Reasons for rising temperature
Hyperthermia is the name given to a patient’s condition with elevated body temperature. Most often, with insignificant readings on the thermometer (37-38 degrees), rarely does anyone call a doctor or sound the alarm. In an adult, this condition often disappears on its own, without consequences for health.
The most common causes of hyperthermia:
- the body tries to fight the virus;
- hidden infectious processes occur;
- hypothermia or frostbite of a body part;
- long exposure to the sun and getting a mild burn;
- chronic fatigue and stress.
How can you bring down a temperature of 38 in an adult? And is it necessary to do this? After all, with a slight increase, the body fights the virus and can easily defeat it without any help in the form of folk remedies and medicines. In fact, when the temperature rises, proteins coagulate, that is, coagulate, which are the basis of the structure of many pathogenic microorganisms and, first of all, viruses. Therefore, when the indicator on the thermometer exceeds 38, hyperthermia should be reduced. How to bring down an adult's temperature to 38 quickly and safely is described below.
In what cases should a child’s temperature be brought down with the help of medications?
There are specific indications for the use of antipyretic medications to lower a child’s temperature:
- 1 Difficulty breathing, signs of suffocation or respiratory failure;
Medical fact: an increase in body temperature of just 1° C increases the body's need for oxygen by an average of 15%. For many children, especially small ones, it is very difficult to compensate for such a sharp oxygen deficiency, given that children's respiratory muscles are still poorly developed. Therefore, if you notice that your baby is suffocating at elevated temperatures, forget about non-drug help and give an antipyretic drug.
- 2 If the child loses fluid in addition to sweating and urination (eg, vomiting, diarrhea);
- 3 If the child categorically refuses to drink and it is simply impossible to implement a heavy drinking regime;
- 4 If the baby does not tolerate elevated temperature well (there are many children who, even at a temperature of 37 ° C, already feel extremely unimportant - they lie flat, refuse to drink, show anxiety, etc.);
- 5 Inappropriate state of the child (delirium, hysterics, screams, fear, etc.);
- 6 The presence of serious diseases of the nervous system (for example, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, meningitis, etc.);
- 7 If the child has previously had seizures due to elevated temperature;
- 8 Temperature increase beyond 39° C.
When to go to the hospital
If you experience the following symptoms, you need to sound the alarm and call an ambulance:
- severe pain should not be suppressed with painkillers and anesthetics - this is a sign of possible serious chronic diseases of the internal organs;
- fever and an increase in the thermometer to 39.5 degrees;
- delusional ideas in a sick person and an obvious inadequate state;
- problems with urination, excessive sweating;
- nervous tics and increased salivation.
Don’t hesitate, call professional doctors. With such symptoms, you should not think about whether it is necessary to bring down the temperature of 38 in an adult. This may result in the development of acute forms of pyelonephritis, pancreatitis and other infectious diseases.
Rubdowns
According to many doctors, vodka and vinegar for fever are the most effective folk remedies. You can use them to bring down a child’s temperature quite quickly. However, there is harm from ethanol getting into the blood. For small children it is better to use vinegar. After 12 years, it is permissible to use vodka for these purposes. Before wiping, you need to dilute the selected substance. Otherwise, your baby may get burned.
- Take a glass of clean water and half a glass of vodka. Stir thoroughly and wipe the baby's entire body. Pay attention to the groin folds, armpits, and inner thighs.
- Add 300 ml of apple cider vinegar to half a liter of water. If you don’t have this product, then you can take a table one. However, pay attention to concentration. It should not be higher than 6 percent. Soak a cloth in the resulting liquid and wipe the body.
Please note that the resulting substance should not be rubbed into the body, but only applied to the surface. When rubbing, you can get the completely opposite effect.
Is it worth lowering the temperature of 38 in an adult?
Medical professionals are divided on this issue. Of course, if possible, it is better to stay at home for a week and the symptoms of a viral disease will go away on their own thanks to the work of the immune system. What if you urgently need to go to work or go on a business trip? In this case, it is necessary to bring down the temperature of 38 in an adult.
Of course, it is better to resort to antipyretics than to endure the disease on your feet. But it is worth remembering that medications are toxic and taking them for a long time and in large quantities is prohibited. And traditional methods are often too weak to quickly and effectively remove symptoms of colds and fever. The choice is up to the patient.
Below are recipes and methods, after reading which you will learn how to bring down an adult’s fever of 38 quickly and effectively.
How to deal with fever
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to reduce fever in infectious diseases.
Paracetamol is one of the most popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for reducing fever. It has not only antipyretic, but also analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Can be used in children, and also, strictly as prescribed by a doctor, in nursing mothers (unlike aspirin, which can cause dangerous side effects).
Paracetamol is contained in the RINZA® line of drugs:
- RINZA® tablets
. This remedy, which helps relieve cold symptoms, has a convenient format. You can take the tablets with you to work or school. RINZA® contains a combination of paracetamol and caffeine, which allows you to quickly cope with the symptoms of weakness, drowsiness, and “fog” in the head. Phenylephrine and pheniramine help relieve nasal congestion and discharge. - RINZASip® powders with vitamin
C. Blackcurrant or citrus flavored powder can be dissolved in hot water and a little honey to create a warming drink with a pleasant aroma that will help combat cold symptoms. The powders contain paracetamol, caffeine, phenylephrine, pheniramine and ascorbic acid (vitamin C), which helps support immunity during illness. - RINZASip® for children
. The drug contains suitable dosages of paracetamol and other active ingredients to relieve symptoms of colds in children. RINZASip® for children is a way to take care of a child during illness and help him cope with fever, nasal congestion, and weakness.
The preparations in the RINZA® line contain not only paracetamol, but also other active ingredients that help fight cold symptoms:
- nasal congestion,
- rhinorrhea (copious nasal discharge),
- decreased performance,
- muscle pain,
- headache,
- weakness, etc.
The duration of treatment with RINZA® drugs is on average 5 days and is determined by the duration of fever and other cold symptoms.
Collections and fruit drinks for temperature in adults
If there are no acute conditions or pain, then you can try to be treated with herbal infusions. If you are looking for how to bring down an adult’s fever of 38, try the following recipes:
- Boil rose hips (100 grams) in a liter of clean water and take the resulting infusion half an hour before each meal;
- pour calendula sprouts with alcohol and let it brew for two weeks, take a teaspoon of this infusion in between meals;
- Chamomile decoction has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, will help you sweat and bring down hyperthermia to normal levels in a couple of hours;
- tea with lemon or simply pieces of lemon brewed with boiling water contain a powerful dose of ascorbic acid, which effectively fights the symptoms of flu and colds, and helps reduce fever;
- an infusion of citrus fruit zest (orange, grapefruit, tangerine) can also be steamed with boiling water and drunk instead of tea - this is an excellent source of vitamin C;
- A decoction of parsley roots increases the overall immunity of the body and promotes a gradual, slow decrease in readings on the thermometer.
