How to Break a Fever: 10 Things You Need to Do, According to Doctors

What is a fever?

When you have a fever, your body temperature is higher than normal—and though that varies from person to person, a normal body temperature is around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the US National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus resource.

It's important to remember that a fever is not a disease on it's own, but rather a symptom of an infection or illness that your body is trying to fight off. Most bacteria and viruses that cause infections actually thrive in a normal human body temperature', so when your body's temperature rises—which happens when you get a fever—it becomes harder for them to survive. Fevers also activate your body's immune system, per MedlinePlus.

Basically: A fever may actually be a good sign that your body is working to get you back to health. Here's how to help it along.

Check in with your thermometer

Right off the bat, if you think you have a fever, take your temperature. Body temps vary from person to person, by time of day, and due to other factors–even during ovulation in women who menstruate, so if your thermometer reads a degree lower or higher than normal, don't sweat it.

But if you're a few degrees higher than normal, don't ignore it. You actually enter fever territory when your temperature reaches 100.4 or above. (PS: A rectal temperature is thought to be the most accurate gauge in young kids.) If your temperature reads above 103, it could signal a serious infection and warrants immediate medical attention.

Stay as hydrated as possible

Pay no mind to the old saying, "feed a cold, starve a fever." In truth, colds can produce fever too, and when you’re fighting a fever, liquids are your friend.

“Fever will dehydrate you, and you have to replace what you have lost,” explains Dr. Ferrer, who also serves as director of the pulmonary fellowship program at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center.

Water, tea, and chicken broth are all smart options. Your pediatrician may recommend an electrolyte solution for a young child.

Eat if you can, but don't force it

When your body is feverish due to an infection of some sort, you may also have an upset stomach or nausea, not to mention a lack of appetite. It can be hard to keep food down or simply unappealing to eat, Dr. Ferrer explains, so “never force anybody to eat.”

But if you do feel like eating, a steamy bowl of chicken soup may be just what the doctor ordered. In a famous study published nearly two decades ago, researchers showed that chicken soup actually does have medicinal properties. It slows the movement of infection-fighting white blood cells, and that action is thought to help alleviate upper respiratory symptoms.

Stay comfortably cool

There’s no evidence that layering on blankets “and trying to sweat out the fever” has any benefit, Dr. Ferrer says.

Instead, you’ll probably feel better if you stay cool, he says. One way to beat the heat is to take a lukewarm or cool shower or bath at a temperature that’s comfortable to you. Applying cool compresses to the neck, armpits, or forehead can also help cool the skin through evaporation. These methods won’t treat the underlying cause of the fever–but they can help ease some discomfort as your body fights off a bug.

Get some rest

Give in to the urge to crawl into bed. When you have a fever, it means your immune system is working overtime to battle whatever infection or disease is making you ill.

Give your body a fighting a chance by catching a few winks. Studies suggest that sleep boosts immune system function.

Take a fever reducer

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are the go-to medicines for reducing fever in adults and children. Aspirin is also effective in adults but should never be given to children or teenagers (it's been linked to a rare condition called Reye’s syndrome that causes brain swelling and liver damage in young people battling a viral infection, according to the Mayo Clinic).

Another reminder for parents: Make sure to administer the correct dosage of acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on your child’s age and weight. And know that acetaminophen may be hidden in many over-the-counter medications taken to relieve cold and flu symptoms. You don’t want to take too much, Dr. Ferrer warns, because it “continues to be one of the most common reasons for liver failure.”

Take your infant to the doctor

Don't mess around with this one: Call your pediatrician any time your baby has a fever of 100.4 or higher.

Children under 1, especially infants 6 months or younger, are extremely vulnerable when they have a fever because they can become dehydrated quickly, Dr. Ferrer explains.

Take your sick child to the doctor

Fever in children 6 months to 5 years of age can trigger febrile seizure, a type of seizure that occurs within the first few hours of a fever. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises parents to call the doctor when a child has a fever and a seizure.

You should also call a doctor if your child is feverish and looks very ill, is unusually drowsy, is very fussy, or has other symptoms, such as a stiff neck, a severe headache, a sore throat, ear pain, an unexplained rash, or repeated vomiting or diarrhea.

A worsening fever or one that hangs on for more than two days in a tot younger than 2 or three days in an older child also requires medical attention, as does a high fever. Some clinicians define “high fever” in children as a temperature of 102 degrees or above. “High fever, going beyond 103, is a red flag,” Dr. Ferrer says.

Take yourself to the doctor

In adults, a fever of less than 101 is considered mild. At 103 degrees or higher, it’s a different story. “If you have a temperature that is going beyond 103 or 104 and it’s persistent, this is the time that you’ve got to consider seeing the doctor,” Dr. Ferrer says.

Because many things can cause a fever—certain medications, heat illness, cancer, autoimmune diseases—Dr. Ferrer tells patients to note the constellation of symptoms that accompany their fever to help doctors with a diagnosis. Burning with urination in addition to a fever, for example, may be a sign of a urinary tract infection, while the typical coughing and sore throat that accompany fevers is likely the flu or COVID-19.

Seek emergency care

Head directly to the emergency room when a fever is accompanied by shortness of breath or coughing up blood, Dr. Ferrer says. Shortness of breath is an early sign of respiratory failure and should be taken very seriously, he adds.

If your child experiences a fever-induced seizure that doesn’t stop after five minutes, dial 911 or your local emergency number, the AAP advises.

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