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(Pediatrics in Review. 2009;30:5-13.)
© 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics

Acute Fever

The first 300 words of the full text of this article appear below.

	Objectives

 
After completing this article, readers should be able to:

1. Describe the pathophysiology of acute fever.
   
2. Explain the role of antipyretic therapy in the management of acute fever.
   
3. Discuss the management of acute fever in children of varying ages.
   
4. List the normal range of body temperatures.
   

	Introduction

 
Fever is a common, yet frightening, physiologic response that has been the source of great consternation throughout the history of medicine. Hippocrates believed that illness was caused by imbalance of the four humors (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile) and that fever "cooked" the excess humor, thereby bringing the body back to normal homeostasis. Fever has been respected by many physicians, including Thomas Sydenham, who wrote in the 1600s, "Fever is a mighty engine which Nature brings into the world for conquest of her enemies." (1) In recent times, fever has become a product of disease that is feared by parents and clinicians alike. (2)(3)(4)

Whether embraced or feared, fever plays an important role in the physiologic response during illness. In fact, the ability to mount a febrile response to infection has been shown to increase survival rates in many animal species. Even many cold-blooded animals show an innate ability to increase body temperature in response to infection. For example, to raise body temperature during certain illnesses, lizards may remain in the sun and fish tend to swim in warmer water. It is difficult to believe that this primitive, almost universal, response would have survived millions of years of evolution if it did not present some overall benefit in fighting disease. In fact, fever may have a positive effect on host leukocyte mobility and activity, activation of T lymphocytes, and production of interferon. Fever also may inhibit bacterial and viral function. However, these theoretical advantages come . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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