What to Do When You Have a Fever?
What to Do When You Have a Fever?
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When you have a fever, it means your body temperature is above normal. It is a natural response of the body when it detects some sort of infection or virus. Fever helps in fighting these pathogens by triggering its immune response. However, most people feel uncomfortable when they have a fever because of its side effects.
There are different types of fevers, and each has different causes and implications for your health. Generally, there are two main types of fevers: Positional and intermittent fever. Depending on the severity and the duration of the fever, you should know what to do when you have a fever…
What to Do When You Have a Fever?
When you have a fever, the best thing you can do is to rest, drink plenty of fluids and eat light meals. If you have a mild fever without any accompanying symptoms, you can also go about your daily activities. However, if you have a high-grade fever, you should stay in bed until it goes away. Here are a few more things you can do to feel better when you have a fever:
Stay hydrated - When you have a fever, your body loses water and electrolytes due to sweating. It is important to replace the lost fluids to stay hydrated and avoid dehydration.
Get plenty of rest - When you have a fever, you should rest as it helps in speeding up the healing process. Moreover, you should refrain from strenuous activities as they can worsen your symptoms.
Stay indoors - It is advised to stay indoors when you have a fever as it can be contagious. Moreover, you should keep yourself away from crowds and avoid touching others to avoid spreading the infection.
Practice good hygiene - When you have a fever, you should practice good hygiene to prevent secondary infections. You should wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your nose, ears, and mouth, and clean your wounds.
Positional fever
A positional fever is a slight elevation in body temperature that occurs when you are in certain positions. This type of fever is usually caused by an inflammation of the muscles and joints caused by being in an awkward position for a long time.
This can happen when you are sleeping on your side. If you have a fever from this, you should change your position. A positional fever usually goes away when you change your position.
Intermittent fever
An intermittent fever is a fever that comes and goes. Fever is a sign of an immune response that helps your body fight an infection. Some people have a fever that comes and goes even when they do not have an infection. The cause of this type of fever is not clear, and it can last for weeks or months.
Fever with infection
When you have a fever with an infection, you can take over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen to lower your temperature. You can also use a cold compress or a cool shower to bring down the temperature.
You can use antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. However, you should make sure you have an infection before taking antibiotics. You can do a quick test at home using a sample of your bodily fluids to make sure there really is an infection. You can also see a doctor to diagnose the infection.
Fever without infection
Fever without an infection is usually caused by some autoimmune diseases and metabolic disorders. For example, metabolic disorders can lead to hypoglycemia, which can cause a fever.
In this case, you should get tested for metabolic disorders. Autoimmune diseases can also lead to fever without an infection. Again, you should get tested for this condition.
Should you see a doctor when you have a fever?
Usually, you don’t have to visit a doctor when you have a mild fever. You should follow the above tips to feel better and recover quickly. However, you should visit a doctor if you have a high fever (more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit), a fever that lasts longer than three days, a high-grade fever with other accompanying symptoms like headache, severe pain, and vomiting, and a fever in a child below three years old. The doctor will check for any infections and prescribe antibiotics if necessary.
Conclusion
A fever is a natural response of the body to fight infections. However, you should not panic when you have a fever. If you have a mild fever without any accompanying symptoms, you can go about your daily activities. If you have a high-grade fever, you should rest in bed until it goes away. You should also drink plenty of fluids and practice good hygiene to stay healthy.
You can use over-the-counter medications, a cold compress, or a cool shower to bring down the temperature. You can also visit a doctor if you have a high fever or other accompanying symptoms. It is advisable to visit a doctor when you have a fever because it can help in identifying the cause and the appropriate treatment.