Folk antipyretic products
Some products have excellent antipyretic properties.
For example, raspberries contain salicylic acid, which helps reduce fever as effectively as aspirin. Raspberry infusion is prepared according to the recipe: pour a few spoons of berries into 100 ml of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. If there are no fresh berries, use raspberry jam.
Dried raspberries can be mixed with linden blossom (1 tablespoon each) and pour 400 ml of boiling water. The mixture is cooked over low heat for several minutes. At high temperatures, drink 200 ml of tea every hour.
Another berry, cranberry, is considered an antipyretic drug. It simultaneously has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and diuretic effects. To make cranberry juice, the berries are washed in boiled water and passed through a juicer. The juice is poured with clean water in a proportion of 100 ml per 3 liters, respectively. The broth is boiled and filtered, and then a few tablespoons are added to it. honey The drink is taken in the morning on an empty stomach, one glass per day.
Spices are added to herbal teas to enhance the effect: cardamom, ginger, cumin or bay leaf. Thanks to this, the body's defenses increase during illness. The main thing is not to overdo it, as spices increase blood circulation, which can lead to a worsening of the patient’s condition.
St. John's wort tea has anti-inflammatory properties and helps restore immunity after illness. To ensure that the tea is not too bitter, 1 tbsp. l. crushed herbal composition is poured with 0.5 liters of water. The water is boiled over low heat for 5-7 minutes, then the broth is allowed to brew in a warm place. To enhance the taste, add rose hips or mint to the drink. The drink is taken 2 times a day, 1 glass.
A mint drink is good for fighting fever and colds. Dry mint (1 tsp) is mixed with regular tea (1 tsp) and poured with a glass of boiling water. It is better to steam the ingredients in a porcelain container for 20 minutes. Drink mint tea once a day in the morning. It not only quickly reduces fever, but also helps with headaches.
You will learn what to do at elevated temperatures in this video.
Rubbing as a way to reduce fever
Here is another method that has long been widely practiced among people. A great way to quickly bring down a temperature of 38 in an adult is to wipe the body. To do this, you will need a weak solution of apple cider vinegar (a tablespoon per liter of water).
Gently soak gauze or a piece of cotton in the solution and squeeze out excess moisture. Rub the body clockwise, starting with the right hand and gradually moving to the left leg. From time to time, as the cloth dries, it is necessary to moisten it again in the vinegar solution. At this time, the patient should be fully dilated and wear a minimum of clothing. You can carry out this procedure yourself.
This method is prohibited for use in patients with cardiac disorders, as it can provoke arrhythmia.
How to knock down at home
If an increase in temperature is accompanied by aching joints, headaches, and general weakness, then you should try to lower the thermometer readings on your own. In this case, you should take medications not prescribed by a doctor with caution . After all, they can harm the body. It is possible to lower the temperature of an adult without the use of medications. We must use everything that can cool and not heat the body. Here are the most popular methods:
- Cooling compresses and wraps. You need to take a basin, pour cool water or yarrow decoction into it. Next, soak a cotton towel in the liquid and apply it to your wrists, groin folds, forehead, and temples. The compress must be changed frequently.
- Rubbing the body with alcohol, vodka, vinegar. The patient needs to undress and wipe the body with these products. If a person feels very cold, this is a normal reaction, you just need to be patient.
- Drink plenty of fluids. You need to drink warm tea, adding raspberries, currants, honey - these components will increase sweating, with which the fever will go away. Then you just need to drink a lot of water.
- Hypertonic solution. You can prepare a remedy that includes 250 ml of boiled water and 2 tsp. salt. The solution has a preventive effect on the absorption of water through the intestinal walls and its excretion along with feces. You should drink the product in small sips.
- Enema with chamomile infusion. It is necessary to prepare chamomile infusion in advance. To do this you need to pour 4 tbsp. l. dry flowers with a glass of boiling water and heat the solution in a water bath. After cooling, the broth must be filtered and diluted with water to obtain a volume of 200 ml. Next, you need to pour it into the enema and carry out the procedure.
Articles on the topic
- Symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis in the initial stages of the disease
- Flu - symptoms in adults: how to treat
- Circulatory diseases: treatment and prevention
Rubdowns and compresses
The use of vinegar, alcohol (vodka) compresses and rubdowns is justified by the fact that they utilize heat transfer well and quickly evaporate from the surface of the body . Subsequently, the temperature stabilizes and relief occurs. All that is necessary is to properly prepare a solution of alcohol (in a ratio of 1:1) or vinegar (1:5) and rub it on your neck, armpits, elbows, groin, heels, and popliteal folds. The compress can be placed on the forehead. Next, you just need to lie down without a blanket for a few minutes so that the liquid evaporates from the surface of the body and the fever decreases.
Medicines
When choosing antipyretic drugs, you need to look not at their strength, but at their safety. Often, to improve the patient’s well-being, it is necessary to reduce the thermometer readings by only 1.5 °C. Therefore, the patient should not take one tablet after another if the condition has not returned to normal. Antipyretic anti-inflammatory drugs are not prescribed in a course; it is necessary to fight fever when the temperature has already risen. Adults should not use antipyretic tablets for fever for more than 3 days without consulting a doctor. The most common means are:
Group by active substance | Drug name |
Paracetamol | Panadol |
Paracetamol | |
Coldrex | |
Efferalgan | |
Calpol | |
Acetylsalicylic acid | Aspirin |
Acetylsalicylic acid | |
Upsarin Upsa (soluble tablets) | |
Ibuprofen | Burana |
Moment | |
Ibufen | |
Nurofen | |
Faspik | |
Acetylsalicylic acid + caffeine + paracetamol | Askofen |
Citramon | |
Coficil-Plus |
Antipyretics for high fever in adults
Hyperthermia is often accompanied by fever, metabolic and circulatory disorders, loss of fluid and salts, so the patient wants to quickly get rid of this condition. The pathological condition can appear in a person of any age category. As a rule, when the temperature rises, the patient feels overwhelmed, headaches and joint pain appear, and performance decreases. To improve the condition, the following antipyretics can help an adult:
- Paracetamol. The most popular antipyretic drug. Available in the form of tablets, suppositories, suspension, syrup. The product can be used only in the absence of liver diseases (hepatitis, cirrhosis) and renal failure. Rectal or internal single dose should not exceed 500 mg. Paracetamol is not compatible with alcohol and products containing ethanol and phenobarbital. Side effects: itching, skin rash, urticaria.
- Calpol. It is a frequently used antipyretic agent. The drug is approved during pregnancy. Adults weighing more than 60 kg should take 500 mg of the medicine orally, the frequency of administration is 4 times a day. Contraindications: renal, liver failure, viral hepatitis, alcoholism. Side effects: nausea, itching, dizziness.
