How to Make a Fever Break

A fever is a temporary increase in your body temperature, which normally hovers between 98 – 99°F (36.7 – 37.2°C). A fever indicates your body is fighting an infection or dealing with a disease. Most fevers are beneficial because viruses and bacteria don't flourish at higher temperatures, so it's a defense mechanism of your body. Fevers may be uncomfortable for a day or so, but they aren't a cause for concern unless they reach 103°F (39.4°C) or higher in adults, or greater than 101°F (38.3°C) in children. Most fevers break on their own naturally, but reducing dangerously high fevers may help prevent serious complications such as brain damage. Fevers can be lowered with home remedies and medications. ake a cool bath or shower. If you or your child develops a high fever with the associated symptoms (see above), then take action to lower the body temperature by taking a cool bath or shower. However, it's important not to use cold water, ice or alcohol solution because it often makes the situation worse by triggering shivering, which then tends to raise the core body temperature even more. Stick to tepid or cool water and bathe for about 10 to 15 minutes. Taking a bath may be easier than a shower if you are tired, weak and achy. As an alternative, grab a clean cloth or sponge, soak it in cool water, wring it out, and apply it to the forehead as a cold compress. Change it every 20 minutes until the fever comes down. Another good idea is using a spray bottle filled with chilled distilled water to spritzer (spray) yourself every 30 minutes or so in order to cool down. Focus on spraying your face, neck and upper chest for best results. Sit or lay near a fan. The more air that circulates around your body and over your sweaty skin, the more effective the evaporative cooling process is. That's why we sweat in the first place, so that our skin and surface blood vessels cool down as the ambient air evaporates the moisture. Being near a fan simply speeds this process up. Therefore, sit and sleep next to an oscillating fan to help bring down a fever, although make sure enough skin is exposed to be effective. Don't be so close to a fan or have it turned up so high that it causes chills, as shivering and the resulting goose bumps acts to increase the core body temperature. Air conditioning may be the best idea for a hot and humid room, but a mechanical fan is usually a better choice because it’s less likely to make the room too cold after a while.