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A fever is the body’s way of dealing with infection or inflammation. It
doesn’t matter if the fever is being caused by a virus, bacteria, fungus
or even a parasite. The human body still responds the same way, it
attacks with a fever.
Here are a few quick facts about fevers:
- you can call it a fever, if you use a thermometer and the
reading is at least 100.4 degrees F. You can’t reliably
detect a fever by touching the skin. Skin temperature may be very
high, even when core body temperature is ok.
- the least accurate thermometers are those applied to the skin.
- the most accurate thermometer is the rectal type.
- treating a viral infection with antibiotics may make a fever
last longer and cause super infections not easily treated with
common drugs. Fungal and parasitic infections require clear
diagnosis and special drug therapy.
Treating a fever:
- Do not immerse a person in ice without talking to your
physician. Rapid lowering of body temperature can cause seizures and
irregular heartbeats.
- Sitting in a tepid (not hot-not cold to touch) water bath for
thirty minutes can lower body temperature by 1 to 2 degrees.
- allow a liquid such as water or rubbing alcohol to evaporate
from exposed skin to lower a fever by a degree. Just don’t dry off
after your tepid bath.
- use of Tylenol, Motrin, or Advil should follow strict
guidelines to avoid liver and kidney problems.
- do not use aspirin to treat a fever associated with flu
like symptoms. Aspirin can cause Reyes Syndrome in such
cases, especially in children.
Dr. Frank |