- Efferalgan. White effervescent tablets. They have antipyretic and analgesic effects. The product must be dissolved in a glass of water (200 ml). Take 2-3 times a day with an interval of 4 hours. The drug does not have a negative effect on water-salt metabolism. Efferalgan is contraindicated in children under 15 years of age. Adverse reactions: itching, Quincke's edema, anemia (anemia).
- Acetylsalicylic acid. It has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic effects. Do not use tablets for gastritis, severe kidney disease, or a tendency to bleed. For adults, a single dosage varies from 40 mg to 1 g. Side effects: diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, tinnitus.
- Aspirin. Available in the form of powder and tablets. The drug has effective antipyretic properties. Adults need to take one tablet 3 times a day after meals. Contraindications: diabetes mellitus, stomach ulcer, bronchial asthma. Side effects: general weakness, anemia.
- Analgin. It has antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Adults should take one tablet 2 times a day. Contraindications: bronchial asthma, severe liver dysfunction. Side effects from taking the medication include allergic reactions: rash, itching, angioedema.
- Askofen. Combined drug. Has an antipyretic effect. The drug is contraindicated for peptic ulcers, gastritis, and liver diseases. Dosage regimen – 2 tablets 3 times a day, washed down with plenty of water. Side effects: vomiting, nausea, stomach pain.
- Ibuprofen. One of the most effective pain relievers and antipyretics. For an adult, 200 mg of the drug is enough, then the drug can be repeated (no more than 4 tablets per day). Ibuprofen at a fever in an adult is contraindicated for people with liver pathologies, individual intolerance, and gastric ulcers. Side effects: diarrhea, dizziness, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat).
- Moment. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Used to reduce fever and treat pain of moderate to moderate intensity. A single dose for adults is 200 - 800 mg, frequency of use - 3 times a day. The drug is contraindicated during lactation, stomach ulcers, and pregnancy. Side effects: nausea, flatulence, constipation, shortness of breath.
- Nurofen. White coated tablets are often used for headaches. The dosage of the drug for an adult is 200 mg (one tablet) 3 times a day. The drug is contraindicated for hypertension (high blood pressure), blood disease, and impaired renal function. Side effects: headache, shortness of breath.
Antibiotics
Any antibacterial drugs should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor. You need to understand that antibiotics do not reduce the temperature, because... they only fight the inflammatory process caused by bacteria . When taking antibacterial agents, a decrease in the numbers on the thermometer is possible only after a few days (often after 3 days). As a rule, antibiotics are prescribed after the etiology of the disease causing the fever has been established. The most popular antibacterial drugs are:
- Amoxiclav. An effective antibiotic, it is a semi-synthetic derivative of penicillin. The drug is indicated for the treatment of infectious diseases: pneumonia (pneumonia), pharyngitis (inflammation of the pharynx), tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils). Dosage – one tablet 500/125 mg 2 times a day. Side effects: nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea.
- Ceftriaxone. Antibiotic from the 3rd generation cephalosporin group. Prescribed for the treatment of infectious diseases. The drug is available in powder form for preparing a solution. The medicine should be administered intramuscularly. The drug is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation. Dosage – 500-2000 mg 1 time per day. Side effects: lethargy, drowsiness, itching, nausea.
- Levomycetin. Broad-spectrum antibiotic. Active against gram-positive bacteria. Used to treat infectious and inflammatory diseases. Dose for adults – 500 mg 4 times a day. Contraindications: children under 4 weeks of age, pregnancy, eczema. Side effects: flatulence, diarrhea, anemia.
- Azithromycin. Semi-synthetic antibiotic. Used to treat infectious diseases of the respiratory system. Dosage for adults: 500 mg once daily. Contraindications: severe kidney pathologies. Side effects: nausea, blurred vision, vomiting.
- Clarithromycin. An antibiotic of semi-synthetic origin belongs to the group of macrolides. The drug is active against gram-positive microflora: staphylococci, streptococci, listeria. Contraindications: age under 12 years, liver failure. The drug should be taken one tablet at a dosage of 250 mg in the morning and evening. Side effects: sleep disturbance, anxiety, skin redness.
Treatment with honey and bee products
A slow, but no less effective way is treatment with beekeeping products. Honey has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Older people call it “natural antibiotic.” If you are looking for an answer to the question of whether it is necessary to bring down the temperature of 38 for an adult, and do not want to swallow pills again, try honey. It will smoothly reduce the readings on the thermometer and will not have a negative effect on the body.
You can simply eat honey and honeycomb with tea, add a little bit to hot herbal tea, or make compresses and gargles for a sore throat.
Drinking to reduce fever
Various drinks with a diuretic effect are good for reducing fever . Teas, compotes, fruit juices and still mineral water are drunk hourly to normalize metabolism, get rid of toxins and strengthen the immune system.
Why do you need to drink a lot of water?
Drinking plenty of water, consisting of harmless cranberry and currant juices, raspberry, linden and chamomile teas, can easily replace antipyretic medications.
How to lower the temperature with a bath or shower
This is the most extreme method. Prohibited for use by people with a weak nervous system and heart disease. It will help bring down the temperature to 37 degrees in just half an hour. Remember - only completely healthy people without chronic diseases can resort to this method.
You need to get in the shower and turn on cool water. The colder it is, the more effective it is. Then you need to change the position of the mixer and stand under slightly warm water. Such a contrast shower affects the temperature of the body's skin, having a direct effect on cells and tissues.
If the patient does not have time to rub, brew herbs and drink tea with honey, then the contrast shower method may be just right.
How to reduce fever without pills in a child
The temperature in children of the first year of life should not be left to chance. Organs and systems are not yet perfect, and the reaction to hyperthermia can be severe (see antipyretics for children).
Older children can also be helped without medication. But several points should be taken into account: if the general condition is serious, the child does not drink or urinate, the extremities are cold against the background of a high temperature, and the temperature, having dropped, immediately rises to high levels - you should immediately call an ambulance, because hyperthermia also manifests life-threatening diseases: meningitis, sepsis, pneumonia, etc.
- Create a cool air temperature in the room where the child is (18-20 C), there should be no drafts.
- Undress the child down to his panties - heat will evaporate from a large surface of the skin. For babies, first of all, remove the diaper, since it is a source of the greenhouse effect.
- Give the child something to drink. Every 5 minutes you need to give about 5-10 ml of liquid (water at room temperature). Very often, children with fever refuse to drink. You can drink it with a syringe, remove the needle from it, give it to drink in a sippy cup, your favorite bottle, i.e. interest the baby. You should not drink a large volume of water at once, as this may cause vomiting.
- Wipe the child's body with water at a temperature of approximately 22-25 degrees. You should not wipe your entire body at once, so as not to cause chills. First, the face and forehead are wiped, which are dried with a towel after a minute, then the arms, neck, back, and legs are wiped according to the same principle.
- For children over 3 years old, this method is also possible: pour lukewarm water (36-37 C) into a basin, place the undressed child there and pour water from the same basin on him, except his head, for 2-3 minutes. Then you need to dry the child, dress him in cotton clothes and put him to bed.
