[Fever in intensive care: an open problem].

Abstract

Fever is one of the most aspecific marker of disease, it is considered a protective host defense response and it is the result of a reset of the hypothalamic thermostat. Fever is a common problem in ICU patients and it is associated with infective and non infective causes. Fever presenting in ICU should always be a source of concern and the first and immediate priority is to determine its clinical significance.