Fevers

In Western medicine, fever is classified based on the elevation of body temperature above the normative baseline of 98.6°F, with clinical significance typically attributed to temperatures exceeding 100.4°F. Fever classifications include low-grade (above 100.4°F), moderate (102-104°F), high-grade (above 104°F), and hyperpyrexia (above 106°F). Fever serves as a key element of the immunological response, often triggered by infectious agents (Sajadi et al., 2020, Journal of the American Medical Association). In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) delineates five unique patterns of dysfunction related to fevers, each with distinct characteristics. These patterns are Yin Deficiency, which involves a lack of cooling and moistening properties leading to increased vulnerability to external influences; Damp-Heat, characterized by heaviness in the head and body; Liver Qi Stagnation, a typical pattern where stagnant liver Qi results in heat accumulation; Kidney Yin Deficiency, which manifests as false heat symptoms such as night sweats and thirst; and Exterior Heat, characterized by fever arising from the body's defensive Qi responding to external heat (Zhang et al., 2015, Journal of Ethnopharmacology). Significantly, TCM also differentiates between daytime and nighttime fevers, enriching its diagnostic framework (Cheng, 2014, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences).