Treating fever

A healthy adult with a slight fever may feel like they’ve been hit with a Mack truck, but a baby with a high fever may sometimes feel pretty comfortable. The reverse of both scenarios can also occur.

Fevers aren’t one-size-fits-all, and neither are their symptoms. Your overall comfort level and symptoms can help you decide how to treat a fever.

If you or someone you’re caring for has a fever, follow these steps to break the fever:

Take your temperature and assess your symptoms. If your temperature runs 100.4 ° F (38 ° C) or higher, you have a fever.

Stay in bed and rest.

Keep hydrated. Drinking water, iced tea, or very diluted juice to replenish fluids lost through sweating. But if keeping liquids down is difficult, suck on ice chips.

Take over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen to reduce fever. Note the proper dosage, and don’t use them alongside other fever-reducing medications. You shouldn’t give aspirin to your baby or child without consulting your doctor. Infants under 6 months of age shouldn’t be given ibuprofen.

Stay cool. Remove extra layers of clothing and blankets, unless you have the chills.

Take tepid baths or using cold compresses to make you more comfortable. Cold baths, ice cube baths, or alcohol baths or rubs can be dangerous and should be avoided.

But no matter what the number on the thermometer reads, if you have any concerns consult your doctor.

Running a fever is the body's response to fighting infections caused by viruses or bacteria. Fevers can also result from sunburn or from getting immunizations. Anyone can get a fever, regardless of age. People who have compromised immune systems may tend to have fevers more often than others do.

To learn about specific treatment guidelines by age and understand your symptoms download our application.