pyrexia
Body running hot
Pyrexia is the medical term for fever—elevated body temperature, typically above 38°C (100.4°F).
Doctors use it in clinical contexts where precision matters: The patient presented with pyrexia and chills.
Outside medical writing, fever is the standard word.
Having a fever
- hyperthermiaDangerously elevated body temperature
- thermometerHeat-measuring instrument
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- tachycardiaExcessively fast pulse
leukocytosis · rigors · diaphoresis · hypothalamus · acetaminophen · ibuprofen · aspirin · cooling
Shivering spells from illness
- sweatingMoisture through pores
- shiveringInvoluntary bodily trembling
- malaiseDiffuse, sourceless discomfort
- headacheCranial pain
myalgia · fatigue · weakness · flushing · dehydration · nausea · lethargy · prostration
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- sepsisDangerous inflammatory infection response
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
pathogen · malaria · dengue · typhoid · pneumonia · meningitis · abscess · cellulitis
febrile
Having a fever
- hyperthermiaDangerously elevated body temperature
- thermometerHeat-measuring instrument
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
tachycardia · leukocytosis · rigors · diaphoresis · hypothalamus · acetaminophen · ibuprofen · aspirin · cooling · sponging
chills
Shivering spells from illness
- sweatingMoisture through pores
- shiveringInvoluntary bodily trembling
- malaiseDiffuse, sourceless discomfort
headache · myalgia · fatigue · weakness · flushing · dehydration · nausea · lethargy · prostration · anorexia
infection
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- sepsisDangerous inflammatory infection response
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
bacteria · pathogen · malaria · dengue · typhoid · pneumonia · meningitis · abscess · cellulitis · endocarditis
intermittent
Occurring at irregular intervals
- remittentTemporarily abating, recurring
- continuousWithout pause or gap
- hecticIntensely busy, almost overwhelming
relapsing · biphasic · saddleback · quotidian · sustained · spiking · prolonged · acute · chronic · recurrent
pyrexiahypothermia
Dangerously low body temperature
afebrile · cold · cool · hypothermic · chilled