Final answer:
The definition of fever and chills according to DaVita Policy is a temperature above 100.4°F, which indicates the body's response to potential health issues like infections, and results from an upward adjustment of the body's temperature set point.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to DaVita Policy, fever and chills are defined as a temperature above 100.4°F. This threshold is considered significant as it indicates the body's response to potential infections or other health concerns. The body's normal temperature is around 98.6°F, and any significant increase can be a sign of an underlying issue. For example, febrile illnesses often present with high fevers, sometimes as high as 104-105.8°F. In a medical context, the signs of disease like fever are objective and measurable, whereas symptoms are subjective experiences of the patient, such as nausea or headache.
The cause of a fever, like the mentioned 38.3°C (101°F), can occur due to b. an upward adjustment of the body temperature set point, often in response to an infection or other inflammatory process in the body. It's not simply an overproduction of heat or inadequate cooling, but a deliberate change in the body's temperature regulation to create an environment less hospitable to pathogens.