Common fever is, as its name implies, a common complaint. Interestingly, common fever is a symptom of a disease rather than a disease itself. It refers to a condition wherein the internal body temperature rises to levels that are above normal. Normal human body temperature is approximately 98.6°F. An individual may be suffering from fever when there is a marked increase in the temperature level. Abnormally high body temperature is not a sign of common fever; it is probably a sign of hyperthermia (an acute condition that occurs when the body produces or absorbs more heat than it can dissipate).

Colitis typically affects individuals who are under 30 years of age and in rare cases it also affects individuals who are 60 years of age or older.

Causes and Risk Factors

A higher-than-normal body temperature can be caused by several factors. Fever is believed to be a critical component of the body’s defense mechanism and it typically occurs in response to infection or inflammation. When the body is fighting an infection, the blood and lymphatic systems produce white blood cells (WBCs) that act as the body’s army to combat the germs. The body’s internal temperature rises as the white blood cells proceed to eliminate the infectious germs. A temperature of 100°F or 101°F is considered to be within acceptable range because it demonstrates that the body is warding off the infection without any external measures. However, if the temperature increases further, corrective measures must be taken to lower the fever.