Pyrexia is a medical term for what condition?

Pyrexia is a medical term that specifically refers to an elevated body temperature, commonly known as a fever. It is often a sign that the body is fighting an infection or illness. The term pyrexia comes from the Greek word "pyrexia," meaning fire, which aptly describes the increased heat associated with fever.

In contrast, the other options represent different medical conditions: chills refer to sensations of cold often experienced alongside fever; hypothermia is a dangerously low body temperature, the opposite of pyrexia; and fatigue refers to a state of extreme tiredness or lack of energy, which can occur due to many different conditions but does not specifically describe an increase in body temperature. Understanding these definitions helps clarify the specific meaning of pyrexia in the context of medical terminology.