How to Bring Down a Fever

All of us know that the normal body temperature for a healthy person is 98.6°F. But, this may vary from person to person, and it may change according to food, clothing, environment, and exercise. Generally, body temperature above 99ºF is referred to as fever. If it is low-grade, i.e., body temperature below 100ºF, it can be managed with simple home remedies.

When kids get affected by it, it can be a heartbreaking situation for parents. Those who are worried about how to bring down a fever should keep it in mind, that knowing the cause is very important. Treatment can be designed only after knowing the exact cause and other accompanying symptoms.

• Bladder infection
• Strep throat
• Sinus infections
• Tooth decay
• Ear infections
• Narcotics
• Antihistamines
• Allergies
• Trauma
• Injuries
• Chickenpox

• Mumps
• Measles
• Cancer
• Arthritis

The above reasons can cause a rise in the average body temperature. A very high fever can affect brain parts resulting in affected vision or restricted limb movement, or it can be life-threatening too. The treatment in such cases involves correct doses of proper medications as prescribed by your doctor. If the fever and the accompanying symptoms are mild, you may lower them with the help of natural home remedies.

Low-grade fever indicates that the body is employing defense techniques to fight against viral and bacterial infection. But it still causes discomfort, and there are always chances of further rise in the body temperature. So, you may first change the clothes of your child and dress him/her up in lightweight clothing.

This condition can cause pain in body and flushing. You may notice increased irritability in children. Some natural ways to treat the condition include a light sponge bath.

An extra blanket or a warm shirt is fine, but avoid overdressing. At such times, dehydration of the body occurs, so make sure that your child drinks plenty of water. Avoid cold water or cold drinks. Warm water or water at room temperature should be given to the child. Warm herbal teas work great.

A chocolate can give the child more energy. If you notice the temperature increasing at midnight, you may follow home remedies, like applying onion, garlic, potato or egg white paste all over the body, especially over the soles of the feet and over forehead.

To lower a fever in a baby quickly, you can offer a sponge bath. Keep the room airy. If it's a baby teething fever, give the baby something cold to chew. You should give him proper doses of medications and painkillers as suggested by the doctor. High temperature suggests viral infection, which needs prompt medications.

To reduce the temperature naturally, you can use cotton washcloth strips soaked in salt water. Take some water in a bowl. Let the water be at room temperature. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to it. Soak washcloth strip in the bowl, wring it and place it on the forehead of the person.

Remove the strip after 5 minutes, and again soak it in water and place it on the forehead. Keep doing this until the temperature is lowered significantly.

As mentioned before, the treatment depends upon the underlying cause. Hence, you should consult your physician as early as possible and find out the cause in the first place. Antibiotics are prescribed to bring down the high fever. Antibiotics help reduce the other symptoms of infection.

Witnessing a child crying due to fever and discomfort can be heartbreaking for parents. But children should not be given the medicines that are meant for adults. Even if you lower the dose, it can cause serious side effects. So, consult your doctor before giving any medications to children.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.