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General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise; Fever; Shortness of breath; Cough; Skin lesions; Skin rash; Headache; Visual changes; Neurological changes; Enlarged lymph glands (armpit lump; Enlarged liver; Enlarged spleen; Dry mouth; Fa...
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The cause of sarcoidosis is not known. Because the granulomas are primarily made up of cells from the immune system (macrophages and lymphocytes), an immune connection is strongly suspected. One of the theories which has been put forth suggests th...
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Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.
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New and severe abdominal pain always needs to be closely evaluated by a doctor. It is frequently a sign of serious illness.
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Repeated episodes of abdominal pain can arise from a variety of medical causes, including some serious conditions. Everyone who has unexplained abdominal pain requires a medical evaluation by a doctor.
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Most of the time, children with mild abdominal pain are not seriously ill; the symptoms go away in a day or two and can be managed at home. However, if your child has severe abdominal pain or has a bellyache along with frequent vomiting, you should contact your child's pediatrician.
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Abdominal pain is very common in children, and in many cases there’s no serious cause. But stomach pain can sometimes point to a serious problem, such as appendicitis, so it is important to know when to seek help.
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Anemia is a lower than normal number of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the blood, usually measured by a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the red pigment in red blood cells that transports oxygen. There are many types and potential causes of anemia. For information about a specific type of anemia, see one of the following articles: Anemia - B12 deficiency Anemia - folate deficiency Anemia - iron deficiency Anemia due to chronic disease Hemolytic anemia Hemolytic anemia - G-6-PD deficiency Idiopathic aplastic anemia Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia Immune hemolytic anemia Immune hemolytic anemia - drug-induced Megaloblastic anemia Pernicious anemia Secondary aplastic anemia Sickle cell anemia
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Anemia is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. The tissues of the human body need a regular supply of oxygen to stay healthy.
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Detailed information on anemia, including symptoms, causes, types, diagnosis, and treatment
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Anemia is a blood disorder characterized by abnormally low levels of healthy red blood cells (RBCs) or reduced hemoglobin (Hgb), the iron-bearing protein in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to tissues throughout the body. Reduced blood cell volume (hematocrit) is also considered anemia.
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Anemia is characterized by an abnormally low number of red blood cells in the circulating blood. It frequently affects patients with cancer.
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What Do You Know About Anemia?1.
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Understanding AnemiaChemotherapy can reduce the number of red blood cells in your body. When you have too few of these cells, anemia can result.
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I have been under the care of my doctor for the past five years for chronic anemia. Every so often, I receive iron infusions because my blood count is low. Can my condition make it hard for me to conceive?
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Anemia is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin (the component of red blood cells that delivers oxygen to tissues throughout the body). The tissues of the human body need a regular supply of oxygen to stay healthy.
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Anemia is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin (the component of red blood cells that delivers oxygen to tissues throughout the body). The tissues of the human body need a regular supply of oxygen to stay healthy.
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Deficiency of red cells, or hemoglobin, in the blood. Anemia is a medical condition in which the quantity of red blood cells falls below an acceptable level.
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Cancer-related Anemia: CausesNormally, the body makes enough red blood cells with hemoglobin to replace the ones that the body has used up. A hormone called erythropoietin, which is made in the kidneys, tells the body when more red blood cells are...
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Anemia: What My Red Blood Cell Count Tells MeAnemia is a condition where the number of red blood cells in the body falls below normal. This may happen if the body slows down its production of these cells.
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Anemia affects more than 30 percent of the world ' s population, and it is one of the most important worldwide health problems. It has a significant prevalence in both developing and industrialized nations.
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Cancer-related Anemia: PreventionIron supplements and erythropoietin are being studied in people receiving radiation and chemotherapy to prevent anemia and improve response. People at risk for nutritional problems can decrease the risk of anemia b...
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Anemia: What to Do When You Have ItAnemia means that the number or quality of the red blood cells is lower than normal. It can be caused by lots of things that prevent the body from being able to make enough red blood cells, such asanti-cancer tre...
