Fever in Intensive Care Unit

Pangtey, Ghan Shyam; Prasad, Rajnikant

The development of fever in a critically ill patient in ICU should not trigger panic, but it should be considered as a sign, which requires appropriate attention and management. Fever is commonly a physiological expression of host response to infectious or non-infectious agents. Fever is also considered to be host defense against external exposure and the raised body temperature helps in better immune response by promoting synthesis of antibodies, cytokines, activated T cells, polymorphs, and macrophages. There is some medical evidence to suggest, raised body temperature may be harmful in patients with acute brain injury and in patients with compromised cardio-respiratory reserve (e.g., cardiac arrest) and pharmacological treatment in these critically ill patient is beneficial. Fever should also be treated in patient who complains of discomfort due to high body temperature.