Other methods to quickly reduce the temperature of an adult
An enema will help bring down a high temperature in the shortest possible time. To prepare the solution, mix half a glass of boiled water and antipyretic powder (you can use any antipyretic tablet, thoroughly crushed with a hard object). Through the intestines, the medicine enters the bloodstream much faster than through the stomach. In addition, with such absorption, the toxic effect on internal organs is reduced. This method allows you to reduce the temperature from 38 degrees to normal levels in an hour.
You can use less radical methods and try herbal anti-inflammatory infusions of herbs for an enema. For example, chamomile or calendula. The downside is that they have a cumulative effect and will not allow you to achieve 36-37 degrees in a couple of hours.
Home remedies to reduce high fever
- When it's hot, it's important to drink as much fluid as possible . Elevated temperature leads to dehydration of the body, or dehydration. Drinking plenty of fluids will help replenish lost fluid. Drinking sufficient quantities of ordinary warm water (you can add honey to it), as well as herbal infusions, in addition to restoring the hydrolysis balance, will help eliminate infectious toxins naturally and reduce the temperature.
- The use of compresses, rubdowns and wraps. These methods help lower body temperature by about 1 degree. Procedures using a decoction of yarrow herb or peppermint are very effective. In the prepared antipyretic solution, cooled to 15-20 degrees, it is necessary to soak cotton fabric folded in several layers. It is good to use a small terry towel for a compress. After squeezing the fabric a little, you can wrap or wipe the body with it, and also use it to apply compresses to the groin area, forehead and temples, and wrist area. Every 7-10 minutes you need to re-wet the fabric in a cool solution. Rubbing alcohol on the abdomen, neck, groin, forehead, and calves helps a lot.
- Saline solution for rectal use . This safe medicine, which is extremely simple to prepare, is a very effective remedy for fever. It can be used in both childhood and adulthood. The mechanism of action of an enema with a sodium chloride solution is to absorb the infection and remove it from the body through bowel movements. Thanks to this active absorption, the intensity of the inflammatory process decreases, and at the same time, high body temperatures. Method of preparation: dilute 1 dessert spoon of ordinary kitchen salt in 200 ml of warm boiled water. Standards for children and adults: children from six months to 1.5 years old are given an enema with a volume of 0.5 cups and no more; from 1.5-3 years – 200 ml; from 3 years to 14 years – 1.5 cups; over 14 years old and adult category - from 700 ml to 1 liter.
- Colon cleansing with chamomile oil solution . Doctors advise using chamomile infusion in the treatment of infection and in order to lower the temperature, not only internally, but also through its introduction into the rectum. This procedure will be especially appropriate at elevated temperatures caused by bacterial pathogenesis in the intestines. In this case, chamomile infusion will help restore thermoregulation and have an antibacterial effect. Preparation of enema solution: pour 20 g of chamomile into a small enamel container; pour 0.2 liters of boiling water over the grass; place the container in a water bath, simmering the product for 15 minutes; when the broth has cooled, you need to strain the liquid by squeezing out the grass cake; dilute the infusion with boiled water so that the total volume of the solution is 250 ml; combine the solution with 150 grams of vegetable oil; for small children, it is enough to add 30 ml of oil to it.
The most effective pharmaceutical remedies against fever
Here is a list of the most effective pharmaceutical drugs for hyperthermia:
- "Aspirin";
- "Diclofenac";
- "Paracetamol";
- "Indomethacin";
- "Ibuprofen";
- "Antigrippin";
- "Nurofen".
These are tablet preparations that have proven their effectiveness more than once. They cannot be used often. Only as a last resort, if you need to quickly get back on your feet and bring the temperature down to at least 37 degrees.
Temperature measurement methods
- Oral - the tip of the thermometer is placed under the tongue, the mouth is closed. The measurement lasts 3 minutes. The norm is up to 37 C. This method is not applicable in children when using a mercury thermometer.
- Rectal - the tip of the thermometer is lubricated with oil and carefully inserted into the anus. The result is obtained within 1 minute. The norm is up to 37.5 C. It is most often used in young children, since the measurement is fast and accurate.
- Axillary - The tip of the thermometer is placed in the armpit. Measurement time – 8-10 minutes. The norm is up to 37 C.
Is Paracetamol safe at high temperatures?
There has long been debate in the medical world about the justification of using the active substance paracetamol to reduce fever. It is quite toxic to the liver. In the UK it is listed as a prescription medicine. There have been cases of fatal poisoning with drugs containing paracetamol.
In the Russian Federation, there are many powdered medicines in which the main active ingredient for bringing down the temperature is paracetamol. These are TeraFlu, Coldrex, Fervex. They also contain ascorbic acid and auxiliary elements. When taking them for fever, it is worth remembering the possibility of overdose and the toxic effect of paracetamol on the liver.
Folk remedies for fever for children
1. It is recommended to wrap infants and children under 3 years of age in a sheet or towel soaked in clean water, which significantly helps to alleviate the condition.
2. Wet socks in a mixture of vinegar + water (1:1) and put them on your feet for 15 minutes.
3. Prepare green grape juice and rub it on your baby’s body.
4. Place a cabbage leaf on your forehead.
5. Enemas with chamomile decoction or soda solution (1 tsp per 1 glass of water) are also acceptable for reducing fever in children.
Antiviral tablets in the fight against fever and fever
A separate class of drugs for reducing fever are antiviral drugs. Their effectiveness and justification for use are still debated to this day. How to bring down the temperature of 38 in an adult if only antiviral drugs are available? You can try treatment with it too.
The most famous among these drugs:
- "Rimantadine";
- "Arbidol";
- "Kagocel";
- "Interferon".
Even children are allowed to take them. But their effectiveness as an antipyretic leaves much to be desired. They have a cumulative effect and promote recovery from flu and colds only on the fourth or fifth day of use.
How to take antipyretics correctly?
Paracetamol (Panadol, Efferalgan, Cefekon D) single dose of the drug – 15 mg/kg. That is, for a child weighing 10 kg, a single dose will be 10 kg X 15 = 150 mg. For a child weighing 15 kg - 15X15=225 mg. For an adult 1000 mg (2 tablets of 500 mg). This dose can be given up to 4 times a day, if necessary.
Ibuprofen (nurofen, ibufen) Single dose of the drug 10 mg/kg. That is, a child weighing 8 kg needs 80 mg, and a child weighing 20 kg needs 200 mg. For an adult 800 mg (2 tablets of 400 mg). The drug can be given no more than 3 times a day.
The drugs reduce the temperature within an hour and a half, by about 1-1.5 degrees; you should not expect a decrease in temperature to the “normal” 36.6.
What to do with vasospasm?
As it turned out, in this situation it is also possible to bring down the child’s temperature using folk remedies. Rub vinegar or vodka on your feet and hands. After this, be sure to put socks on your baby.
