What are the causes of frequent fever?
Dec 29, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Jiang Weimin
Introduction
Common causes of frequent fever include viral and bacterial infections, respiratory tract infections such as the common cold, bronchitis, and pneumonia, as well as urinary tract infections such as urethritis, cystitis, and pyelonephritis. Gastrointestinal infections, such as gastritis and enteritis, are also common causes. Additionally, some fevers may result from tumors or hematological diseases, such as lung cancer or colorectal cancer; however, these fevers are mostly low-grade, with body temperature not exceeding 38°C.
Common causes of frequent fever include viral and bacterial infections, respiratory tract infections such as the common cold, bronchitis, and pneumonia, as well as urinary tract infections such as urethritis, cystitis, and pyelonephritis. Gastrointestinal infections like gastritis and enteritis, soft tissue infections, and others may also lead to recurrent fever. Additionally, some fevers are caused by tumors or hematological disorders, such as lung cancer, stomach cancer, or colorectal cancer; however, these fevers are mostly low-grade, with body temperature not exceeding 38°C. Other less common causes include hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, and central fever.
What Causes Frequent Fever?
Frequent fever in patients is usually due to several factors. From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), frequent fever occurs when the patient's constitution is too weak, allowing external pathogenic factors such as wind, cold, and dampness to invade the body.
From a Western medical standpoint, the following causes should be considered: 1. Recurrent fever may result from inflammatory infections due to a weakened immune system. In such cases, pathogenic microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, mycoplasma, or chlamydia can invade the body, triggering inflammatory responses and fever. 2. Aseptic inflammation can also cause frequent fever, such as in rheumatic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or connective tissue disorders like dermatomyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus. 3. Rare conditions that severely compromise immunity—such as severe anemia, blood disorders, malignancies, or HIV/AIDS—may also lead to recurrent fever.
Given the wide range of possible causes for frequent fever, it is recommended to seek timely medical evaluation and treatment under the guidance of a physician.
