If you are taking medication when you have a fever, this article is for you! A fever is simply a rise in body temperature and is not a disease to be fought. Instead, it is a sign that your body is defending itself against an attacker. When the going gets tough, Doctissimo gives you tips on how to persevere.
The average body temperature is 37°C (varies between 36.5°C and 37.5°C depending on the person). Below 38°C is a mild fever, between 38-38.5°C is a fever, and above 38°C is a fever. Fever is the body’s defense.
What is a fever?
A fever is a high temperature (hyperthermia) that shows your body is defending itself against invaders such as infections. “The energy of the enzymes and oxidative activity needed to destroy the enemy leads to an acceleration of the entire metabolism (cell renewal, blood circulation, respiration), and everything that causes this is heat,” explains Christopher Vasey, a naturopath and author of “Fever, Disease”. It causes a fever
The most common cause of fever is a microbial infection, but it can also be caused by poisoning (poor food, poisonous mushrooms, snake venom, etc.), allergic reactions to people with allergies, or tissue expansion due to injury or surgery.
Symptoms of fever
A person with a fever when the body is injured may experience the following symptoms:
General discomfort,
Widespread pain in the legs,
feelings of depression,
cold cold,
Loss of appetite,
strong thirst,
Fire, excessive sweating and profuse urination.
Fever: When should you worry if a fever of 39 degrees is considered high?
Symptoms of hay fever are high fever (39°C and above) or prolonged and fatigue. You can also experience severe pain, cramps, severe headaches and even delirium attacks with slurred speech. “It is important to pay attention to fever because patients will lose energy. A weak body can defend itself well against attackers. Therefore, it is a necessary creation to keep the fever healthy, or if not, to try to reduce it. ” the authors continued to say. .
How to reduce fever quickly?
the rest
If you have a fever, the best treatment is to sleep, rest and drink plenty of water. But remember that treating a fever is not recommended, as doing so will also interrupt the body’s immune response to fight the infection.
herbs
Only fevers that are very severe and unbearable (for example, those that rise above 40°C or remain at 39°C) should be brought down. In this case, antipyretics (which can reduce fever) are recommended. Christopher Vasey adds: “You can take white willow or meadowfoam in capsule form, available from doctors and pharmacies. The recommended dose is 3 to 6 tablets a day, taken with water until the fever is gone. If you have a fever, seek advice from your naturopath or pharmacist immediately.
Dedemin Hospital
Spa
If applied correctly, hydrotherapy is the best way to reduce fever without raising it. The contact of cold water with the body causes the body to lose a lot of heat, which increases the energy of the metabolism. The most common practice is to wrap a part of the body with a wet cloth. For example, you can wrap your baby in a cool, wet cloth and wrap him. After a few minutes, change the cloth and repeat 3 to 4 times 3 times a day.
Vinegar
Another folk remedy: vinegar slippers. This involves wrapping your feet in a cloth soaked in a mixture of half cold water and half vinegar. Finally, you can wrap your breasts in a wet cloth.
Where can I put ice to reduce fever? If you have symptoms of fever associated with a stroke, use ice. In this case, ice packs should be placed on the nape of the neck and at the base of the neck.
It is not recommended to use ice water or warm baths when you have a fever, as this can cause thermal shock and discomfort (cold, teeth chattering, etc.) and cause more severe pain.
Antipyretics: Be careful with self-medication
Fever persists despite doliprane: when to seek treatment and what to do?
Paracetamol (up to 4 grams per day for adults) is used to reduce fever and relieve pain, but aspirin and ibuprofen can lower body temperature in hot and cold conditions. Before taking medication (if there are no other symptoms other than fever, you do not need to take it below 38.5°C), do not hesitate to consult your doctor or pharmacist. Most importantly, be careful about self-medication, as this can lead to you taking a combination of drugs that are not necessarily compatible.
Beware of drug interactions
Interactions between these drugs are known to doctors and are frequently reported by the Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM). The risk is confirmed by a study published in the journal, which included 60 million consumers, showing that some over-the-counter cold medications can have serious side effects (in particular, these products contain vasoconstrictors that can cause nervous system symptoms or heart attacks).
Rest and Water: The Two Pillars of Emergency Management
Remember that if you have a fever, it can make you very tired, so take care of yourself, rest and drink fluids (drink at least 1.5 litres of water per day). Physical activity is not recommended when you have a fever. Finally, if you want to improve your speech or other abilities, do not hesitate to take capsules of willow and meadowfoam, which are similar to aspirin.
How to lower the body temperature of a baby or child?
There are simple actions and tips that you can do to make your child comfortable and reduce their fever:
See your child: The goal is not to create a warm body and take off their clothes.
The room temperature should not be too high: the ideal temperature is between 18 and 20 ° C. Keep your home warm when the child is not in the room;
Give your child as little water as possible to prevent dehydration. If it is a child, give him his favorite drink regularly so that he does not get dehydrated. Adults should also drink plenty of water;
Bathing a baby or child with a fever is not recommended as he may shiver and feel pain. If you have any questions, please contact your doctor at any time.