Stages of Fever Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does the term 'onset' refer to in relation to fever?

The body response to pyrogen by trying to conserve and manufacture heat (correct)

A gradual return to normal temperature

An abrupt decline in fever

The body temperature rises to a new set point

What happens during a febrile response?

The body temperature rises to a new set point by the hypothalamus and remains there until the resolution of the cause of fever.

What is defervescence?

It brings lowering of the body temperature to normal.

Describe what 'crisis' means in the context of fever.

An abrupt decline in fever. Signup and view all the answers

What is lysis?

A gradual return to normal temperature. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a constant fever?

Temperature is consistently elevated with less than 1 degree of variation within a 24-hour period. Signup and view all the answers

What does intermittent fever entail?

Alternating rise and fall of the temperature. Signup and view all the answers

How does remittent fever behave?

High temperature falls in the morning and rises again later in the day, but never falls to normal until recovery occurs. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by relapsing fever?

Temperature falls to normal and rises again in a repeating pattern. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Stages of Fever

Onset
- Can occur either gradually or suddenly
- Represents the body's response to pyrogens, aiming to conserve and produce heat
Febrile
- Body temperature increases to a new set point established by the hypothalamus
- This elevated temperature persists until the underlying cause of the fever resolves
Defervescence
- Marks the phase when body temperature decreases to normal levels
Crisis
- Characterized by a sudden and sharp decline in fever
Lysis
- Involves a gradual decrease in body temperature returning to normal
Constant Fever
- Body temperature remains consistently elevated
- Variation is less than 1 degree Fahrenheit within a 24-hour period
Intermittent Fever
- Exhibits alternating patterns of temperature rise and fall
- Can present as low temperature in the morning with high temperature in the afternoon, or as low temperature for several days followed by high temperature for several days
Remittent Fever
- Features a high temperature that drops in the morning but does not return to normal until recovery
- High temperature typically recurs later in the day
Relapsing Fever
- Involves a pattern where the temperature falls to normal and then rises again repeatedly

Description

Test your knowledge on the stages of fever with these flashcards. Learn about key terms such as 'onset,' 'febrile,' 'defervescence,' and 'crisis' and understand their definitions and significance in the fever process.