How to End a Fever

A fever is a condition where the body's temperature rises above its normal range, which typically fluctuates between 36.6°C and 37.2°C. It is an indicator that the body is fighting an infection or illness. Most fevers are beneficial since viruses and bacteria cannot thrive in high temperatures, making fever a defense mechanism. While fever can be uncomfortable for up to a day, there’s no need to worry unless the temperature exceeds 39.4°C in adults or 38.3°C in children. Most fevers subside on their own, but reducing a dangerously high fever can prevent severe complications like brain damage. You can treat a fever with home remedies and medication.

Be patient and monitor the temperature. Most fevers in both children and adults have a natural course and typically resolve within 2-3 days. Therefore, it's important to remain patient with mild to moderate fevers and check the temperature every two hours to ensure it doesn’t reach dangerous levels. For infants and children under 2 years, it's best to take their temperature rectally. A fever over 39.4°C in adults or 38.3°C in children lasting more than a week is concerning.

• Remember that body temperature is usually highest in the evening and after physical activity. Menstruation, intense emotions, or hot and humid environments can also briefly increase body temperature.
• Other symptoms associated with mild to moderate fevers include muscle aches, fatigue, exhaustion, chills, headaches, poor appetite, and flushed face.
• Symptoms of high fever include hallucinations, confusion, restlessness, seizures, and possible loss of consciousness (coma).
• When managing a mild or moderate fever, ensure the body stays hydrated. Fever causes sweating and can lead to dehydration if fluids aren’t replenished.

Remove excess blankets or clothing. A simple and effective method to lower a fever is by removing unnecessary clothing when awake and reducing the blankets when sleeping. Blankets and clothing trap heat, preventing it from escaping through the skin. Therefore, during a fever, it’s best to wear lightweight clothes and use a thin blanket while sleeping.

• Avoid wearing clothes and blankets made of synthetic fibers or wool. Always opt for cotton as it is more breathable.
• Keep in mind that the head and feet are good heat dissipation areas, so avoid wearing hats or thick socks during a fever.
• Do not cover up a person who feels chills from the fever, as this will only cause their body temperature to rise more rapidly.

Take a lukewarm bath. If you're experiencing a fever with the symptoms mentioned earlier (see the previous section), you can reduce the fever by taking a lukewarm bath. However, it’s important to avoid cold water, ice, or alcohol-based solutions, as they could cause shivering, worsening the condition. Ensure that the bath water is lukewarm or cool and soak for about 10-15 minutes. A bath may be easier than a shower when you're feeling weak, fatigued, and achy.

• Another method is to take a clean cloth or sponge, soak it in cool water, wring out the excess, and apply it to your forehead like a cold compress. Change the cloth every 20 minutes until the fever drops.
• An alternative is to use a spray bottle filled with cool, purified water to mist (spray) the body every half hour to help cool down. Focus on spraying the face, neck, and chest for optimal results.

Ensure proper hydration. It’s important to stay hydrated under normal circumstances, but during a fever, it becomes even more crucial as you lose fluids through sweating. You should increase your water intake by at least 25%. For instance, if you normally drink 8 glasses of water a day (as recommended for optimal health), you should aim for 10 glasses when you have a fever. Consider drinking cool beverages with ice to help bring the temperature down. Eating fruit and drinking vegetable juice is a good idea, as they contain sodium (an electrolyte) that helps replenish what you lose through sweat.

• Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, as they may cause your skin to flush and make the fever feel worse.
• If you're not sweating much, consider drinking warm beverages (like herbal tea) and eating warm foods (such as chicken soup) to stimulate sweating. Sweating leads to evaporation, which helps cool the body down.

Sit or lie near a fan. The more air circulates around the body and over sweaty skin, the more effective the evaporation process becomes. This is why sweating cools down the skin and blood vessels when the surrounding air evaporates the moisture. Sitting near a fan accelerates this process. Therefore, sit or sleep near a fan, ensuring that your skin is exposed to the air for effective results.

• Avoid sitting too close to the fan or turning it up too high, as this may cause chills. Shivering and goosebumps could raise your body temperature.
• Air conditioning might be best for a hot and humid room, but a fan is usually a better option as it won’t cool the room too much.

Know when to see a doctor. While most fevers are beneficial and should not be suppressed or controlled unnecessarily, there are times when doing so is crucial to prevent serious complications such as febrile seizures, coma, or brain damage. To understand how to treat a fever, you should consult a doctor if the fever persists for more than a week or if the body temperature rises dangerously high (see the previous section). Doctors have the necessary tools to measure temperature at various sites—mouth, rectum, armpit, or ear canal.

• If your child has a high fever (above 38.3°C) and exhibits symptoms like lethargy, agitation, vomiting, lack of eye contact, persistent sleepiness, or total loss of appetite, consult a doctor.
• Adults should see a doctor if they have a high fever (above 39.4°C) and experience any of the following symptoms: severe headache, swollen throat, severe rash, light sensitivity, stiff neck, confusion, agitation, chest pain, abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, numbness, tingling, or seizures.
• If the fever is due to a bacterial infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics to control or treat the infection.

Consider taking acetaminophen (Tylenol). Acetaminophen not only alleviates pain (analgesic) but is also a powerful fever-reducing medication, as it stimulates the hypothalamus in the brain to signal a reduction in body temperature. In other words, it helps lower the body's thermostat. Acetaminophen is typically safe and effective for high fevers in young children (with a low dose) and is also suitable for adolescents and adults.

• For high fevers, acetaminophen is typically taken every 4-6 hours. The maximum daily dose for adults is 3,000mg.
• Taking too much acetaminophen or using it for an extended period can lead to toxicity and liver damage. Never consume alcohol when taking acetaminophen.
• Never take acetaminophen with alcohol or alcoholic beverages.

Try ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) as an alternative. Ibuprofen is another effective fever-reducing medication – in fact, some studies have shown that ibuprofen is more effective than acetaminophen for lowering fevers in children aged 2-12 years. The main concern is that ibuprofen is generally not recommended for children under 2 years of age (especially infants under 6 months) due to the risk of severe side effects. Ibuprofen also has anti-inflammatory properties (unlike acetaminophen), which can be helpful when you or your child has a fever with muscle or joint pain.

• Adults can take 400-600mg every 6 hours to reduce a fever. Children typically take half the adult dose, but this depends on the child's weight and other health factors, so consult with a doctor.
• Excessive use of ibuprofen or prolonged use can cause irritation, so always take it with food. The most serious side effects include stomach ulcers and kidney damage. Additionally, never drink alcohol when using ibuprofen.

Be cautious with aspirin. Aspirin is a potent fever reducer and anti-inflammatory, highly effective for treating high fevers in adults. However, aspirin is more toxic than both acetaminophen and ibuprofen, especially in children. Therefore, aspirin should not be used for children and adolescents, particularly those who have recently had viral illnesses such as chickenpox or the flu, as it is associated with Reye's syndrome—a reaction involving prolonged vomiting, lethargy, liver failure, and brain damage.

• Aspirin (Anacin, Bayer, Bufferin) is particularly irritating to the stomach lining and is a leading cause of stomach ulcers in the United States and Canada. Always take aspirin with food.
• The maximum daily dose for adults is 4,000mg. Exceeding this amount can lead to stomach problems, tinnitus, dizziness, and blurred vision.