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Everyone has had a fever. Everyone gets a fever ever so often. What should you do about it -- it anything? There is a lot of confusion about the best way to handle a fever, so let’s clear up all that contusion right here, right now. • Normal Temp The body’s normal temperature is not necessarily 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.7 degrees Celsius; rather, there is a range of normal varying from 96.8 to 100 degrees orally. A rectal temperature is one degree higher than oral; an axillary or underarm temperature is one degree lower. For any individual there is a temperature cycle of two to three degrees during a 24 hour period, with the highest temperature usually occurring in late afternoon, and the lowest in the early morning hours. Factors such as external cold or warmth, exercise, and activity also influence body temperature, especially in infants and children. The reading of an oral thermometer is also influenced by the recent intake of cold or hot food or fluids, by smoking, or by inability to hold the mouth closed. The normal range of temperature is maintained by a balance between heat PRODUCED in the body and heat LOST by the body. When this balance of heat production and heat loss is upset, the temperature rises and the person experiences a fever, defined as an oral temperature of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or 37.7 degrees Celsius. It is important to know that a fever is a symptom and not a disease. There are some body signs and symptoms that are typical effects of the rise in temperature A person with fever appears and feels flushed. The pulse and breath rate increase and perspiration may be heavy. There may be a general feeling of chilling. Shivering and shaking result, often followed by a rise in the temperature. One feels generally “achey”, tired, or weak: a headache or sore eyes may also be Present. A feeling of being very thirsty results from the dehydration that occurs when fever is present. As a result, urination may be less frequent and the urine a darker color, the lips, mouth, and tongue may feel dry and “coated”. It is a very rare occurrence tar a fever to go beyond 105 106 degrees Fahrenheit or 40.5-41.1 degrees Celsius. Now - what to do about this symptom of fever? Identifying the cause of the fever is important. Some fever causing illnesses such as ear infections or kidney infections respond to direct treatment. However, fever also commonly accompanies “flu” or cold symptoms, mono, or other virus infections for which there is no direct cure. In such illnesses, treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms. • Treatment of the fever Involves the following points: • Let heat evaporate from the skin do not overdress. Wear light clothing indoors and use only what covering Is needed to keep from feeling chilled. Sponge, bathe, or shower with lukewarm water if you can do so safely. Do not use ice packs or very cold water, as extreme cold constricts blood vessels and prevents the loss of heat. • 2. Drink 2-3 quarts of liquid each 24 hours to replace fluid lost because of the fever. Soups, juices, gelatin, fruit drinks, soda pop, popsicles and ice cream are suggestions for fluids to use. It makes sense to avoid alcohol o excess caffeine such as in coffee, as those liquids excessively increase the output of urine. • 3. Take aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These medications are fever reducers and pain relievers. Consult the bottle label or your health care provider for the usual dosage. You should avoid ibuprofen if you are allergic to aspirin. Aspirin should NOT be used for fever in children or teens up to 19 years old because its use has been associated with the development of Reye Syndrome (a rare childhood disease that causes coma, liver damage and death). • 4. Since heat is produced by action of skeletal muscles, it is sensible to avoid strenuous activity even though you may feel well enough to be active. • It is expected that a fever will be present early In the course of a viral illness such as a cold or other resp4ratory illness. It usually does not exceed 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit or 39.1 degrees Celsius in adults and goes down over a period of 2-3 days. Seek medical advice if adequate doses of aspirin or aspirin substitutes and sponging do not temporarily reduce the fever, or if the fever continues to be 102 degrees or above for over 48 hours. If the fever has returned to normal and then suddenly rises again a few days later, seek attention for a possible secondary Infection. Fever in the absence of other symptoms is also significant. so if a fever continues without obvious reason, seek medical advice. Medical evaluation of the significance of a fever is made easier if you can answer some of the following questions: How high is the fever? What is the pattern to the highs and lows? Do you have shaking chills or periods of sweating? What have you done to bring the fever down and has this helped? What other symptoms are present? Home | Privacy |