Typically, body temperature is measured in the axillary fossa, but its measurement in the rectum sometimes has independent significance, for example, in case of general cooling of the body, damage to the tissues of the axillary fossa, as well as in gynecology for measuring basal body temperature (in order to determine the date of ovulation).

Body temperature in the armpit is considered normal if it is between 36 and 37 °C and fluctuates from a few tenths to 1 °C during the day. A noticeable decrease in it is rarely observed (general exhaustion of the body, heart failure, intoxication with certain toxic substances, endocrine disorders).

Fever is a protective-adaptive reaction of the body that occurs in response to the action of various stimuli and is expressed in the restructuring of thermoregulation to maintain a higher than normal body temperature. Body temperature within 37-38 °C is called low-grade fever. 38-39 °C – moderate fever, 39-41 °C – high fever, over 41 °C – hyperpyretic fever.

The temperature measured in the armpit is considered normal if it is fixed in the range from 36 to 37 °C and fluctuates from a few tenths to 1 °C during the day. A decrease in temperature is rare with exhaustion, heart failure, and some intoxications.

Body temperature within 37-38 °C is considered subfebrile, 38-39 °C – moderate fever, 39-41 °C – high fever, above 41 °C – hyperpyretic.

Causes of fever

The causes of fever are varied. Among them, the main one is the infectious process of various origins. However, a non-infectious inflammatory process is possible (for example, with myocardial infarction or with so-called autoimmune inflammation), sometimes the cause of fever may remain unclear for a long time. Currently, there is even a syndrome of “fever of unknown origin” when body temperature rises above 38 ° C for at least 3 weeks.

The endocrine system influences heat production with an increase in body temperature: for example, when the function of the thyroid gland increases, low-grade fever is often detected.

An increase in temperature can occur with damage to the central nervous system, including a purely functional origin – “thermoregulatory neurosis”, but in this case the temperature practically never exceeds low-grade fever.

Currently, attention is still paid to the type of temperature curve that is recorded during the daily morning and evening temperature rise.

Types of fever

  • constant (febris continua) – temperature fluctuations do not exceed 1 °C during the day, usually within 38-39 °C;
  • laxative, or remitting (febris remiftens), – daily fluctuations of 1-2 °C (for example, during purulent processes);
  • intermittent, or intermittent (febris intermittens), – temperature rises to 39-40 ° C for a short time (hours) alternate with a decrease to normal and with a new increase after 2-3 days (as with malaria);
  • relapsing fever (febris recurrens) – in contrast to intermittent fever, the increase in temperature lasts several days, is replaced temporarily by normal, followed by a new period of increase;
  • hectic (debilitating) fever (febris hectrica) with temperature ranges of 3-5 °C during the day (for example, with sepsis);
  • wavy (febris undulans) with a gradual increase and decrease in maximum daily temperature increases;
  • irregular fever (febris irregularis) with irregular increases in temperature to various numbers is most common.

Measuring the temperature in the rectum is of independent importance. It is sometimes carried out by gynecologists, who note an increase in temperature in women to low-grade levels in the second half of the menstrual cycle (after ovulation).

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