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Cancer-related Anemia: TreatmentThe treatment of anemia depends upon the cause. If the anemia is due to a lack of red blood cells, then red blood cells can be given through transfusions or treatment.Red blood cell transfusions are used a lot of th...
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Detailed information on the different types of anemia, including aplastic anemia, anemia of folate deficiency, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, hemolytic anemia, iron deficiency anemia, megaloblastic anemia, and sickle cell disease
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Detailed information on anemia, including symptoms, diagnosis, causes, types, and treatment
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Blindness is the lack of vision, or a loss of vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Blindness may be partial, with very limited vision, or complete, with no perception of light. People with vision worse than 20/200, or a field of vision of less than 20 degrees in the better eye, are considered legally blind in most states in the U.S.
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On a few separate occasions, I have lost vision in one eye -- it goes totally gray for about 30 seconds, then vision returns. What could be causing this?
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What percentage of your eyesight has to be lost for you to be considered legally blind in either eye?
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Colorblindness is the inability to perceive colors in a normal fashion.
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Color blindness is an abnormal condition characterized by the inability to clearly distinguish different colors of the spectrum. The difficulties can be mild to severe.
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Colorblindness, also called color vision deficiency, is an inherited condition that can range from a slight difficulty in telling the shades of a color apart to the rare condition of not being able to identify any color.
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Color blindness is an abnormal condition characterized by the inability to clearly distinguish different colors of the spectrum. The difficulties can be mild to severe.
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Color blindness is an abnormal condition characterized by the inability to clearly distinguish different colors of the spectrum. The difficulties can range from mild to severe.
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Color blindness is an abnormal condition characterized by the inability to clearly distinguish different colors of the spectrum. The difficulties can be mild to severe.
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The term color blindness describes a deficiency in discriminating various colors. It is a misnomer because most color-blind people do, in fact, see colors.
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Coma, from the Greek word " koma, " meaning deep sleep, is a state of extreme unresponsiveness, in which an individual exhibits no voluntary movement or behavior. Furthermore, in a deep coma, even painful stimuli (actions which, when performed on a healthy individual, result in reactions) are unable to affect any response, and normal reflexes may be lost.
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Coma, from the Greek word koma , meaning deep sleep, is a state of extreme unresponsiveness, in which an individual exhibits no voluntary movement or behavior. Furthermore, in a deep coma, even painful stimuli (actions which, when performed on a healthy individual, result in reactions) are unable to cause any response, and normal reflexes may be lost.
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Confusion is the inability to think with your usual speed or clarity. When confused, you have difficulty focusing your attention and may feel disoriented. Confusion interferes with your ability to make decisions.
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Your doctor should evaluate you if you are having symptoms that suggest a more serious cause, such as a bacterial infection, or if your symptoms aren't manageable with over-the-counter remedies or the passing of time.
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A cough is a forceful release of air from the lungs that can be heard. Coughing protects the respiratory system by clearing it of irritants and secretions.
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A cough is a forceful release of air from the lungs that can be heard. Coughing protects the respiratory system by clearing it of irritants and secretions.
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Detailed information on excessive sweating, including symptoms and treatment
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A Harvard Medical School physician discusses excessive sweating while eating in diabetics, called diabetic gustatory diaphoresis.
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My friend has a week-and-a-half old baby, who has been profusely sweating. The baby even became soaked with sweat while lying in his bassinet in only a diaper and socks. What could be the cause of this? Mom has had to give him sugar bottles because of constipation. She is worried the baby could be diabetic, because dad is diabetic.
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Sleeping problems, called insomnia, can take several forms: Difficulty falling asleep when you first go to bed at night Waking up too early in the morning Waking up frequently throughout the night All types of insomnia can lead to daytime drowsiness, poor concentration, and the inability to feel refreshed and rested in the morning.
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Paybacks for Lost SleepAre you getting enough sleep? Do you have sleep debt?
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Some nights, sleep comes easily, and you sail through the night in a satisfying slumber. Waking up after a night of good sleep feels wonderful — you're refreshed, energized, and ready to take on the world. Other nights, sleep comes slowly or not until the wee hours. Or you may fall asleep, only to awaken throughout the night.
