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How to lower fever in adults at home

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Fever is one of the most common symptoms since many illnesses can start this way or have it as possible at some point. Lately, it is being seen that it is not as harmful as believed. Although it causes a lot of discomfort during an infection, it can be beneficial to prevent the proliferation of bacteria.

Suppose you want to know how to lower fever in adults at home and with medications, when an adult is considered to have a fever, and when it is advisable to turn to a professional. In that case, we invite you to continue reading this FastlyHealarticle.

When is fever in adults?

Body temperature is a very complex phenomenon that is becoming increasingly known. It has been seen that it is beneficial to fight infections, which is why it is not appropriate to combat it with antipyretics from the beginning since it has its function even if the sensation does not feel pleasant. However, it can be harmful in children or older adults if it lasts too long.

At a general level, there is the concept in medical practice that a person, whether adult or child, who has more than 38 ° C has a fever, and this is so. Even so, it is currently considered that temperatures above 37.2 ° C measured in the armpit or ear, 37.3 ° C taken in the mouth, or 37.5 ° C if the thermometer is placed in the rectum, are already considered fever if is that it is accompanied by sweating, reddened skin and rapid breathing (hyperventilation).

In the elderly, the issue is more complicated because they may not present an increase in temperature in the face of infection. After all, their body’s response is sometimes slower or does not occur in the same way. With this, attention should be paid to changes in behavior, disorientation, loss of appetite, and drowsiness, among others. This is one cause that infections in older adults are sometimes more severe or difficult to diagnose early.

Infections are the cause of fever, but many reasons generate this body imbalance, which is why it is advisable to go to medical consultation in the event of persistent fever. In the following article, we explain the possible causes of fever.

Medications to lower fever

Different drugs can be used to lower fever in adults. If a doctor indicates it, they can alternate if it is not enough with one of them to control the elevated temperature.

The one that has the best effect and the least amount of adverse effects is paracetamol, which is why it is the one that doctors indicate most frequently when faced with this symptom. It can be taken in doses of 500 mg every 6 hours or 1 g every 12 hours.

Another drug that is often used is ibuprofen. It can be considered a second option or when there are other associated problems. The dose for an adult is 400 mg every 8 hours or 600 mg every 12 hours.

The dipyrone also be used, if necessary, to combat fever. It has been associated with some blood problems, with which its use has decreased a bit in recent years, but when its use is controlled, and the case is evaluated, a doctor may indicate it.

Another alternative is aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), but regular use without specific medical indication is not advisable as it has numerous other effects, including promoting anticoagulation.

Home remedies to lower fever.

There are different ways to lower a fever naturally without medication, but let’s remember that fever has a beneficial effect to combat the current infection, so supporting the discomfort it causes a little can be good for the body:

  • Bath: A full-body bath with room temperature or slightly cool water is suitable to help lower body temperature.
  • Footbath: when the whole body is warm, including the feet, taking a cold bath in them can be good since, in addition to helping to lower the temperature, it will help to improve the circulation of the whole body by promoting venous return.
  • Coldwater cloths or compresses can be made only with water or with water and earth or clay (forming like mud). In this last technique, the ground must be interposed in a cloth, and another clean cloth must be placed on the outside. Both ways help cool the body. If these clothes are applied to the abdomen, it helps to keep the whole body relaxed.
  • Take care of your diet: it has been seen that a very light diet rich in raw fruits and vegetables helps in the recovery of the body since if the body does not have demands from its digestive system, it can take care of the function that is demanding it at that time: fight an infection. It is proven that cooked foods increase body temperature while you are healthy.
  • Eat only if you are hungry: do not force yourself to eat if your body does not ask for it. Body rest must often be accompanied by gastric.
  • Drink enough water: leave out other drinks with sugar or sweeteners. Plain water, natural herbal tea, or fruit juices will hydrate you. The rest, on the contrary, can make it difficult for your body to recover.
  • Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is a good home remedy to lower a fever. It should be drunk away from meals (1 hour before or two after).
  • Carrot juice: due to its vitalizing properties and its high content of minerals and vitamins A, B, and C, it is used to lower body temperature when it is high.
  • And most importantly: rest.

Fever in adults: when to go to the emergency room?

  • An adult with a fever that does not subside or whose madness returns after a few hours of not arriving at the next dose should consult their family doctor.
  • persistent fever for several days should also be a reason for consultation.
  • All older adults with a fever should go to the emergency room because, as has been said, it is difficult for them to manifest a high temperature, which means that fever already indicates something serious most of the time.
  • If a person with a fever has significant shortness of breath, abdominal pain, vomiting, or altered consciousness (such as drowsiness, disorientation, etc.), they should also go to the emergency room.

You can expand this information by consulting the article When to go to the doctor for a fever.

This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to How to lower fever in adults at home, we recommend that you enter our Immune system category.

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