Consult a doctor or pharmacist before administering (child- or baby- formulated) medication to any child under the age of two, and never give ibuprofen to a baby under six months of age. [5] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Do not take more than the recommended dosage. Pay special attention to the dosage you give to children. Don’t place medicine bottles within reach of children, since ingestion of more than the recommended dosage can be dangerous. Take acetaminophen every 4 to 6 hours, but do not exceed the recommended dosage on the package. [6] X Research source Take ibuprofen every 6 to 8 hours, but do not exceed the recommended dosage on the package. [7] X Research source
For infants over 6 months, children, and adults, alternating between acetaminophen and ibuprofen is safe. Usual dosages are acetaminophen every 4-6 hours and ibuprofen every 6-8 hours, depending on the dose.
Green tea may help reduce a fever and boost your immune system. If you are experiencing nausea or vomiting along with the fever, avoid fruit juices, milk, very sugary beverages and carbonated beverages. These drinks can make you feel sick or cause vomiting. [13] X Research source Try replacing solid food with soup or broth to help rehydrate your body (but watch the salt content). Popsicles are also a great way to consume fluids that will also help cool your body down. If you have been vomiting, you may have an electrolyte imbalance. Drink an oral rehydration solution or a sports drink with electrolytes. [14] X Research source [15] X Research source Children under age one who do not regularly consume breast milk or who are on a nursing strike during an illness should take a rehydration solution containing electrolytes, such as Pedialyte, to make sure they’re getting the nutrients they need. [16] X Research source
Take the day off of work, or if your child is sick, have him or her stay home from school. The extra sleep your child will get is a sure way to a quicker recovery, and the source of the fever might be contagious, so it’s best to keep her home. Many fevers are caused by viruses that remain highly contagious as long as the fever is present. [19] X Research source
Do not try to “sweat out” the fever by bundling up a feverish person.
If you don’t have much of an appetite, try replacing solid food with soup or broth to help rehydrate your body. Eat foods with a high water content, such as watermelon, to help you stay hydrated. [22] X Research source If you have nausea or vomiting with your fever, try to stick to bland foods such as saltine crackers or applesauce. [23] X Research source
Andrographis paniculata is widely used in traditional Chinese Medicine to treat colds, sore throats, and fevers. Use 6 g a day for 7 days. Do not use andrographis if you have gallbladder or an autoimmune disease, are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, or take blood pressure or blood thinning medications such as warfarin. Yarrow may help reduce fevers by encouraging sweating. If you have ragweed or daisy allergies, you may experience an allergic reaction to yarrow. Do not take yarrow if you also take blood thinning or blood pressure medications, lithium, stomach acid reducers, or anticonvulsants. Children and pregnant women should not use yarrow. You may find that adding yarrow tincture to a warm (not hot) bath helps reduce fever. [24] X Research source Despite its name, feverfew doesn’t actually work very well to reduce fevers.
Do not give yourself or your child a hot bath. You should also avoid cold baths, which can lead to shivering that can actually increase internal temperature. If you do want to have a bath, the only appropriate temperature is lukewarm, or just above room temperature. [26] X Research source If your child has a fever, you can bathe him or her with a sponge dipped in lukewarm water. Gently wash your child’s body, pat him or her dry with a soft towel, and dress your child quickly so he or she doesn’t get too chilled, which can lead to shivering, which heats up the body.
Rubbing alcohol can also lead to coma if consumed, so it is not appropriate for use or storage around small children. [29] X Research source
Digital thermometers can be used orally or rectally (see below) or under the armpit (though this reduces the accuracy of the reading). The thermometer will beep when the reading is complete, and the temperature displays on a screen. Tympanic thermometers are used inside the ear canal, and they measure temperature with an infrared light. The downside to this style of thermometer is that a buildup of earwax or the shape of an ear canal can skew the accuracy of the reading. Temporal thermometers use an infrared light to measure the temperature. These thermometers are great because they are quick and least invasive. To use this type of thermometer, you slide the thermometer from the forehead to the temporal artery, right above the top of the cheekbone. It can be difficult to master proper placement, but taking several readings can improve the accuracy of the reading. Pacifier thermometers can be used for babies. These are similar to oral digital thermometers, but perfect for babies who use pacifiers. The peak reading is displayed when the temperature is measured.
Place a small amount of petroleum jelly or ky jelly on the thermometer probe. Lay your child on her stomach. Get another person to help if necessary. Carefully insert the probe one-half inch to one inch into the anus. Hold the thermometer and child still for about one minute, until you hear a beep. Do not let go of your child or the thermometer to avoid injury. Remove the thermometer and interpret the reading on the screen.
Aggressively treating a fever can also interfere with your body’s natural method of getting rid of a virus or infection. A lower body temperature might produce a more habitable environment for foreign bodies, so it can be better to let the fever run its course. [33] X Research source Letting the fever run its course is not recommended for individuals who are immunocompromised, taking chemotherapy drugs, or who have had a surgery recently. [34] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Instead of trying to get rid of the fever, take measures to make you or your child more comfortable during the course of the fever, such as rest, drinking fluids, and staying cool. [35] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Discomfort, feeling too warm General weakness Warm body Shivering Sweating Depending on the cause of the fever, you may also see any of the following symptoms: headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, or dehydration.
You have an infant under three months old with a fever over 100. 4 °F (38. 0 °C) You have a baby three to six months old with a fever greater than 102 °F (39 °C). You have a child of any age with a fever greater than 102 °F (39 °C) You or another adult have a fever of 103 °F (39 °C) or higher, particularly in conjunction with excessive drowsiness or irritability.
The fever stays longer than 24 hours in a child under 2 The fever stays for 72 hours (3 days) in any child over 2 The fever persists past 3 days in an adult
The person has difficulty breathing A rash or spots develop on the person’s skin The person exhibits listlessness or delirium The person has unusual sensitivity to bright lights The person has any other chronic condition such as diabetes, cancer or HIV The person has recently traveled to another country The fever has resulted from an overly hot environment such as being outside in extreme heat or being in an overheated vehicle The person with the fever complains of other symptoms like sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, ear pain, rash, headache, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, trouble breathing, confusion, neck pain, or pain with urination The fever is lowered, but the person is still acting sick If the person has a seizure, call 911
