WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FEVER! (PART 2) -DR. KARISHMA MANE In Part 1 of this article we talked of how to measure temperature in fever and care during fever. Now we shall look at how we can help our doctor diagnose the cause of our fever and thus treat it effectively. If you have fever, the first thing to do is to measure body temperature as we discussed in our previous article. Average Once temperature is recorded, the following terms can safely be used to describe fever.
However the common mistake most people do is to touch the sick person's body either the forehead, hands etc and try to predict fever. Such predictions are wrong and can be harmful. How to maintain a temperature record---- The most important measure in fever is to measure temperature correctly and if possible note down and maintain a record. For eg----A record can be maintained as below
A recording should measure rise, peak and baseline temperature So an accurate record should have temperature recorded every one hourly. Such a record can help your doctor in the following ways--- q Helps to know the grade of fever i.e. mild moderate high etc. q Helps the doctor to know the peak, duration, frequency and number of days of fever. Thus enables distinguish between malaria, dengue, typhoid, which have different known patterns. q Helps to know which and how quick does the anti-pyretic bring down the fever. q Helps to note type of fever that is whether it is continuous, intermittent remittent etc. Another effective way is to plot temperature on a graph like it is used in hospitals. WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR------ There is an old saying "if the mind does not perceive, the eyes do not see." q ANY SYMPTOMS NOT EXISTING OCCURING SIMULTANEOUSLY OR FEW DAYS BEFORE THE ILLNESS. q Chills or shivering intensity, duration of time it lasted amount of covering needed i.e. one covering was sufficient or you need two or three blankets. q Amount of sweating when fever reduced. q Headache/ body-ache / joint pains/ pain in abdomen/ neck pain stiffness etc. Site of pain local or all over the area. q Nausea/ vomiting/ diarrhea / constipation their frequency, type color whether contained blood/food etc. q Throat pain/ cough/ sputum type color of sputum etc. q Skin for any rashes itching etc. q Lack of appetite, weakness, loss of consciousness, irritability, confusion convulsions etc. You can help the doctor diagnose the cause of fever and treat you or your sick family member in the following ways---------------- Ø Provide a complete history of the fever as best as you can. Ø Maintain a temperature record and show it to the doctor during consultation. Ø Observe and inform the doctor about any symptoms you experience Ø Inform the doctor about any causes that you think might have lead to the fever like—history of traveling, wading through dirty rain waters, eating outside food, recent illness that any family member has suffered etc. Ø Inform the doctor about the self- medication used by you Ø Inform about any drug allergy, past illness you suffered Ø Talk to your doctor about anything that you think is relevant to your illness Ø Ask the doctor all your queries and doubts. Ø During treatment and follow-up visits continue to maintain a temperature record adding the medication and investigation reports alongside enables to judge the effectiveness of the treatment administered. Finally it is ALWAYS important to remember that the aim of both the treating doctor, patient and the patient's family is CURE and restoring the HEALTH of the PATIENT. |
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