Pyrexia
Type: Symptom
Definition
An abnormally high body temperature indicative of a systemic immune response.
Clinical Details
As the immune system detects the bacterial antigens, it releases circulating pyrogens that reset the hypothalamic thermostat. This results in a sudden, high-grade fever that creates an inhospitable thermal environment for the replicating bacteria. The sudden onset of this fever is a classic hallmark of the infection.