Few things scare a person more than the unknown.. So a slightly elevated body temperature (up to 37.0-37.2 degrees), which usually accompanies autumn colds, causes such anxiety. Doctors call this condition subfebrile condition.. How dangerous is it and should it be treated

Should I take sick leave and lie in bed? Or maybe not worth it?

We all know that normal body temperature is 36.6 degrees.. In fact, this indicator varies in the same person at different periods of life..

For example, a thermometer gives different numbers throughout the month, even with full health.. This is mainly for girls. Their body temperature usually rises slightly during ovulation and normalizes with the onset of menstruation..

But fluctuations can occur within one day. In the morning, immediately after waking up, the temperature is minimal, and by the evening it usually rises by half a degree. Stress, eating, physical activity, taking a bath or drinking hot (and strong) drinks, being at the beach, too warm clothes, an emotional outburst and much more can cause a slight temperature jump..

And then there are people for whom the normal value of the mark on the thermometer is not 36.6, but 37 ° C or even a little higher.. As a rule, this applies to asthenic boys and girls, who, in addition to their graceful physique, also have a vulnerable mental organization.. Subfebrile condition is not uncommon, especially in children: according to statistics, almost every fourth child from 10 to 15 years old is different. Usually such children are somewhat closed and slow, apathetic or, conversely, anxious and irritable..

But in adults, this phenomenon is not one of a number of unique. However, it is not worth blaming everything on the individual characteristics of the organism.. Therefore, if the usual body temperature has always been normal and suddenly measurements taken with the same thermometer for a long time and at different times of the day began to show higher numbers than always, there is cause for concern..

However, there is a danger of confusing asthenia with incomplete recovery, when an increase in temperature indicates that the disease, which had subsided for a while, began to develop again.. Therefore, just in case, it is better to take a blood test and find out if the white blood cells are normal..

If everything is in order, you can calm down, the temperature will jump, jump and eventually “come to your senses”.

Another common cause of subfebrile condition is experienced stress.. There is even a special term - psychogenic temperature. It is more often accompanied by symptoms such as feeling unwell, shortness of breath and dizziness..

Well, if in the foreseeable past you have not endured any stress or infectious diseases, and the thermometer is still creeping up, then it is better to be examined. After all, prolonged subfebrile condition can indicate the presence of dangerous diseases.. So it is necessary to understand where the "

The first step is to exclude all suspicions of inflammatory, infectious and other serious diseases (tuberculosis, thyrotoxicosis, iron deficiency anemia, chronic infectious or autoimmune diseases). First you need to contact a therapist who will draw up an individual examination plan.. As a rule, if there is an organic cause of subfebrile condition, there are other characteristic symptoms: pain in different parts of the body, weight loss, lethargy, increased fatigue, sweating. On palpation, an enlarged spleen or lymph nodes may be detected..

Usually, finding out the causes of subfebrile condition begins with a general and biochemical analysis of urine and blood, x-rays of the lungs, and ultrasound of internal organs.. Then, if necessary, more detailed studies are added - for example, blood tests for rheumatoid factor or thyroid hormones. In the presence of pain of unknown origin, and especially with a sharp weight loss, an oncologist should be consulted..

If surveys have shown that there is order on all fronts, it seems that you can calm down, deciding that this is your nature.. But it turns out there is still cause for concern..

However, first, let's try to figure out where the elevated temperature comes from, with a seemingly complete absence of organic reasons.. It appears not at all because the body accumulates too much heat, but because it gives it poorly to the environment.. The disorder of the thermoregulation system at the physical level can be explained by a spasm of superficial vessels located in the skin of the upper and lower extremities.. Also, in the body of long-term temperature people, malfunctions in the endocrine system can also occur (they often have disrupted work of the adrenal cortex and metabolism).

Doctors consider this condition as a manifestation of the syndrome of vegetative-vascular dystonia and even gave it a name - thermoneurosis.. And although this is not a disease in its purest form, because no organic changes occur, it is still not the norm.. After all, prolonged fever is stress for the body.. Therefore, this condition must be treated.. Neurologists recommend massage and acupuncture (to normalize the tone of peripheral vessels), psychotherapy.

Greenhouse conditions do not help, but rather interfere with getting rid of thermoneurosis. Therefore, for those who suffer from this disorder, it is better to stop taking care of yourself, and start hardening and strengthening the body.. People with problematic thermoregulation need:.

• the correct mode of the day;

• regular meals with an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits;

• intake of vitamins;

• sufficient exposure to fresh air, physical education and hardening.

Confusion in the readings Are you measuring the temperature correctly?

A thermometer placed under the armpit may not give completely correct information - due to the abundance of sweat glands in this area, inaccuracies are likely.

If you are used to measuring the temperature in your mouth (where it is half a degree higher than under your arm), then know that the numbers will go off scale if you ate or drank hot or smoked an hour before. The temperature in the rectum is on average one degree higher than in the armpit, but remember that the thermometer can " Temperature measurement in the ear canal is considered the most reliable today. But this requires a special thermometer and exact observance of all the rules of procedure..

Alexander Orlov.

nedug. en.