Apyrexia is a medical term that refers to the absence of fever in a patient. The spelling of this word can be explained through its IPA phonetic transcription: /æpɪˈrɛksiə/. The first syllable, "ap," is pronounced like the word "app," while the middle syllable, "i," sounds like the letter "E." The stressed syllable "rex" is pronounced like "eks," with the final syllable "ia" being pronounced as "ee-uh." This word is often used in medical contexts to describe patients who do not have a fever.
Apyrexia is a medical term used to describe a period of time where an individual does not experience a fever. Derived from the Greek terms 'a' meaning "without" and 'pyrexia' meaning "fever," apyrexia signifies the absence or resolution of elevated body temperature, which is typically one of the hallmark signs of many illnesses or infections.
During apyrexia, the body temperature returns to its normal range, which is approximately 97°F to 99°F (36.1°C to 37.2°C) in humans. The absence of fever indicates that the body's regulatory systems have successfully restored the normal balance, and any underlying infectious or inflammatory processes have been controlled or resolved.
Apyrexia can be a crucial phase during an illness, as it often signifies the recovery stage where a person starts to feel better and experiences a reduction or complete absence of other associated symptoms. It is commonly observed after a feverish bout, such as during the resolution of a viral or bacterial infection. However, in certain medical conditions, apyrexia may also occur intermittently, with periods of fever followed by periods without fever, thereby indicating a cyclical or relapsing nature of the illness.
Apyrexia is a term frequently employed by healthcare professionals to describe the absence of fever, aiding in communication and understanding of an individual's condition, progression, and response to treatment.
Absence of fever.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word apyrexia is derived from Greek roots. It combines a-, which is a prefix meaning without, and pyrexia, which is derived from the Greek word pyréxis meaning fever. Therefore, the word apyrexia literally means without fever.