5 ways to reduce a fever

  When someone is sick, he always find ways to reduce the temperature. The followings are 5 ways to reduce it:

1.Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen

  These drugs are available for purchase over the counter and effectively reduce fevers temporarily.They can help both children and adults feel more comfortable as their bodies heal.

• Consult a doctor or pharmacist before administering (child- or baby- formulated) medication to any child under the age of two, and never give ibuprofen to a baby under six months of age.
• Do not take more than the recommended dosage. Pay special attention to the dosage you give to children. Don't place medicine bottles within reach of children, since ingestion of more than the recommended dosage can be dangerous.
• Take acetaminophen every 4 to 6 hours, but do not exceed the recommended dosage on the package.
• Take ibuprofen every 6 to 8 hours, but do not exceed the recommended dosage on the package.

2.Avoid combining medications for children

 Don't give children more than one over-the-counter medicine at the same time for treatment of other symptoms. If you give your child a dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen, do not also give them cough medicine or any other type of other medicine without consulting your doctor first. Certain medicines interact with each other in ways that can harm your child's health.

• For infants over 6 months, children, and adults, alternating between acetaminophen and ibuprofen is safe. Usual dosages are acetaminophen every 4-6 hours and ibuprofen every 6-8 hours, depending on the dose.

3.Drink plenty of fluids

 Keeping your body hydrated is important during a fever, since the increased body temperature can cause dehydration. Drinking water and other fluids helps your body expel the virus or bacteria that's causing the fever. However, you should avoid caffeine and alcohol because these can lead to further dehydration.

• Green tea may help reduce a fever and boost your immune system.
• If you are experiencing nausea or vomiting along with the fever, avoid fruit juices, milk, very sugary beverages and carbonated beverages. These drinks can make you feel sick or cause vomiting.
• Try replacing solid food with soup or broth to help rehydrate your body (but watch the salt content). Popsicles are also a great way to consume fluids that will also help cool your body down.
• If you have been vomiting, you may have an electrolyte imbalance. Drink an oral rehydration solution or a sports drink with electrolytes.
• Children under age one who do not regularly consume breast milk or who are on a nursing strike during an illness should take a rehydration solution containing electrolytes, such as Pedialyte, to make sure they're getting the nutrients they need.  

 4.Rest as much as possible

 Sleep is the body's natural method for recovery from illness; in fact, having too little sleep can even make you sick.Trying to fight through and keep going may even raise your body’s temperature.By making sure you get plenty of sleep you allow your body to spend its energy fighting infection instead of something else.

• Take the day off of work, or if your child is sick, have him or her stay home from school. The extra sleep your child will get is a sure way to a quicker recovery, and the source of the fever might be contagious, so it’s best to keep her home. Many fevers are caused by viruses that remain highly contagious as long as the fever is present.

  5.Try herbal remedies

 Some herbal remedies may help reduce a fever or support your body’s immune system as it fights whatever is causing the fever. However, herbal and natural remedies can interfere with medications and other medical conditions, so you should consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any.

• Andrographis paniculata is widely used in traditional Chinese Medicine to treat colds, sore throats, and fevers. Use 6 g a day for 7 days. Do not use andrographis if you have gallbladder or an autoimmune disease, are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, or take blood pressure or blood thinning medications such as warfarin.
• Yarrow may help reduce fevers by encouraging sweating. If you have ragweed or daisy allergies, you may experience an allergic reaction to yarrow. Do not take yarrow if you also take blood thinning or blood pressure medications, lithium, stomach acid reducers, or anticonvulsants. Children and pregnant women should not use yarrow. You may find that adding yarrow tincture to a warm (not hot) bath helps reduce fever.