nurses? doctors? in medical courses? pls. help!!!! what is the organ affected by FEVER? pathophysiology of?

Question

fever? treatment or management with rationale? normal function of the organ affected? pls... help...

Answer 1

F ever is defined as the elevation of core body temperature above normal; in normal
adults, the average oral temperature is 37°C (98.6°F). In oncology practice, a single temperature of more than 38.3°C (101°F) or three readings (at least 1 hour apart) of more than 38°C (100.4° F) are considered significant. Lower temperature elevations in the very young or old and in patients receiving steroids or other immunosuppressants are considered abnormal. Fever of an unknown origin (FUO) is defined as a febrile illness lasting more than 3 weeks, with temperatures
exceeding 38.3°C on several occasions, and lacking a definitive diagnosis after 1 week of evaluation in the hospital.
Pathophysiology of Fever
The febrile response, of which fever is but one component, is a complex physiologic reaction to disease involving a cytokine-mediated rise in body temperature, generation of acute-phase reactants,
and activation of numerous physiologic, endocrinologic, and immunologic systems.1 The temperature of the body is dependent on maintaining
a balance between the production and dissipation of heat. Under normal circumstances,
heat is generated internally during metabolic processes or when external environmental temperatures
exceed those of the body. Heat can also be produced by increased skeletal muscle activity,
such as that which occurs with shivering. Heat loss occurs predominantly from the skin via evaporative losses and also, to some extent, via the lungs.:
Clinical Phases of Fever
Fever consists of three clinical phases: chill, fever, and flush. In the first phase, also known as the cold or chill phase, core temperature rises to reach the new thermal setpoint. Cutaneous
vasoconstriction and increased muscle activity boost heat production, as manifested by chills and shivering. In the second,
or fever, phase, a balance occurs between production and loss of heat at the elevated setpoint. The skin is warm, flushed, and dry. When the setpoint returns to normal, the body perceives
itself to be too warm. Heat-dissipating mechanisms are then initiated, resulting in cutaneous vasodilation and diaphoresis,
clinical manifestations of the third, or flush, phase.
Response to fever varies with age. Elderly patients are unable
to regulate their body temperature to the same degree as young adults, making them susceptible to extremes of temperature.
17 Clinical observations confirm that older patients with serious infections have a substantial prevalence (20% to 30%) of apyrexia and lower febrile responses than younger patients.18 Fever is often considered to be an important host-defense mechanism; thus, a lack of fever may contribute to lower resistance to infection, delayed recovery, and suboptimal
outcome. Lower febrile responses to infection are associated
with a higher mortality rate and poorer prognosis.19 In children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years, febrile convulsions may occur.
Etiologies of Fever in Cancer Patients
The major causes of fever in cancer patients include infection,
tumor (paraneoplastic fever), allergic or hypersensitivity reaction to drugs, blood transfusions, graft-versus-host disease, and thrombosis.20,21 Other less common causes include malignant
bowel syndrome, tumor embolization, CNS hemorrhage, and coexisting connective tissue disorders.
Evaluation of Fever
Nearly two thirds of cases of fever in patients with prolonged
neutropenia may be attributed to infection,22 a major cause of morbidity in cancer patients. Fever in a cancer patient
should be considered indicative of infection until proven otherwise, with appropriate assessment being instituted in a timely fashion. Febrile neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count‰)< 500/µL) represents an absolute emergency.NT 5.

Answer 2

The hypothalamus maintains the body temperature. In fever, the temperature regulating centre is affected and the body thermostat is set at a higher level. This is a defence mechanism to fight off the infection, making the environment less favorable for the organism. Antipyretics are often prostaglandin inhibitors. Prostaglandins are chemical mediators. Antipyretics should only be taken if the patient is feeling uncomfortable due to the temperature.

Answer 3

brain gets cooked, as do all of the other parts of the body