Which term describes a body temperature above 100.4°F (38°C)?

• A. Afebrile
• B. Hypothermia
• C. Hyperthermia
• D. Fever

Answer: (D)

The term reflects an immune-driven rise in body temperature. A body temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) is called a fever, which occurs when the hypothalamus raises the body’s set point in response to infection or illness. This helps the body fight pathogens by creating an unfriendly environment for them and by activating immune processes. Afebrile means no fever or normal temperature, hypothermia is an abnormally low temperature, and hyperthermia is a high temperature caused by external factors or heat regulation failure rather than a raised set point from the immune response. So fever best matches the description.