health

In a basically healthy adult or older child, there usually is no medical
reason to treat the fever itself unless it is very high. In fact, lowering the
fever with drugs can make it harder to tell if a person is actually getting
better or if the drugs are just keeping the fever down. In younger
children, though, doctors often treat fevers above 100 degrees F, in part
to avoid febrile convulsions. Of course, if a person of any age is very
uncomfortable or unable to sleep, even a low fever can be treated to
provide relief.
Fever can be lowered by drugs called antipyretics (an-ti-py-RET-iks)
that do not require prescriptions. The major ones are acetaminophen
(a-seet-a-MIN-oh-fen), ibuprofen, and aspirin. However, aspirin should
not be given to children or teenagers with a fever. If children have a viral
illness, such as influenza or chickenpox, aspirin makes it likelier that they
may get a rare but dangerous illness called Reye’s syndrome. This possibility
does not exist with their taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Antipyretic medicines are available in pills for adults, chewable tablets
for children, and liquid drops for babies. Acetaminophen also comes in
suppositories (su-POZ-i-tor-eez), waxy pellets that are inserted into the
rectum. They are used for people who cannot take medicine by mouth
for whatever reason.
A lukewarm bath can also help lower a high temperature. However,
cold water or alcohol rubs can do more harm than good by causing the
body to shiver, which just raises body temperature more. In addition to
these treatments, it is important for a person with a fever to drink plenty
of liquids to avoid dehydration. In extreme cases, a person in the hospital
with a very high fever may be wrapped in a special cooling blanket or
immersed in ice water.