Fever

Prevention

You can reduce your risk of getting illnesses that cause fever by adopting these healthy habits:

• Practice good hygiene by washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water, especially after using the toilet and before eating.

• Limit exposure of infants to crowds and to people with known infections.

• Cook and store foods properly to avoid food poisoning.

• Keep a record of your current immunizations. Review this record with your doctor every year to confirm that your immunizations are up-to-date.

• Contact your doctor before traveling to a foreign country to receive any recommended immunizations before your trip.

Treatment

For adults with mild to moderate fevers below 102° Fahrenheit, doctors often advise patients to:

• Drink plenty of water and fruit juices to prevent dehydration (abnormally low levels of body water). Fluids act as internal coolants, and they also replenish vital salts and minerals (electrolytes), which may be lost during vomiting or diarrhea.

• Temporarily eat light foods that are easy to digest.

• Get plenty of rest.

• To reduce fever, take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin or others), acetaminophen (Tylenol) or aspirin according to label directions. Fevers may help to fight infection, so there is a controversy about whether fevers should be treated routinely or should be treated only if they are particularly severe.

Aspirin should not be given to infants and children younger than age 16 because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a life-threatening neurological disorder that can develop when children take aspirin during a viral illness. In children, reduce fever by using acetaminophen or ibuprofen, together with lukewarm sponge baths. If your child has a febrile seizure, call your doctor immediately.

If your doctor suspects that a bacterial infection is causing your fever, he or she will prescribe antibiotics.