Most people have watched with concern, the rising thermometer, and the story it tells of growing fever.
Yet actually, within certain limits fever is good for us when we are fighting microbial invasion. Under the influence of heat, the vital functions of the body cells are quickened, and as success in the battle against germs depends on the vital functions of the body cells, their fighting capacity is increased by fever. However, if the right thing is not done for it, dire consequences may result.
whether or not you decide to call the doctor immediately, depends largely on the evidence that your thermometer may give. Which makes it obvious that there should be a thermometer in every home.
When any member of the family does not feel well, a clinical thermometer should be used, and if the temperature registers above 99.5°F (37.5°C) the patient should be put to bed immediately.
A little fever does not always mean a little danger. Indeed, the higher the fever, the less danger there is from chilling. When on the other hand, the skin is soggy with sweat and the fever is not high, chilling occurs easily.
This may happen even in bed when the patients pyjamas and bedclothes are permitted to become drenched with sweat. Hence the sweating patients clothes must he changed as soon as they are wet, no matter how often, and the changing should be done with care, to prevent chilling in the process.
Often a person with a mild influenza infection with a little fever, awakes from sleep clammy with sweat but feeling better. Now there’s a danger point of recovering his resistance, he may lose it by a single chilling in leaving the bed to go to the bathroom. That is why an unbroken spell in bed should be insisted upon in even the mildest case of of fever.
One important thing to remember in fever cases is that the doctor’s visit is advisable, not only for the sake of the patient concerned, but to protect others if the illness is a contagious one.