What is hectic fever? Is such a pathological condition dangerous and how to treat it? We will answer these and other questions in the presented article.
Pathological Symptom Background
What is hectic fever typical for? More recently, people attributed such a pathological condition to the category of diseases characterized by a significant increase in body temperature. However, modern medicine classifies it not as a separate disease, but as a kind of reaction to various stimuli, which are certain pyrogenic substances.
Thus, it can be safely noted that hectic fever is a pathological process that is aimed at protecting and adapting the body. It should be emphasized that without the supervision of doctors, this condition poses a rather serious threat to the life of the patient.
The origin and list of diseases
Hectic fever is characteristic of many ailments. Before listing them, it should be identified why such a condition occurs at all.
As you know, hyperthermia is a polyetiologic secondary condition. The process of adjustment in the work of the center of heat regulation begins with the activity in the body of certain pyrogenic substances. In this case, the latter are divided into exogenous, or infectious, and non-infectious, that is, endogenous.
So why does hectic fever develop?
What diseases does it occur? This pathological condition can develop for 2 different reasons. Consider them right now:
- Infectious process, manifested in the form of inflammatory diseases. These include tuberculosis, influenza, sepsis of the blood, as well as internal organs.
- Non-infectious origin. This condition can cause tissue necrosis, oncology, allergies, blood transfusions, and internal hemorrhages.
Main symptoms
Hectic fever can manifest itself in different ways. Its symptoms are divided into general and particular. So how are the common signs of fever? This condition is characterized by:
- increase in body temperature ;
- lowering blood pressure;
- increased breathing and increased heart rate;
- the development of migraine attacks, aches in muscles and joints;
- drying out of the oral mucosa, a constant feeling of thirst;
- decreased daily urine output ;
- loss of appetite.
As for particular symptoms, they depend on the rate of increase in body temperature. Its gradual rise is characterized by:
- moderate chills;
- redness of the skin;
- feeling of heat and stuffiness;
- increased sweating.
At the same time, the following signs accompany a rapid increase in temperature:
- short and severe bouts of chills;
- pallor of the skin;
- feeling of cold;
- cyanosis of the nail plates.
Features of fever and their types
As mentioned above, the debilitating type of hectic fever is characteristic of tuberculosis, influenza, blood sepsis, tissue necrosis, oncology, allergies, blood transfusion and internal hemorrhages. However, it should be noted that in addition to this species, experts distinguish other forms of fever (depending on what temperature differences are observed during the day). These include constant, laxative, intermittent, undulating, perverted, returnable and incorrect.
Of all the above, hectic fever is the most severe and life-threatening patient. This is due to the fact that it is characterized by sharp temperature jumps of three degrees or more.
Classification
In official medicine, in addition to the causes of fever, it is customary to identify several more criteria that allow you to classify this pathological phenomenon.
With a total length of fourteen days, the reaction of the body to certain diseases is called acute, up to a month and a half - subacute, and what is above - chronic.
According to indicators of body temperature, within which it decreases or rises, fever is classified as follows:
- from 41 ° C and above - excessive fever;
- in the range of 39-40.9 ° C - high;
- up to 38-38.9 ° - febrile;
- in the range of 37-37.9 ° C - subfebrile.
Diagnostics
Hectic debilitating fever develops in many diseases. For their treatment, it is sufficient to accurately diagnose the pathological process and its origin. It should be especially noted that the symptoms of this phenomenon may be similar to other febrile-like conditions, as well as to sun or heat stroke.
Thus, for the diagnosis of debilitating fever and the disease that caused it, urine and blood samples are taken from the patient for a general analysis. In addition, they take pictures of the chest using an X-ray machine and conduct an ECG.
If these research methods are not enough to make an accurate diagnosis, then resort to more complex methods. These include computed tomography or biopsy of certain body fluids and tissues.
Treatment
According to experts, therapy for hectic fever should fulfill two goals:
- to maintain the normal functioning of the systems of internal organs, including respiratory, excretory and cardiac;
- fight hyperthermia.
For such treatment, doctors use not only medicines, but also the physical effect on the sick body. The patient is freed from all clothing and laid in bed, raising his head slightly.
To cool the patient’s body, compresses in the form of moistened bandages or ice packs are applied to his wrists and forehead. Also, the patient is wiped with a three percent solution of vinegar. In addition, an air conditioner or fan can be used to blow a person's body.
In a hospital, the patient is given water enemas and probe gastric lavage. All infusion solutions intended for intravenous use are pre-cooled.
With hectic fever, it is very important to monitor the patient's body temperature, so it is measured every hour.
Of the drugs, the patient is prescribed antiallergic and antipyretic drugs in the form of intramuscular injections. These medicines include Ibrufen, as well as its analogues, acetylsalicylic acid and solutions of Analgin with Suprastin or Diphenhydramine.
With increased excitability, the patient is prescribed lytic mixtures or “Aminazine”. In case of cardiac arrest or respiratory failure, specialists conduct resuscitation measures.