What is the medical term for fever?

Fever is a common medical condition characterized by an elevated body temperature above the normal range, usually as a response to infection, inflammation, or other medical conditions. The medical term for fever is pyrexia. This term is widely used in medical reports, textbooks, and clinical practice to describe the body’s temperature regulation response.

Pyrexia occurs when the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for regulating body temperature, raises the body’s set point. This triggers physiological responses such as shivering, increased heart rate, and sweating once the fever breaks. Fever is an important defense mechanism because many pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, are less efficient at higher body temperatures, which helps the body fight infections.

Other options in the MCQ are incorrect:

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  Hypothermia refers to an abnormally low body temperature, the opposite of fever.

  
  


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  Hypertension is high blood pressure, unrelated to body temperature.

  
  


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  Thermophilia is not a recognized medical term for fever; it generally refers to heat-loving organisms.

  
  

Understanding pyrexia is important in biology and medicine. It is not a disease itself but a symptom indicating underlying conditions, ranging from mild viral infections to serious bacterial infections. Medical professionals measure body temperature using thermometers and categorize fever levels as low-grade, moderate, or high-grade.

Pyrexia demonstrates how the human body maintains homeostasis and responds to external or internal threats. It also connects to concepts such as immune response, inflammation, and thermoregulation, which are fundamental in physiology and human biology. Recognizing and understanding pyrexia helps students and healthcare workers assess patient conditions and apply appropriate interventions.