Fevercausing

Fevercausing describes anything that can provoke fever, a regulated increase in core body temperature typically arising from a change in the hypothalamic set point. Fever is driven by pyrogens, substances that stimulate immune cells to release cytokines such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor, which in turn promote production of prostaglandin E2 and raise the body's temperature set point.

Causes can be infectious, inflammatory, malignant, pharmacologic, or environmental. Infectious agents including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites most commonly trigger fever, often with additional systemic symptoms. Non-infectious inflammatory diseases such as vasculitis or Still's disease can produce fever without infection. Malignancies like leukemia or lymphoma may cause persistent fever. Drugs such as beta-lactam antibiotics, anticonvulsants, or other medications can induce drug fever. Heat exposure, dehydration, or rare endocrine emergencies can simulate fever; true fever arises from hypothalamic set-point changes rather than merely elevated body temperatures.

Clinical evaluation seeks to identify the underlying cause and distinguish fever from hyperthermia. Fever of unknown origin is traditionally defined as fever above 38.3 C on several occasions for more than three weeks with no diagnosis after initial evaluation. Management centers on treating the underlying cause and, for symptomatic relief, antipyretics such as acetaminophen or NSAIDs, while monitoring for adverse effects. In all cases, fever is a symptom rather than a diagnosis and warrants context-specific investigation.