from trusts nationwide, it has become the most cost-effective nurse recruitment magazine available.