When the limbs become warm, you can begin all the above steps. However, if the temperature rises or has already reached 39 degrees, call an ambulance immediately. This is a very dangerous situation, and the slightest delay can lead to serious complications. I wish you success!
High fever accompanies many different diseases in children. And in each case, the child’s fever puts the parents on “full combat readiness.” Since doctors say that fever is extremely dangerous for young children, moms and dads have a reasonable question about how to bring down a high fever, preferably without the use of medications. As is known, in addition to the benefits, pills and mixtures also cause significant harm, especially for the child’s body. Traditional recipes - safe and reliable - can always come to the rescue.
Why is the temperature rising?
Everyone knows that high temperature is not an independent disease. This is a symptom, a protective reaction of the body to the invasion of some foreign agent, to the inflammatory process. Fever is clear evidence of the invisible work of the immune system, which fights the pathogens of some disease.
Heat, oddly enough, has good intentions - in conditions of elevated temperature, it is more difficult for microbes to reproduce, and the replication of viruses slows down. If the thermometer exceeds 40.0, microorganisms generally lose their ability to reproduce.
But during heat and fever, phagocytes—defender cells—begin to multiply more actively. They feed on harmful invaders, both viruses and bacteria, and devour and digest them. The higher the temperature, the more actively the phagocytes “hunt”.
At elevated temperatures, several more very important processes start in the body of a sick child - the production of interferon, which is involved in the immune response to invasion, is activated, and antibodies are stimulated that are able to resist the causative agent of a particular infection.
All this is accessible and logically explains why in most cases there is no need to lower a child’s temperature at all.
There are only two cases when the positive properties of fever should be neglected: if a child is an infant and has a fever above 38.5°, and if a child from one to three years has been suffering from a fever with a temperature above 39° for about three days.
37°, 37.5°, 38° and a little higher is not a reason to immediately give your baby antipyretics. It is necessary to give the immune system a chance to develop reliable protection, and pills that reduce fever “prohibit” it from defending itself properly.
And now we invite you to watch Dr. Komarovsky’s episode about emergency care for high fever.
The reasons why temperature rises are varied. In very young children this may occur during teething. Almost all viral infections are accompanied by high fever. Fever accompanies meningitis, influenza, ARVI, sore throat, tonsillitis, sinusitis, kidney and gastrointestinal diseases.
What is the danger?
Heat also has its downsides. For example, a high temperature (above 38.5) significantly increases the load on the heart, which can be dangerous for children with congenital heart defects and newborns. Heat negatively affects the nervous system and brain. Excessively high heat (about 40.0) can cause irreversible changes in the structure of the brain and cause disturbances in other organs, primarily in the kidneys, liver and pancreas.
When are traditional methods not enough?
You cannot rely on traditional medicine if a high temperature rises and lasts for several hours in newborns and children up to one year old. Babies that have just been born have an imperfect thermoregulation system; at high temperatures, they quickly lose heat and moisture, dehydration may occur, and convulsions and respiratory failure may begin.
There is no need to waste precious minutes and try alternative medicine recipes on your baby. He definitely needs a good antipyretic drug. Paracetamol and drugs containing paracetamol as the main active ingredient are suitable for such young patients.
In the next video, Dr. Komarovsky’s advice does not cover the topic of childhood fever.
Traditional methods of reducing fever should not be tried on children whose temperature has consistently remained above 39.5 for more than three days. In this situation, medications are also required; both paracetamol and ibuprofen are suitable.
Folk remedies cannot replace qualified emergency medical care with the use of antipyretic drugs, both in tablets and in injections. They are necessary if the child has a high temperature accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, or the baby complains of abdominal pain. Such conditions require an urgent response, since vomiting and diarrhea contribute to a very rapid loss of fluid, which can be fatal for a small child in case of untimely medical assistance.
You should not start home treatment with improvised means if the child has a history of serious diseases of the internal organs (congenital or acquired). In this situation, any jump in temperature to 38.0 or higher should be a signal for reasonable parents that it’s time to call a doctor or an ambulance.
If the fever is accompanied by convulsions, loss of consciousness, pallor and severe lethargy, this is also a reason to urgently seek medical help and not give the baby tea with honey and raspberries.
Folk remedies Ordinary water
Children can be cleansed with water at room temperature. This gives a minor and short-term effect, usually within half an hour the fever returns again. But rubbing with water is harmless, so they can be repeated with enviable persistence and frequency.
Small children are allowed to do enemas with warm water. For babies up to six months, no more than 60 ml of liquid is injected into the rectum, for children from 6 months to a year - no more than 160 ml. This procedure has one very important disadvantage - any enema is not very useful for the intestinal microflora, and therefore you should think carefully several times before lowering a baby’s temperature in this way.
Vinegar
It can also be used for wiping. Concentrated acetic acid (70%) is not suitable for these purposes; you will need a weak solution - a maximum of 9%. It must be diluted in equal parts with water at room temperature. The resulting acidic liquid is used to wipe the body of a child stripped down to his underpants, avoiding the face and genitals. Then they allow the body to dry and cover the child with a thin blanket. You can't wrap up your baby. As in the case of ordinary water, the effect of this procedure lasts no more than 30-40 minutes, then the rubdown must be repeated.
If you make small gauze lotions with such a vinegar solution on the temples, forehead, calves, and the inside of the elbow and hold until dry, the effect will be less pronounced, but a little more long-term.
Many doctors are against wiping children with vinegar and alcohol and recommend using water for wiping.
Rubbing with vinegar and lotions with an acidic solution are not recommended for small children, but there is a way out - soak the socks in the solution and put them on the baby’s feet. You should take off your socks after 20 minutes. Repeat the procedure as the fever rises again.
Vodka
A very popular way to lower the temperature does not involve pure vodka, but its 50% solution with water. Rub the child with this mixture and then fan him with a towel for 30-40 minutes. This method, although labor-intensive, is very effective and in some cases one or two procedures are enough to reduce the fever and not rise again. But many doctors speak out against this method of reducing temperature.
Now let's listen to Dr. Komarovsky about wiping with vinegar and alcohol.
Sauerkraut
Compresses with this remedy are applied to the area of the veins on the inside of the elbow. The skin there is delicate and thin, so it is important to ensure that the brine does not cause any aggressive irritating reaction. Many parents rate this method as quite effective.
Cranberry
Every family with children should have a supply of these swamp berries in the freezer. Cranberry juice in high heat is an excellent diaphoretic. It allows you to reduce your temperature within half an hour after drinking the drink. The effect lasts for several hours.
Linden
Herbal tea, which can be brewed from the flowers of this tree, promotes increased sweating, which means a fairly rapid drop in the thermometer. The herbal mixture is sold in any pharmacy; you need to brew it by taking a teaspoon of the raw material and pouring a glass of boiling water. This healing tea is steeped for about half an hour, after which you can add a spoonful of honey. This method is not suitable for small children, because both linden and honey are quite strong allergens.
