4. Low-Grade Fever: The Body’s Subtle Alarm Bell
Fever is one of the body’s primary defense mechanisms. When something’s amiss internally, the body raises its temperature as a response. With appendicitis, a low-grade fever is often on the symptom roster. But this isn’t the high soaring temperature we commonly associate with infections.
This fever has subtlety to it. It lingers around, often hovering between 99°F to 100°F. While it might not feel alarmingly high, its persistence is what makes it noteworthy. It’s a low hum in the background, a constant reminder that the body is fighting an internal battle.
Pair this fever with chills, and you’ve got a classic symptom duo. The body oscillates between feeling warm due to the elevated temperature and getting sudden cold spells. This combination, while common in many ailments, takes on a different hue with appendicitis.
It’s essential to note that fever is a reaction, not a cause. The inflamed appendix triggers the body’s defense mechanism, prompting it to elevate its temperature. It’s the system’s way of trying to fend off the inflammation, to create an environment less hospitable for the causative agents.
In the vast landscape of symptoms, a low-grade fever might seem insignificant. But it’s this very subtlety that warrants attention. It’s the body’s nuanced way of hinting at an ongoing internal skirmish, a tug-of-war with the inflamed appendix. (4)
