Question

I know that ME often causes problems with temperature control and this can result in people feeling cold and possibly having a lower than normal body temperature.

I have a different problem in that I have a semi-permanent and slightly raised temperature. It’s not causing any particular problems – so I haven’t consulted my doctor.

Can this happen in ME as well?

Answer

Firstly, a normal body temperature is approximately 37°C. A fever is usually defined as having a body temperature of 37.8°C or above and often results in feeling warm, cold, or shivery.

Secondly, as you say, temperature-control problems are very common in ME. This may be due to a disturbance involving a tiny gland in the brain called the hypothalamus, which acts rather like a thermostat in controlling body temperature.

The simple answer to your question is that having a consistently raised body temperature is something that should always be properly investigated.

Although infections are the commonest cause of an acutely raised temperature, there are other conditions which need to be considered when there are no obvious symptoms or signs of an infection, especially when the temperature has been raised for some time. Non-infectious medical conditions that can increase body temperature include autoimmune diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases – e.g. Crohn’s disease, malignancies, polyarteritis nodosa, sarcoid, and an over-active thyroid gland/hyperthyroidism. There are also some drugs that cause a fever as a side-effect.

So you do need to go and see your GP, preferably armed with some details of what your temperature is at several points of the day over a period of several days with the use of an accurate thermometer.

To establish the cause, your doctor needs to take a detailed clinical history, carry out a physical examination to check for enlarged glands and signs of infection, and signs which could indicate a non-infectious medical cause. Some blood tests – a full blood count, inflammatory markers (CRP and ESR), and thyroid function tests in particular – will also need to be arranged.

If a doctor cannot find an explanation for a persistently raised temperature, this then becomes in medical jargon a pyrexia of unknown origin. This will probably result in being referred to a hospital specialist for further assessment and investigations.

See Also: Symptom: Temperature Regulation, Symptom: Low Temperature

More Information:

• We offer a range of Free Literature which covers temperature sensitivity, including:
  • Cold Hands & Feet (Incl. Raynaud's Phenomenon)
  • Sensitivities, Intolerances, and Hypersensitivities