Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: kdlynn on 10/05/2007 04:33:26

Title: why do some infections cause fevers and not others?
Post by: kdlynn on 10/05/2007 04:33:26

i frequently get sinus infections in the springtime. i always feel awful and my doctor says that i have a sinus infection, but i rarely have a fever with these infections. how does the body decide when to use this method of infection fighting?

Title: why do some infections cause fevers and not others?
Post by: moonfire on 10/05/2007 23:11:47

different types of infections

Title: why do some infections cause fevers and not others?
Post by: another_someone on 10/05/2007 23:30:55

Fever is an immune response, so it is just as much about the sufferer as it is about the infectious agent (although without doubt some infectious agents are more likely to cause fevers to develop than others).

Are you sure it is an infection and not just hayfever?

Title: why do some infections cause fevers and not others?
Post by: kdlynn on 11/05/2007 05:11:02

well according to my doctor it is a sinus infection which started as hayfever... if i let it go even longer i end up with an ear infection and then bronchitis. but i never get a fever with any of these, just intense pain and some interesting um... mucus-y stuff. i will on occasion feel fine and have a fever though... i think my body might not make sense. lol. i think it gets confused sometimes

Title: why do some infections cause fevers and not others?
Post by: kdlynn on 11/05/2007 05:12:40

it happens once a year around this time. i started to feel the sinus pressure yesterday... so any moment now i'm going to feel very very sick.

Title: why do some infections cause fevers and not others?
Post by: another_someone on 11/05/2007 12:14:02

You are not likely to get a fever if the infection is only localised.

Do you know if it is a bacterial or viral or fungal infection?

Have you been offered any steroid inhalers or anything - if it is blocking your airways?

Title: why do some infections cause fevers and not others?
Post by: kdlynn on 11/05/2007 22:52:03

i'm not sure what kind of infection. i'm assuming bacterial. he has only given me an inhaler once when i let it go way too long without going in to see him. however, every few years he gives me very very low dose prednisone( i don't think i spelled that right)

Title: why do some infections cause fevers and not others?
Post by: kdlynn on 11/05/2007 23:16:06

so do you mean that if the infection is only in one place then you probably won't get a fever?

Title: why do some infections cause fevers and not others?
Post by: another_someone on 11/05/2007 23:35:08

Quote from: kdlynn on 11/05/2007 23:16:06

so do you mean that if the infection is only in one place then you probably won't get a fever?

Pretty much.  I think (and I am not a doctor) that fever usually happens when the infection gets into your blood stream, and I doubt it will happen if it is local to one area of your body and has not reached your blood stream.

Title: why do some infections cause fevers and not others?
Post by: kdlynn on 11/05/2007 23:56:12

i guess that makes sense. why send your whole body into overdrive if your whole body isn't threatened.