And even if in a healthy state the little one tolerates both of these products well, then during the period when his immunity is doing important work in the fight against pathogenic microbes and viruses, an allergy to such a drink may well appear.
Needles
A liter jar of pine needles needs to be turned into a pulp using a regular meat grinder, mixed with honey (no more than two tablespoons). Mix everything. From the resulting mass you need to make small cakes. One of them is placed on a piece of fabric and applied to the baby’s chest, the second - to the back. Hold for about 15 minutes, after which the temperature should begin to decrease within half an hour.
Ginger
Ginger is peeled and grated. The resulting tart mass must be dosed carefully. For half a glass of warm tea you need to put no more than half a teaspoon of ginger mixture, stir and give the child to drink. The fever will subside almost immediately. In addition, ginger has a general strengthening effect. Ginger tea is not suitable for children under 6-7 years of age; it can cause irritation to the digestive system.
The danger of self-medication
The onset of negative consequences of fever in children, especially small ones, is several times higher than in adults. Convulsions and loss of consciousness, breathing problems and the development of acute heart failure cannot be predicted in any way; these conditions have practically no precursors.
The danger of self-medicating children's fever lies in the fact that parents who decide not to call a doctor take responsibility for the life of the baby. Lost time in cases of high fever plays a key role.
Let's listen in the next video to the dangers of self-medication of childhood diseases.
It can be very difficult to understand the reason for the rise in temperature on your own. The higher the fever, the more careful and urgent examination the child requires.
What can't you do?
- First of all, a baby with a fever should be undressed down to his underpants or diaper. You can only cover your child with a sheet, not three blankets and a down shawl. Wrapping up a child with a high temperature is strictly prohibited!
- When wiping with diluted vodka or vinegar solution, it is important not to rub the products into the skin, but only lightly touch them. Intense hand movements with strong pressure on the surface of the child’s body are prohibited, as they cause increased blood circulation and an additional increase in temperature.
- In high heat, you cannot use folk remedies in the form of inhalations.
- Massage, warming up, warming compresses at high temperatures are strictly prohibited!
- You should not force feed a child with a fever. Lack of appetite in this situation is a wise decision of nature itself, since an empty stomach and clean intestines help to transfer the disease faster and make it easier.
- Do not give your child cold drinks. Such drinking can cause vascular spasm.
- Some parents advise placing a fan at the child's bedside and blowing on him until the temperature begins to drop. Such “treatment” is a sure path to pneumonia, experts say. It is better to refrain from blowing.
- Do not bathe a child with a fever in a hot bath or hot shower. This will only contribute to overheating.
Adviсe
- A sick child’s temperature needs to be measured at least twice a day - in the morning and in the evening, but if the fever has risen and the cause cannot be established and there are no other symptoms, measurements should be taken every two hours.
- There is no need to strive to quickly reduce the child’s body temperature. The heat should subside gradually. A sharp jump down can greatly harm the health of the baby. A decrease of 0.5 degrees per procedure is considered optimal. There is no need to reduce it by more than 1 degree per day.
- A decrease in temperature should always be accompanied by an increase in fluid in the child's diet. Drinking plenty of fluids is the main requirement of both medicinal and non-traditional treatment of fever. It is advisable for the child to drink compotes, fruit drinks made from berries and fruits high in vitamin C (black currants, raspberries, viburnum, cranberries, rosehip decoction), but it is better to leave milk and fermented milk products for later.
- In a room where a sick child with a high temperature is lying, you should not close all the windows and doors. On the contrary, the room should be well ventilated and should not be hot. If the fever occurs during the cold season, you need to hang wet towels on the hot radiators in the apartment and make sure that they remain damp. This will help increase the air humidity in the house, which, in turn, will protect the delicate mucous membranes of the nose, nasopharynx and larynx, as well as the bronchi and trachea of the child from drying out and inflammation. The optimal indoor air temperature is 18-19 degrees, humidity - 50-70%.
- Folk remedies will be most effective if they are correctly combined with traditional therapy. They perfectly complement the effect of some medications, enhance the effect of pharmaceutical drugs, and speed up the child’s recovery. If you have an irresistible desire and need to treat your child using traditional methods, be sure to consult a doctor. Pediatricians are quite willing to approve many of the above methods for treating fever. Unless, of course, the child has serious concomitant diseases.
The child got sick. Temperature, cough, fever. Perhaps there is nothing more terrible than these words, especially for parents. The whole world revolves around a sick baby, all problems and worries are forgotten, all important things are cancelled. What could be more important than the health of your child?
The first thing that comes to mind when a child’s temperature rises is “Call an ambulance!” Of course, you can’t do without doctors here, especially if the child is an infant. But what to do if the situation is already getting out of control, and there is no time to wait for doctors? First of all, pull yourself together. There is no need for panic here. The first thing parents of a sick child grab for is medicine. Yes, medications help, and often quite effectively.
But what to do if suddenly the necessary medications are not available (this also happens), they are contraindicated for the child, or they do not give any effect?
Most parents in such a situation resort to folk remedies to lower the temperature. Why? Firstly, in some cases they are quite effective, secondly, they are reliable, since they have already been tested by time, and thirdly, components for reducing heat will always be found in your home.
Reducing temperature with diaphoretic teas with herbs and berries
Diaphoretic teas have a good effect in reducing fever at home. You need to add linden flowers, chamomile, a couple of spoons of honey to boiling water, let it brew a little under the lid. Raspberries, currants, and cranberries help reduce high temperatures. Place 2 tablespoons of any of these berries in a cup and pour boiling water over it.
You can make a fruit drink from cranberries, lingonberries, and red currants, using them separately or together; it is better to grind all the berries into puree before doing this. It is recommended to drink a couple of glasses of herbal or berry infusion, tea, fruit juice, and immediately lie down under a warm blanket. Having sweated well, an adult or child will soon feel some relief and a reduction in headaches. It is better not to give honey to babies; one fruit drink is enough.
Forest or garden honeysuckle berries, strawberries, and wild raspberries are good for reducing heat. You can simply eat them or pour boiling water over them, make a fruit drink or infusion.
Additional funds
The following products will help reduce fever in a child or adult:
- honey with milk (also has a softening and expectorant effect);
- raspberry jam (contains salicylic acid and helps cleanse the body);
- fried onions (effective at the very beginning of the disease, also helps with cough);
- Echinacea tincture (significantly improves immunity and speeds up the healing process).
All the remedies described are effective for red fever. This is what is most common in people. However, what to do with white fever? What folk remedies will help in this situation?
Vitamin C
What folk remedy can lower a child’s temperature? One of the most effective remedies is vitamin C. In large quantities, it not only reduces body temperature, but also improves the functioning of the lymphatic system. This substance also increases the body's immune defense. Vitamin C is recommended to be consumed even if you are ill without a fever.
