Fever
Alternative names:
elevated temperature; hyperthermia; pyrexia
Treatment:
Fever is the body's natural response to a variety of conditions,
such as infection. If the fever is mild and no other problems
are present, no medical treatment is required. Drink fluids
and rest.
Evaporation cools the skin and thereby reduces body temperature.
Sponging or bathing in a tub of tepid water (about 98 degrees
Fahrenheit) may help reduce the fever. Don't use cold water,
it is uncomfortable and is not any more effective than tepid
water.
If the victim is suffering from environmental heat-induced
illness (heat exhaustion, heat stroke), remove the victim
from the heat source. In addition to sponging with tepid water,
place ice packs in the armpits, behind the neck and in the
groin. Begin administering fluids if victim is alert. Seek
medical attention.
Don't bundle up in blankets if the person shivers or becomes
chilled; this will only cause a fever to rise.
Medications* such as acetaminophen are effective in fighting
a fever and chills. Medication should not be given by mouth
to a child who is having seizures or who is unconscious. If
heat illness is causing the fever, these medicines will not
lower the body temperature and may even be harmful.
For children:
1. If the child's temperature is over 102 degrees Fahrenheit,
or if the child is uncomfortable, give acetaminophen or ibuprofen
in either liquid or tablet form. Follow the recommended dose
on the package label. (Do not give aspirin to children under
age 17.)
2. If the child's temperature is over 103.5 degrees Fahrenheit
one to two hours after giving medication for fever, place
the child in a tub of lukewarm water up to the navel. Rub
a wet washcloth or towel over the child's body for 20 minutes
or for as long as can be tolerated. Add warm water as needed
to maintain the water temperature and keep the child from
shivering. Pat (don't rub) dry with a towel.
3. Dress the child in light clothing, give liquids, and keep
the room cool but not uncomfortable.
Precautions in children:
- Don't use ice water or rubbing alcohol to reduce a child's
temperature.
- Don't bundle a feverish child in blankets.
- Don't wake a sleeping child to give medication or take
a temperature; sleep is more important.
* Medication precautions:
- Aspirin use in children has been linked with Reye's
syndrome. This disorder may be fatal. Never give aspirin
to a child under 17 years old.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is as effective as aspirin in
fever reduction. However, acetaminophen can, in rare cases,
cause liver damage when used in high dosages. It is safe
if taken at usual dosages.
- During an acute
illness, fever may rebound a few hours after initial Tylenol
administration. It is recommended to give the medication
at regular intervals during the course of an illness.
Call your health care provider if:
- there is stiffness of the neck, confusion,
significant irritability, or sluggishness.
- an infant younger than 6 months has any fever.
- a child between 6 months and 1 year old has a fever that
has lasted more than 24 hours.
- the fever remains above 103 degrees Fahrenheit after
an hour or two of home treatment.
- the fever has not gone away in 2 days.
Anyone with a temperature above 105 degrees Fahrenheit should
be examined for heat illness, stroke, or drug overdose.
What to expect at your health care provider's office:
The medical history will be obtained and a physical
examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting your fever in detail
may include:
- quality
- Is it low grade (102 Fahrenheit or lower)?
- Is it high grade (103 Fahrenheit or higher)?
- time pattern
- The fever lasted for how many days or weeks?
- Is it increasing? Is it increasing rapidly?
- Has the fever gone away (resolved)?
- How long did it take for the fever to go away (how
many days)?
- Do you have alternating chills and fever (relapsing)?
- How frequently does it alternate (at what sort of
an interval--days? hours?)?
- Did it occur within 4 to 6 hrs after exposure to
something that you might be allergic to (an antigen)?
- Does the fever occur in an undulating up and down
pattern (Is it high, then lower, then high)?
- Did it develop suddenly?
- Does the temperature go up and down suddenly (spike)
or does it change slowly (cyclic)?
- Does it go away and then come back again daily (recurrent)?
The physical examination may include detailed examination
of the skin, eyes, ears, nose, throat, neck, chest, and abdomen
to look for the cause of the fever.
Treatment depends on the duration and cause of the fever,
and on other accompanying symptoms.
Diagnostic tests that may be performed are:
After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to fever to your personal
medical record.
Update Date: 10/08/99
Updated by: adam.com editorial
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