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Visual disturbances are abnormalities of sight. Visual disturbances associated with neurological disorders often include double vision (diplopia), moving or blurred vision due to nystagmus (involuntary rapid movements of the eyes), reduced visual acuity, reduced visual field, and partial or total loss of vision as in papilledema, a swelling of the optic disc, or in blindness.
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Coughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. However, excessive coughing may mean you have an underlying disease or disorder. Some coughs are dry, while others are considered productive. A productive cough is one that brings up mucus. Mucus is also called phlegm or sputum. Coughs can be either acute or chronic: Acute coughs usually begin suddenly. They are often due to a cold , flu , or sinus infection. They usually go away after 2 to 3 weeks. Chronic coughs last longer than 2 to 3 weeks.
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A cough is a forceful release of air from the lungs that can be heard. Coughing protects the respiratory system by clearing it of irritants and secretions.
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Coughs, those mini-explosions in your throat, are valuable weapons in your body's self-defense arsenal. Their assignment: keep airways clear by quickly expelling intruders from the lower respiratory system -- principally your throat and upper lungs. If dust, fluid, viruses, bacteria or even tumors block any part of this region, your cough reflex takes explosive action.
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Cough suppressants are medicines that prevent or stop a person from coughing. Cough suppressants act on the center in the brain that controls the cough reflex.
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Dry mouth, known medically as xerostomia, is the abnormal reduction of saliva due to medication, disease, or medical therapy. Dry mouth due to the lack of saliva can be a serious medical problem.
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A dry mouth may not sound like a health threat. But that parched feeling can cause tooth decay and gum trouble, as well as discomfort when eating or speaking.
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Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is marked by a significant reduction in the secretion of saliva. Signs and symptoms of xerostomia include: dryness of the mouth cracked lips, cuts, or cracks at the corners of the mouth taste changes a burning sensation of the tongue changes in the surface of the tongue difficulty wearing dental appliances (like dentures) difficulty swallowing fluids accompanied by an increase in thirst Xerostomia makes the mouth less able to neutralize acid, clean the teeth and gums, and protect itself from infection.
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Mouth and Throat Tumors: Your Health Care TeamYour health care team will explain your options and can answer your questions. They’ll work with you during all stages of your treatment.
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Dry mouth, known medically as xerostomia, is the abnormal reduction of saliva due to medication, disease, or medical therapy. Dry mouth due to the lack of saliva can be a serious medical problem.
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Dry Mouth--One Woman's StoryAt 42 years old, Nancy Howe was an enthusiastic body builder. She regularly leg-pressed 500 pounds while grunting loudly.
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This guide will cover the most common reason for dry eyes and dry mouth. While these symptoms are more common among persons who are older, they are not inevitable; while tear production may decline with advancing age, symptoms are often not solely related to aging.
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Tips to fight a dry mouth.Water’s good. Sugar-free gum helps. But Listerine may dry out your mouth.
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What could cause a person to constantly have a dry, raw mouth that feels like the roof of the mouth has been burned?
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What is the treatment for dry mouth?
Robert Shmerling, M.D., is associate physician and clinical chief of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an associate professor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is an active teacher in the Internal Medicine Residency Program, serving as the Robinson Firm Chief. He is also a teacher in the Rheumatology Fellowship Program and has been a practicing rheumatologist for over 25 years.
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Eye burning with discharge is burning, itching, or drainage from the eye of any substance other than tears.
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These floaters are bits of cellular debris that come and go without treatment...To some people these floaters look like spots...Call your eye doctor...
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What Are Flashes and Floaters?Have you ever seen flashes of light, stars, or streaks that aren’t really there?
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Treating Flashes and FloatersMost often, seeing a few flashes and floaters is normal. Also, some people may notice them for a while after eye surgery.
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Red eyes are caused by enlarged, dilated blood vessels leading to the appearance of redness on the surface of the eye.
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Understanding Red Eye: Treating the InfectionEye infections are most commonly caused by viruses or bacteria. Sometimes they are caused by an infection in another part of your body.
