Fever is a common symptom of many medical conditions, and while infections are a frequent cause of fever, there are various other non-infectious causes of fever. Some of these include:
- Inflammatory Conditions: Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and inflammatory bowel disease can lead to fever as the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues.
- Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke: Excessive exposure to hot weather or physical exertion can lead to elevated body temperature.
- Medications: Some medications, such as antibiotics, antipsychotics, and anti-seizure drugs, can cause drug-induced fever as a side effect.
- Malignancies: Certain cancers, such as lymphomas and leukemias, can cause fever as a paraneoplastic syndrome, where the body reacts to the presence of the cancer.
- Autoinflammatory Disorders: Conditions like familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and periodic fever syndromes are characterized by recurrent fever episodes due to genetic abnormalities in the innate immune system.
- Organ Inflammation: Inflammatory conditions affecting specific organs, like hepatitis or pancreatitis, can result in fever.
- Endocrine Disorders: Thyroid storms in hyperthyroidism or adrenal crises in Addison's disease can lead to fever.
- Blood Clots: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) can sometimes cause fever as a result of the body's response to the clot.
- Connective Tissue Diseases: Conditions like systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) can cause fever in addition to other symptoms.
- Vaccination: After receiving some vaccines, mild fever can occur as a normal part of the body's immune response.
- Hematologic Disorders: Conditions such as hemolytic anemia and sickle cell crisis can lead to fever.
- Environmental Toxins: Exposure to certain toxins and chemicals can lead to fever, as the body tries to detoxify itself.
- Stress and Anxiety: Severe emotional stress can sometimes lead to psychogenic fever, where the body temperature rises without an underlying medical cause.
It's important to note that fever is often a symptom of an underlying issue, and diagnosing the cause may require a thorough medical evaluation, which can include physical examination, medical history, blood tests, imaging studies, and sometimes further specialized tests. If you or someone you know is experiencing unexplained or persistent fever, it is advisable to seek medical attention to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.
Best advice for rheumatoid arthritis
There are several self-care strategies you can implement to help manage rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and improve your quality of life. However, it's crucial to discuss these strategies with your healthcare provider to ensure they are appropriate for your specific condition. Here are some self-care tips for RA:
Hair, hormonal hair loss
Hormonal hair loss, often referred to as androgenetic alopecia or male/female pattern baldness, is a common condition characterized by the progressive thinning of hair, typically in a specific pattern. This type of hair loss is primarily influenced by hormones and genetics. Here are some key points about hormonal hair loss:
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Crusty eyes, also known as "sleep" or "eye discharge," occur when mucus, oil, skin cells, or debris accumulate around the eyes during sleep. This phenomenon is typically harmless and often indicates the body's natural mechanism of clearing away irritants and debris. The crustiness forms when tears and natural lubricants mix with these substances, drying out overnight and creating a thin film around the eyelids and lashes. Factors contributing to crusty eyes include:
What bacteria do we know?
We know thousands of different species of bacteria, each with its own unique characteristics. Bacteria are microscopic organisms found in various environments, including air, water, soil, on skin, and in the digestive tracts of animals and humans. Here are some different groups of bacteria and their characteristics:
I have blood in my urine. What to do?
The presence of blood in urine, a condition known as hematuria, can occur for a variety of reasons, ranging from benign to potentially serious. Hematuria can manifest as either gross hematuria (visible blood in the urine, giving it a pink, red, or brownish color) or microscopic hematuria (only detectable under a microscope). Here are some of the common causes of hematuria:
How can cortisol destroy muscle collagen and other proteins?
Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands and plays a critical role in various physiological processes in the body, including metabolism, immune function, and the regulation of blood pressure. While cortisol is necessary for normal bodily functions, excessive or prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol can have detrimental effects on muscle tissue and other proteins, including collagen. Here's how cortisol can potentially impact muscle collagen and other proteins:
What can I do to reduce the chance of cardiac arrest?
Reducing the risk of cardiac arrest involves adopting a comprehensive approach to a healthy lifestyle. Here are some key steps to help you maintain a healthy heart:
H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment
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Symptoms: