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How do you treat a fever in a child?
What if my child has a fever?
Can a person help soothe a fever at home?
Feb 26, 2022 · Up to 102 F (38.9 C) taken rectally for children ages 2-3, or taken orally for children older than 3: Encourage your child to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Medication isn't needed. Call the doctor if your child seems unusually irritable or lethargic or complains of significant discomfort. 2-17 years
Apr 17, 2023 · You can help bring down a fever with simple at-home remedies like rest and fluids. Reducing your fever can help safely and quickly reduce symptoms like headache, chills, and sweats. This article details each of the recommendations for how to break a fever as fast as possible at home.
- Overview
- How do you break a fever?
- Other symptoms
- Temperature taking 101
- When to contact a doctor
You may be able to break a fever at home with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications. But a person with a high fever may need medical attention.
People may refer to a fever as hyperthermia, pyrexia, or elevated temperature. It is a state of heightened body temperature commonly occurring as a reaction to an illness. Fevers can also result from sunburn or from getting immunizations.
People with compromised immune systems may tend to have fevers more often than others.
Fevers are typically temporary and resolve independently. However, severe fevers can indicate a serious underlying condition and be a medical emergency.
If you or someone you’re caring for has a fever, follow these steps to break the fever:
•Stay in bed and rest.
•Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water to replenish lost fluids.
•Take over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen to reduce fever.
•Stay cool by removing extra layers of clothing and blankets unless you have the chills.
•Avoid contact with others until the fever resolves.
Fevers aren’t one-size-fits-all, and neither are their symptoms. Your comfort level and symptoms can help you decide how to treat a fever. If you have a fever, you may experience the following symptoms:
•weakness
•lightheadedness
•loss of appetite
•headache
•muscle aches
A person’s body average body temperature can vary depending on age, sex, activity level, and the site at which a temperature is taken. For example, a body temperature reading at a person’s ear, mouth, or armpit will yield different results.
Below are average body temperature values by demographic and temperature site.
Learn more about body temperature and its measurement here.
Many pediatricians recommend using rectal thermometers for infants and babies. Discuss with your doctor which type of thermometer to use. You should also tell them what kind of thermometer you used to record your child’s temperature.
How and when you should treat a fever can vary depending on a person’s age and associated symptoms. If left untreated, fever can lead to serious complications in young children, older adults, and people with compromised immune systems.
Adults with a fever and other symptoms, such as a stiff neck, severe pain anywhere in the body, or shortness of breath, should seek immediate medical attention.
May 22, 2023 · How to treat a fever at home. By itself, fever is usually harmless, though a high fever can be miserable. These steps may help you feel better: Drink plenty of fluids to help cool your body and prevent dehydration. Eat light foods that are easy to digest. Get plenty of rest.
- hhp_info@health.harvard.edu
Feb 15, 2022 · Feb. 15, 2022, at 10:15 a.m. This article is based on reporting that features expert sources. Having a fever makes you feel like your body is cooking from within. Being feverish leaves you...
Nov 7, 2019 · Symptoms. When to see a doctor. Summary. There are various natural ways to reduce a fever at home. However, a very high or persistent fever may require medical attention. Remedies to reduce fever...
What can I do to decrease my child's fever? Give your child an antifever medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. DO NOT give your child aspirin, as it has been linked to a serious, potentially fatal disease, called Reye syndrome. Other ways to reduce a fever: Dress your child lightly. Excess clothing will trap body heat and cause the ...