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Do your eyes swell and itch when you pet a cat? Do they get red, watery, and itchy every spring or summer? If so, you may have an allergy to animals or pollen. Along with dust and mold, animals and pollen are the most common causes of allergies.
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Understanding Red Eye: CausesDo your eyes sometimes get red and irritated? This could be a sign of irritation or infection.
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Facial swelling involves an accumulation of fluid in the face, which may extend to the neck and upper arms.
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Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.
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Fatigue is physical and/or mental exhaustion that can be triggered by stress , medication, overwork, or mental and physical illness or disease. Everyone experiences fatigue occasionally.
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Boosting Your Energy provides information on the causes and treatments of persistent fatigue. Includes information on aging and energy, eating for energy, and boosting your energy.
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Fatigue may be defined as a subjective state in which one feels tired or exhausted, and in which the capacity for normal work or activity is reduced. There is, however, no commonly accepted definition of fatigue when it is considered in the context of health and illness.
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Fatigue: TreatmentIf the fatigue is related to a decrease in hemoglobin, or oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, then replacing the red blood cells by transfusion or taking erythropoietin can help reduce fatigue. If the fatigue is not related to...
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If you regularly feel weary after waking from a good night’s sleep or for no apparent reason, it’s time to find out why.
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Introduction Fatigue may be defined as a subjective state in which one feels tired or exhausted, and in which the capacity for normal work or activity is reduced. There is, however, no commonly accepted definition of fatigue when it is considered in the context of health and illness.
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Fatigue is physical and/or mental exhaustion that can be triggered by stress , medication, overwork, or mental and physical illness or disease. Everyone experiences fatigue occasionally.
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Fatigue is a feeling of exhaustion or loss of strength. The duration of fatigue for a patient with cancer has been found to last from one to two times the length of time between diagnosis and completion of treatment, so it is common for fatigue to persist beyond a patient ' s treatment regimen.
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Fatigue: ManagementIf the person on chemotherapy has decreased hemoglobin, or oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, and it seems like the low hemoglobin level will last for a while, then a medicine called PROCRIT® (Epoetin alfa) may be prescribed...
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Fatigue: CausesWe currently understand some of the causes of fatigue but not all of them. Fatigue may be related to physical changes caused by cancer or its treatment (chemotherapy, biotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery).
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Fatigue: DefinitionFatigue is a vague feeling of being tired, weak, or exhausted. It is often a symptom of cancer, when cancer is first diagnosed, or when cancer progresses (Ferrell et al, 1996).
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Oncology: Managing FatigueFatigue is a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It can be caused by worry, lack of sleep, and poor appetite.
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Many people experience late-in-the-day energy lags, but you can take steps to prevent them.
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Sometimes a person feels hot to touch due to illness or environmental situation that
causes elevated core temperature. A compounding factor can be dehydration (lack of
fluids.
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Normal body temperature varies by person, age, activity, and time of day. The average normal body temperature is 98.6?F (37?C).
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A fever is any body temperature elevation over100.4 ? F (38 ? C).
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Detailed information on fevers in children
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A fever is a special cause for concern in infants younger than 3 months of age. Parents and caregivers should be most concerned with changes in eating or sleeping habits, coughing, pain or other marked changes.
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Normal body temperature varies somewhat from one individual to another but displays a general range and pattern around the " normal " temperature of 98.6 ? F.
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A fever is any body temperature elevation over 100 ? F (37.8 ? C).
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An elevated body temperature. While the standard for normal body temperature is 98.
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Fever is defined as an abnormally high body temperature or a regulated rise to a new set point of body temperature. While a body temperature above 100 ? F(37.
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One minute you're hot; the next, you're chilled and your teeth chatter. You've got a fever. But look on the bright side: Fever seems to serve a helpful function in the body.
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Buying a thermometer isn't as easy as it used to be. You face an array of choices. But the decision doesn't have to be hard. Like temperature, it's a matter of degrees.
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Most medical professionals agree a fever by itself is not an illness; it is a symptom of an underlying problem. Fevers actually can be a positive sign the body is fighting an infection. However, a fever can cause discomfort for a child.
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