What is hectic fever? Is this pathological condition dangerous and how to treat it? We will answer these and other questions in the presented article.
Basic information about the pathological symptom
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, we can safely say that hectic fever is a pathological process that is aimed at protecting and adapting the body. At the same time, it should be especially noted that without control by doctors, such a condition poses a rather serious threat to the patient's life.
Origin and list of diseases
Hectic fever is a characteristic of many ailments. Before listing them, it should be clarified why such a condition occurs at all.
As you know,hyperthermia is a polyetiological secondary condition. The process of restructuring in the work of the center of thermoregulation begins with the activity in the body of certain pyrogenic substances. At the same time, the latter are divided into exogenous, or infectious, and non-infectious, that is, endogenous.
So why does hectic fever develop?
In 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 many ways. Its symptoms are divided into general and particular. So how do the common symptoms of a fever manifest? This condition is characterized by:
- increased body temperature;
- lowering blood pressure;
- increased breathing and increased heart rate;
- development of migraine attacks, aching muscles and joints;
- drying of the oral mucosa, constant feeling of thirst;
- decrease in daily diuresis;
- loss of appetite.
As for particular symptoms, they depend on the rate of increasebody temperature. Its gradual rise is characterized by:
- mild chills;
- reddening of the skin;
- feeling hot and stuffy;
- excessive sweating.
At the same time, the rapid rise in temperature is accompanied by the following signs:
- short and severe bouts of chills;
- pale skin;
- feeling 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 type, experts distinguish other forms of fever (depending on what temperature changes are observed during the day). These include constant, laxative, intermittent, undulating, perverted, recurrent, and wrong.
Of all the above, hectic fever is the most severe and life-threatening for the 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 us to classify this pathological phenomenon.
With a total duration of fourteen days, the body's reaction to certain diseases is called acute, up to a month and a half - subacute, and whatover, – chronic.
According to body temperature, within which it decreases or rises, fever is classified as follows:
- 41°C and above - excessive fever;
- within 39-40, 9 °С - high;
- up to 38-38, 9 °С – febrile;
- within 37-37, 9 °С - subfebrile.
Diagnosis
Hectic wasting fever develops in many diseases. For their treatment, it is enough to accurately diagnose the pathological process and its origin. It should be especially noted that the symptoms of such a phenomenon may be similar to other fever-like conditions, as well as sunstroke or heatstroke.
Thus, to diagnose a debilitating fever and the disease that caused it, urine and blood samples are taken from the patient for general analysis. In addition, chest X-rays are taken and an ECG is performed.
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 serve two purposes:
- maintain the normal functioning of the systems of internal organs, including respiratory, excretory and cardiac;
- fight hyperthermia.
For such treatment, doctors use notonly drugs, but also a physical effect on the diseased organism. The patient is removed from all clothing and placed in bed with his head slightly raised.
To cool the patient's body, compresses are applied to his wrists and forehead in the form of moistened bandages or ice packs. Also, the patient is wiped with a three percent solution of vinegar. Additionally, an air conditioner or a fan can be used to blow the human body.
In a hospital, the patient is given water enemas and gastric lavage. All infusion solutions intended for intravenous use are pre-chilled.
With hectic fever, it is very important to monitor the patient's body temperature, so it is measured every hour.
Of the medicines, 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 "Dimedrol".
With increased excitability, the patient is prescribed lytic mixtures or "Aminazin". In case of cardiac arrest or respiratory failure, specialists carry out resuscitation.
