What is the medical term for fever?

The term "febrile" specifically refers to the presence of fever, which is an elevation in body temperature that often indicates an underlying infection or illness. When someone is described as febrile, it indicates that they are experiencing fever-like symptoms, which can encompass not only the increase in temperature but also other associated symptoms such as sweating, chills, and malaise. This term is derived from the Latin word "febris," meaning fever.

In contrast, hypothermia refers to a dangerously low body temperature, chills are sensations often associated with fever but are not synonymous, and hypoxia indicates a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues, which does not relate to fever directly. Therefore, "febrile" accurately captures the medical terminology associated with fever.