A large amount of the described antipyretic substance is found in oranges, lemons, and parsley. You can consume the ingredients described on their own or in processed form. Lemon can be used to make a refreshing drink. To do this, squeeze the juice of one fruit into a liter of water at room temperature. It is worth noting that drinking plenty of fluids can also significantly reduce body temperature. It is possible to prepare decoctions from parsley.
Antipyretic herbs - recipes
Herbs are an excellent antipyretic. They often lower even critical temperatures and are more effective than medications:
- Black elderberry (flowers) 1 tablespoon, pour 200 milliliters of boiling water, leave. Drink this decoction 0.5 cups three times a day.
- Small cornflower, 1 teaspoon, pour 200 milliliters of boiling water and leave. Drink 0.5 cups 4 times a day.
- Blueberries, whether fresh or processed, should be eaten. These berries quickly and easily relieve fever and chills.
- Willow (bark) 15 grams, pour 200 milliliters of boiling water, cook for 5 minutes, and then leave for 2 hours. Take 1 tablespoon of the decoction no more than three times a day.
- Swamp cranberry. These berries are not just an antipyretic, but also refreshing, tonic, and improve physical and mental performance.
- Cordifolia linden (flowers) 2 tablespoons, pour 200 milliliters of boiling water, let it boil for 5 minutes. Drink the infusion hot several times a day after meals, a glass.
- Ordinary raspberries are brewed as a tea drink and drunk.
- Pour 3 teaspoons of ordinary coltsfoot (leaves) into a glass with hot water and leave for 3 hours. Then strain the broth and drink 0.5 cups warm before meals. No more than three times.
- Seed parsnips (dried grass) 1 tablespoon, pour 200 milliliters of boiling water, leave for three hours. Drink 0.5 glasses 30 minutes before meals.
- Large plantain, 2 tablespoons, pour 200 milliliters of hot water, cook for five minutes. Drink a decoction of 0.5 cups 4 times a day before meals.
Bronchitis in adults and medications
An antipyretic should be given to an adult as soon as the temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees. The body is not able to fight the pathogen, so there is a colossal load on all vital human systems and organs. We have compiled a list of the best targeted medications that will quickly get you back on your feet and relieve all symptoms.
No. 1. Aspirin
Available in tablet and powder form, the second option is preferable. Aspirin is drunk when nothing else is available. The drug can relieve fever, but it does not completely suppress the inflammatory process. This creates the need to take large doses, since it is not possible to bring down the temperature (especially in an adult) the first time. The medicine is taken three times a day with emphasis on the instructions.
No. 2. Paracetamol
A powerful antipyretic helps both bring down a sharply rising temperature of 39 and relieve the inflammatory process in an adult. Paracetamol is supplied to pharmacies in a variety of forms, from suspension to powders, tablets and suppositories. “TeraFlu” is made on its basis; it is better to give preference to this powder. Regardless of the form of release, the drug is used once every 6 hours. Always read the instructions to avoid any side effects.
No. 3. Calpol
A safe remedy is prescribed even to expectant mothers. To normalize the condition, an adult needs to take Calpol four times a day. Among the prohibitions for use, it makes sense to highlight alcohol dependence, viral hepatitis, liver or kidney failure. If taken incorrectly, urticaria, vomiting and dizziness develop.
No. 4. Moment
An anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drug is prescribed for fever in an adult. In addition, the tablets have strong analgesic properties. The drug is taken 3 times a day, the dosage is set individually (read the instructions). "Mig" is not allowed to be taken by pregnant, lactating women, or patients with diagnosed ulcers. If you abuse the medicine, you will experience constipation, nausea, and shortness of breath.
No. 5. Efferalgan
When telling how to bring down a temperature of 39, it is impossible not to mention effective effervescent tablets. They are prescribed when indicators increase in adults and adolescents from 15 years of age. In addition to its ability to reduce temperature, Efferalgan anesthetizes and does not disturb the water-salt balance. Before taking, you need to combine the tablet with water to get an effervescent drink. The medicine is taken 3 times daily, maintaining an interval of at least 4 hours.
No. 6. Askofen
A combination drug with strong antipyretic properties. The base includes paracetamol, caffeine and acetylsalicylic acid. In combination, these components relieve pain, normalize thermoregulation, and relieve stress on the brain and heart muscle. The drug is taken three times a day, 2 tablets.
No. 7. Nurofen Forte
Understanding what to take for fever, an adult will be able to quickly alleviate the condition. "Nurofen Forte" is developed on the basis of ibuprofen, the concentration of the active substance in the composition reaches 400 mg. The medicine is taken every 6 hours until the temperature subsides. The drug should not be taken by hypertensive patients and people with kidney problems.
No. 8. Ibuprofen
How to bring down the temperature 39 “Ibuprofen”: it is enough to take 200 mg once. medicines. If an adult’s condition does not improve, no more than 4 tablets are allowed per day. The drug has side effects that must be familiarized with before therapy.
No. 9. Analgin
Not many people know how to quickly bring down a fever. Analgin copes well with this problem. In addition to the antipyretic effect, the drug has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. The drug is taken 2 times a day. It is contraindicated in case of impaired liver function and bronchial asthma.
Antimicrobial drugs are indicated for bacterial infections but are completely useless for viral diseases. There are six groups of them, and each of them affects different types of bacteria:
- penicillins are used to treat urinary tract, respiratory and skin diseases;
- cephalosporins are good for complex infections such as meningitis and sepsis;
- aminoglycosides - for severe pathologies (there are serious side effects);
- tetracyclines - urology and dermatology;
- macrolides - for lung infections;
- lincosamides - for bone lesions.
Cool bath
What folk remedies can be used to bring down a child’s temperature? If you have already tried many methods, but nothing helps, then this option will certainly be effective. However, it should be resorted to only in extreme cases.
Fill the bath with water. The liquid temperature should be 37 degrees. Undress the child and place him in the water. Wait 5 minutes, then wipe your baby's body dry and wrap him in a blanket. Immediately after the procedure, you will notice a decrease in body temperature to 37-37.5 degrees.
Why shouldn't you take antibiotics uncontrollably?
Do not forget that the human body cannot exist without millions of friendly bacteria that inhabit our intestines, skin, mucous membranes of the respiratory organs, and genitals.
When exposed to an antibiotic, colonies of these microorganisms suffer, which soon affects the health of a person who has undergone a course of antibiotic therapy - skin irritations, rashes, constipation, and candidiasis of the mucous membranes appear. It is the damage to the microflora that is the main negative effect of antibacterial drugs.
Another difficulty associated with taking these drugs is not so obvious - bacterial resistance. This is the ability of bacteria to adapt to an antibiotic through natural selection, and as a result, previously used drugs are ineffective.
Do not think that this can be avoided by using different types of drugs each time - resistant strains spread throughout the human population, displacing unstable types of bacteria. This is currently a global problem. Antibacterial drugs must be used according to all the rules that exclude the acquisition of resistance, otherwise humanity will again find itself defenseless against microbes.
