Intermittent fever


Intermittent fever is a type or pattern of fever in which there is an interval where temperature is elevated for several hours followed by an interval when temperature drops back to normal. This type of fever usually occurs during the course of an infectious disease. Diagnosis of intermittent fever is frequently based on the clinical history but some biological tests like complete blood count and blood culture are also used. In addition radiological investigations like chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasonography can also be used in establishing diagnosis.

Types

is a common example of intermittent fever and it has following types.

Quotidian fever

Bouts of fever occurs daily for few hours, typical of Plasmodium knowlesi.

Tertian fever

Fever occurs after an interval of two days, typical of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale.

Quartan fever

Fever occurs after an interval of three days, typical of Plasmodium malariae.

Examples

Following examples of infectious diseases show intermittent fever.
Antipyretics like ibuprofen and paracetamol are used for fever and body aches. Antibiotics are also used for any underlying infection. For treating malaria, anti-malarial drugs like quinine, chloroquine and primaquine are given.