Afebrile is a medical term that refers to the absence of a fever. This word is spelled as /eɪˈfɛbraɪl/. The IPA phonetic transcription of this spelling for afebrile is as follows: the first syllable is pronounced as /eɪ/, the 'f' is pronounced as /f/, and the second syllable is pronounced as /ɛbraɪl/. Afebrile is often used to describe patients who do not have a fever and is an important term when discussing diagnostic testing and treatment options in healthcare settings.
Afebrile is an adjective used to describe a person or condition that does not have a fever. The term is derived from the combination of the Latin prefix "a-" meaning "without," and the Latin word "febris" meaning "fever."
When a person is afebrile, it means their body temperature is within a normal range and they do not exhibit the elevated body temperature commonly associated with fever. In medical settings, body temperature is often measured using a thermometer, with a normal range typically falling between 97°F (36.1°C) and 99°F (37.2°C). If a person's temperature falls within this range, they are considered afebrile.
Being afebrile does not necessarily indicate good health overall, as it only refers to the absence of fever. It is possible for a person to have other symptoms or medical conditions while still being afebrile. However, fever is often a sign that the body is fighting off an infection or other underlying medical issue. Therefore, determining if a person is febrile or afebrile can be important in diagnosing and monitoring their health.
In medical settings, healthcare professionals use the term afebrile to note whether a patient has a fever or not. This information aids in the identification and treatment of various illnesses, as well as in assessing how a patient is responding to treatments and medications. Overall, the term afebrile provides a concise way to indicate the absence of fever.
Non-febrile, apyretic.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word afebrile is derived from two Latin roots. A- is a prefix meaning without or not, and febris means fever in Latin. So, afebrile combines the prefix a- with febris to mean without fever or not feverish.