Fever

What is fever?

Two days ago, I exhibited symptoms of what seems to be flu: muscle aches, runny nose, coughing, and increase in body temperature.

I took this very seriously because of the H1N1 scare. I thought I might be candidate for one. I didn't hesitate to go to the doctor the very next day.

But the night before, I prudently and continuously monitored every symptom I have and my body's reaction to different kinds of over the counter medicine. I also researched on the symptoms of H1N1 and learned that aside from common symptoms of flu, diarrhea and vomiting are two of the  prominent indications of  "the dreaded virus" -- which i didn't have.

The next day at the clinic, I showed my pulmonologist my hourly plot of my body temperature the night before which ranged from 36.4 to 37.4 C and with esteem I told him, "Doc, I have fever.. and this and that symptoms...."

He cautiously studied my "hourly plot" and said, "No, you don't have  fever. A person who has fever has  least a temperature of 37.5 C..."

He said that what I have is a simple respiratory track infection, and after checking my temperature again, (37 at that moment) he said, all I needed to do was to rest, drink lots of water, and take my daily dose of vitamin C.

And so that day, I learned that in adults, a temperature over about 100 F is considered a fever. That's about at least 37.7777778 degrees Celsius or roughly, as the doctor said, 37.5 C.

Thank God I didn't have a fever! (my temperature was short of 0.1 degree Celsius). And thank God I am cleared of flu A(H1N1).

Immediately right after, I went home and treated everyone to McDonald's and ice cream.