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Encyclopedia of Molecular Pharmacology pp 1–7Cite as

Fever

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Definition

Fever is defined as a state of elevated body temperature (Tb), which is often part of the defensive responses of the host to the invasion of live or inanimate matter recognized as pathogenic or alien. The febrile rise of Tb is due to a change in the thermoregulatory characteristics, which was formerly called elevation of a “set point,” a reference temperature that is compared with the regulated value of Tb. Since a neuronal correlate for such a reference signal does not exist, the term set point should no longer be used or be replaced by the term “balance point.” The elevation of Tb under febrile conditions is actively achieved by coordinated behavioral and physiological responses with the aim to reduce heat loss (warm-seeking behavior, peripheral vasoconstriction) and increase heat production (shivering or non-shivering thermogenesis). The threshold Tbs, at which these responses are initiated, are shifted to higher values in the initial phase of fever (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Thermo...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary-Physiology and –Biochemistry, Institut für Veterinär-Physiologie und -Biochemie, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany

    Joachim Roth

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  1. Joachim Roth
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Correspondence to Joachim Roth .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut Herz/Lungenforschg., Bad Nauheim, Hessen, Germany

    Stefan Offermanns

  2. Presidential Office, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Jena, Thüringen, Germany

    Walter Rosenthal

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Roth, J. (2020). Fever. In: Offermanns, S., Rosenthal, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Molecular Pharmacology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21573-6_188-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21573-6_188-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-21573-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-21573-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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