Types of Fever
1.Continued Fever: (Pneumonia, Typhoid Fever).
The temperature remains above normal throughout the day and
doesn’t fluctuate more than 1
0
C in 24 hrs.
2.Intermittent Fever : The elevation of temperature is present only for
some hours of the day and becomes normal for remaining hours.
Examples; Malaria, Kala-azar, pyaemia or Septicemia.
3.Remittent Fever : The temperature remains above normal
throughout the day and fluctuate more than 1
0
С in 24hrs. Example;
Infective Endocarditis, Pleurisy, Tuberculosis.
4.Hectic or Septic Fever: When the variation is extremely large. And
temperature rises sharply by 2-4
0
C and drops to normal and
subnormal level. Example; Sepsis, Grave pulmonary tuberculosis.
5.Step-ladder Fever: temperature rises gradually to a higher level with
every spike.
6.Irregular Fever: Variations are varied and irregular e.g. rheumatoid
fever, endocarditis, sepsis, tuberculosis.
7.Inverse Fever: Temperature rises in the early hours of morning
rather than in the evening e.g. Military tuberculosis, Sepsis and
Brucellosis.
8.Relapsing Fever: Fever is marked by number of febrile attacks
lasting about six days and separated from each other by apyretic
intervals of about the same length e.g. Hodgkin disease.
9.Undulant Fever: Characterized by periodic elevation of temperature
followed by its drop.
3 Phases of Fever
-Onset phases (L. Stadium Incrementi):- temperature rises little by
little. Patient experiences mild headaches, chills, feels, cold, reduce
appetite, muscle aches, lethargy.
A nurse has to cover the patient with blanket, put a lot of water
bottle on the feet, and give a lot of warm tea.
-Stationary Phase (L. Fastigium):- patient has the highest
temperature, flushed skin, attention of mental status, feels hot.
Nurse ha to apply a cold compress on the forehead, give a lot of
juice, tea with lemon.
-Resolution (L. Stadium decrement):- The temperature ma y
decrease gradually, little by little during several days.
Decreasing of Temperature
Lysis:- Gradually decreasing from 39.5, 38.5, 37.5.
Crisis:- Sudden drops 39
0
C, morning 35
0
C.
Pulse is the vibration of each wave of blood giving through the arteries as
the heart beats. It is when left ventricle of heart contracts.
Pulse can be taken in different places; Carotid, Radial, Brachial, Femoral,
Popliteal, Posterior tibia, Dorsalis pedis.
Properties of Pulse
Pulse rate:- Number of pulse rate. Healthy normal Individual is 64-72 beats
minute. Women more than Men. Pulse accelerates with physical work,
during digestion, breathing in, excitement and with diseases e.g.
Myocarditis, Endocarditis, Pericarditis, Cardiac failure.