Treating a fever of 102 in an adult. Would you?

[Pavlovthecat]

I am curious as I am reading some articles about reducing fever, and some of the things I am reading suggest that it is not wise to medicate a fever below 104 (40) for an adult, as fever is protecting the body from infection.

What do you do? Do you medicate with ibruprofen/paracetemol, or do you ride it out and just deal with the crap feeling, knowing your body is doing what is is supposed to be doing?

I'd medicate. Why suffer? What ever is causing it will go anyway.

I personally have tried medicating this current fever, and its not bloody worked anyway!

I was interested if people felt that the fever would break sooner/do its job more effectively and the virus/infection clear more quickly without fever reducing articifically.

Or if it fails to make any difference at all.

As far as children go, for a moderate fever it's best to give paracetemol as the fever has to be dangerously high to kill the infection & medicating means they're more likely to get the rest that the body needs to recover. Whether this applies to adults I don't know!

I am not aware of any studies on this so I can't say what the current best practice is. Do whatever makes you feel better. Warm bath? Chicken soup's good.

wouldn't bother tbh
sweat it out

you're ill for longer if you reduce fever

avenanap - you name itself is making me jealous!
Cant sleep, too umcomfortable, not hungry. Last lot of food I ate sat there for two hours making me feel sick, until it all came back out. TMI sorry!

fluids, lots of fluids and bed
open window, hot water bottle...

Poor you! I hope you are feeling better soon.

open window? are you mad? !!!

yes!!.. fresh air but keep the body warm

I am old fashioned (and possibly mad but that's not for here) and a damn good night's sleep

is it pain or sickness? cos I think you can take an aspirin to kill pain without it reducing temp instead of paracetamol

Avenanap - thanks I hope so too.

Stuffitllama [ ok, window is open a crack, thats all, and I am snuggled under the duvet. Sickness rather than pain, flu.

medicine not bringing temp down anyway so wont take any more for now, see how that works.

And as for a good nights sleep. DH was a gem, took dd 21 months out for hours, and I could not sleep at all, the half hour before she comes home I fall asleep!!! Great timing!

So, if I can, i might try bath. See if that works for bringing fever down, if not at least make me feel less scanky.

My mother was always adamant that we run fevers for a good reason and we should leave them to do their job. Not sure if there is any truth to it but I still follow her advice.

If you are beiung sick then I would def avoid pain killers as they irritate the stomach. Drink loads of water to flush out your system.

Hope you feel better soon.

get well soon pavlov
is it gastric flu.. poor you

Thanks stuffit - much appreciated.

I have managed to eat some pasta and tomato soup, fingers crossed. Temp still rasied tho, guess I just need to go to sleep now and it should be gone in the morning .

Guessing probably not going to work tomorrow I got loads to do

the old adage is
feed a cold, starve a fever

anyway never mind that -- rest!

I am going to rest now. DD in bed finally so I am going to get some zzz's
Cheers

and goodnight!