Fever occurs when body temperature is higher than 37.8 degrees Celsius, if the measurement is oral, or greater than 38.2 degrees Celsius, if the measurement is performed in the rectum.
This temperature change is most common in the following cases:
- Although rarer.
- Fever can also occur in the case of cancer.
- Especially when there is no other apparent cause.
- Such as a cold or flu.
When the fever is not very high, less than 38 degrees Celsius, it is ideal to try first to use artisanal and natural methods, such as bathing in warm water or white willow tea, and, if the fever does not subside, consult your GP. to start treatment with antipyretics, such as parpytatamol, which should not be used without advice.
There are several natural methods that can help reduce fever before using antipyretics and include:
However, if you are a child under 3 months of age or a person with heart disease, lung disease, or dementia, you should seek immediate medical attention, especially if your fever is higher than 38 degrees Celsius. The same goes for older adults, who generally have more difficulty assessing their own temperature because, over the years, a certain thermal sensation is lost.
If the fever is higher than 38.9 degrees Celsius and the home methods are not enough, the family doctor may recommend the use of antipyretic remedies such as:
These remedies should be used with caution and only in cases of high fever and should not be taken continuously. If the fever persists, the family doctor should be consulted again to assess whether an examination is necessary to try to identify the cause of the fever, and antibiotics may be needed to control a possible infection. Learn more about medications used to reduce fever.
For children, the dose of the medicine varies by weight and therefore should always be informed to the pediatrician before using any medication. Here’s what you need to do to reduce your baby’s fever.
A good way to lower your fever before using an antipyretic medication is to choose to drink a hot tea to cause sweating, thus reducing fever. It should be noted that these herbal teas cannot be taken by babies without the knowledge of the pediatrician.
Teas that help reduce fever include
Ash tea, in addition to helping reduce fever, also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that alleviate the discomfort associated with fever.
Ingredients
Preparation mode
Place the dried ash bark in water, boil for 10 minutes and strain. Drink 3 to 4 cups a day until the fever goes away.
Quineira tea helps reduce fever and also has antibacterial properties. Its action is improved when used in conjunction with white willow and elm.
Ingredients
Preparation mode
Place the bark shell in water and boil for ten minutes. Drink 3 cups a day before meals.
White willow tea helps lower fever because this medicinal plant contains in its salicosid bark, which has an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and febrifuge action.
Ingredients
Preparation mode
Place the white willow bark in water and boil for 10 minutes. Then filter and drink 1 cup before each meal.
There are other teas that can be taken to lower the fever, such as apple tea, thistle or basil, for example. See 7 teas to naturally reduce fever.
Fever occurs very often in children, causing great anxiety in the family, but it’s important to avoid doing certain things that could make the situation worse:
In some cases, it’s normal for children to have seizures because their brains are still immature and the nervous system is more vulnerable to rapid temperature rise. When this happens, it is important to record the time of the start and end of the crisis, to put the child on the side and the ambient temperature should be reduced until the child wakes up. If this is the first febrile crisis, you should go to the emergency room immediately.
It is advisable to consult your child’s fever when your child’s fever is accompanied by:
In addition, children under 2 years of age or whose body temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius should always be evaluated by a pediatrician, as the risk of complications is higher.