An elevated body temperature (fever) is one of the ways our immune system attempts to combat an infection. Usually the rise in body temperature helps the individual resolve an infection. However, sometimes it may rise too high, in which case the fever can be serious and lead to complications.

Physicians say that as long as the fever is mild, we do not generally need to try and bring it down - if the fever is not severe it is probably having an effect in neutralizing the bacterium or virus that is causing the infection. Medications to bring down a fever are called antipyretics. If the fever is causing undue discomfort, an antipyretic may be recommended. Doctors say that when the fever reaches or exceeds 38oC (100.4oF) it is no longer mild and should be checked a couple of hours later. The temperatures mentioned above are when they are taken in the mouth. For normal armpit temperatures, you need to reduce those numbers by about 0.2oC to 0.3oC.

Symptoms of fever
A symptom is something the patient reports and feels, while a sign is something other people, including a doctor may detect. For example, a headache may be a symptom while a rash may be a sign.

When somebody has a fever, signs and symptoms are linked to what is known as sickness behavior, and may include:
-- Feeling cold when nobody else does
-- Shivering
-- Anorexia - lack of appetite
-- Dehydration - preventable if the patient drinks plenty of fluids
-- Depression
-- Hyperalgesia - the individual is much more sensitive to pain
-- Lethargy
-- Problems concentrating
-- Sleepiness
-- Sweating

Causes of fever
-- Leukemia
-- An infection - flu, chickenpox or Pneumonia
-- Rheumatoid Arthritis
-- Some medications
-- Heat stroke 
-- Silicosis 
-- Amphetamine abuse
-- Alcohol withdrawal