On the other hand, it was these drugs that helped humanity defeat previously fatal diseases - tuberculosis, smallpox, plague and many others. They are also indispensable for sepsis as a result of trauma and infectious lesions.
Rules for the treatment of bacterial pathologies
When the immune system is weakened, a bacterial infection joins the viral infection. The sinuses, airways and middle ear are often affected. However, even in this case, antibiotics are not always needed. This is determined by the severity of the infection, age category and the presence of other pathologies.
To determine the bacterial nature of the disease, you should pay attention to the following symptoms:
- a secretion that is produced from the nose, located on the tonsils or produced when coughing, has a yellow-green color, a thick consistency, and a bad odor;
- pathology is present for more than 2 weeks;
- the temperature increases significantly and exceeds 38 degrees;
- antiseptic procedures do not produce tangible results.
If, during a cold, a purulent secretion appears in the sore throat, a fever begins, the presence of tonsillitis, provoked by staphylococci or other microorganisms, can be suspected.
Antibiotics are required for pain in the throat and temperature that accompanies purulent sore throat. But even in such a situation, the drug must be prescribed by a doctor. There is no need to take such remedies on your own, as such therapy can be harmful.
There is no need to take such medications for a sore throat without fever. Laryngitis and pharyngitis are usually caused by viruses. However, in such a situation, pathologies are not characterized by fever.
One of the most dangerous consequences of a cold is pneumonia. To prevent inflammatory lung disease, parents often give their children antibiotics. This tactic is fundamentally wrong. Only a specialist can make a diagnosis after listening to the lungs and examining the patient.
In some situations, a chest x-ray and sputum culture are needed. Therefore, if a child develops a cough, you should definitely visit a pediatrician. This should be done immediately, without waiting for severe symptoms.
An article on the topic - the best antibiotics for sinusitis.
Bacterial complications of viral infections
Very often, as a result of decreased immunity during a cold, a person develops a bacterial infection in addition to the viral one. The respiratory tract, sinuses and middle ear are most often affected. But even in this case, taking antibiotics is not always necessary; it all depends on the complexity of the infection, the age of the patient and concomitant diseases.
How to determine that inflammation is not viral, but bacterial in nature:
- mucus discharged from the nose, covering the tonsils, or expectorated when coughing, has a purulent color (yellow or greenish), an unpleasant musty odor, and a thick consistency;
- body temperature rises (from 38 degrees Celsius);
- the disease lasts more than 2 weeks;
- antiseptic rinses, washes, etc. give a very weak effect.
For example, if during a cold your sore throat becomes covered with purulent discharge and a fever begins, you can assume the presence of a sore throat caused by staphylococcus or another microorganism.
Antibiotics are necessary for a sore throat and fever during a purulent sore throat, but even in this case, the drug should be chosen by a doctor; self-medication is not only less effective, but can also be harmful. And of course, do not take antibiotics for a sore throat without fever - pharyngitis and tonsillitis are also caused by viruses, but in this case the diseases are not accompanied by fever.
One of the most dangerous complications of a cold is pneumonia. That is why, to prevent pneumonia, many parents feed their children antibiotics for every cough and fever. Only a doctor can make such a diagnosis after listening to the lungs and examining the patient.
Sometimes a chest x-ray and sputum culture are required. Therefore, if a child has a cough, it is worth visiting a pediatrician, and it is better to do this as early as possible, without waiting for it to worsen.
Bronchitis, for example, can be treated with syrups and inhalation, but pneumonia requires more powerful (and therefore more severe for the liver, heart, etc.) treatment. An antibiotic should not be used as first aid if a child has a high fever. On the contrary, these are drugs “as a last resort” when bacteria cannot be defeated by anything else.
When the temperature rises to 39 C in an adult, antibiotics are also not a panacea, because the causes of fever can be completely different. But if you are sure that it is a bacterial infection, these drugs should help you. However, a doctor should also prescribe antibiotics for high fever in an adult.
Do not use antibiotics “for fever”, the names of which were recommended to you by friends who suffered from a similar disease.
Firstly, there is simply no antibiotic for fever, and secondly, adults, like children, need to consult a doctor to select a drug.
He selects the drug based on the results of the examination, epidemiological data, and the distinctive symptoms of the disease. What worked for someone else may not work for you.
Healthy drinks
Herbal teas are often used to reduce fever. This could be sage, chamomile, thyme or another plant. Moreover, the described substances not only help eliminate fever. They also have anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and analgesic effects.
Among the healthy drinks that reduce temperature are lingonberry and cranberry juice. These products contain large amounts of vitamin C. They increase the body's resistance and have an immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effect. You can drink them in unlimited quantities. However, the same cannot be said about herbs. Some plants can cause allergies when consumed in large doses.
General recommendations
To effectively reduce the temperature, it is necessary not only to use antipyretic drugs, it is important to follow the appropriate regimen and general recommendations. This will help the body cope with the disease.
At elevated temperatures, it is important to provide the patient with the following conditions:
- bed rest,
- clothes made from natural fabrics,
- drinking plenty of water,
- a ventilated room with a comfortable air temperature,
- a diet based on easily digestible foods.
Simple recipes for antipyretic folk remedies:
Types of tablets for temperature. Active substances of drugs
The reason for the increase in temperature is the mediator prostaglandin E, which provokes inflammation. Anti-inflammatory drugs block the process of synthesis of this mediator. It is because of the disruption of prostaglandin that the body temperature decreases. Antipyretic drugs come in several types.
They quickly prevent inflammation, but have side effects: impaired kidney and liver function, gastrointestinal diseases.
These include:
- Paracetamol.
- Aspirin.
- Citramon.
- Analgin.
Active ingredients of 1st generation tablets:
- metamizole sodium (analgin);
Tablets for fever for adults. The list of ingredients includes metamizole sodium. - indomethacin (Metindol);
- paracetamol;
- ibuprofen (Nurofen);
- acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin, Citramon);
- diclofenac (Diklak);
- phenylbutazone (Butadione).
Active ingredients 2nd generation:
- coxibs (found in Celebrex, Vioxx);
- meloxicam;
- nimesulide (Nise, Nimesil).
These tablets have an anti-inflammatory effect and reduce pain.
2nd generation drugs are safer than 1st generation drugs. They not only eliminate inflammation, but also correct body temperature.
Combination drugs gained popularity 10 years ago. They can bring down the temperature and relieve pain at the same time. This type of medicine includes ibuprofen, which contains 2 active substances.
Doctors recommend not taking combination antipyretic pills. According to experts, too many pharmacological substances enter the body. Combined drugs are taken if 1st and 2nd generation drugs do not help individually.
The principle of action of all drugs is almost the same, but each has its own degree of antipyretic and analgesic effect. You cannot take several antipyretics at the same time. A form of anti-inflammatory, fever-reducing medication available to everyone is tablets. Injections are used in severe cases.