Feb 09 2009
Do you have fever?
Fever is the body’s way of letting us know that something is wrong. Our normal body temperature ranges between 98 - 99 °F (around 37°C).
Fever can occur due to bacterial or viral infections. Bacteria usually release toxins in the blood which results in an increase in temperature.
Our body responds by activating the immune system. It’s a known fact that when we sweat, we are expelling toxins from our body.
Medical attention is necessary if fever is very high i.e. 3-4 degrees higher than normal temperature. Besides infections, other diseases like lymphomas, 
leukemias and brain disorders cause fever too.
Children and elderly people are more susceptible to fever as their immunity is low.
Antibiotics work only against bacterial infections. If antibiotics are prescribed for viral infections, it is mainly to avoid any secondary bacterial infection (as your immunity is low).
How will you know if it’s a viral or bacterial infection? Obviously a blood test will confirm it. But clinically, if fever is associated with a sore throat, it is usually a viral infection. There are exceptions but it works most of the time.
Supportive treatment:
#1 Wear loose clothes. It will help in circulation.
#2 The room should be kept cool.
#3 Analgesics like ibuprofen or paracetamol.
#4 Tepid sponging i.e. placing a cloth soaked in cold water on the forehead also helps.
#5 Drink a lot of water.
#6 Eat good nutritious food. Never skip a meal.
Vitamin B and C tablets strenthen our immunity.
Further Reading:
YOU can prevent antibiotic resistance
Good suggestions. I didn’t know about wearing loose clothing.
Roxie
You are invited to sign the Recovery Wall
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Informative blog. But many people tend to take paracetamols without prescription even for a slight increase in temperature. Isn’t that harmful?
Excellent post. I did not know that antibiotics only work against bacterial infections. Very informative.
Didn’t know many things - good post! n thnx for letting me add you
http://healthnbeauty.today.com/
Thanks for the information on bacterial and viral infections.
Very interesting. I would never have thought that wearing loose clothing would be helpful in dealing with a fever. It’s amazing how such little things can have an impact.
Often people misunderstand fevers, and use it as a gage of how sick someone is or isn’t. You can be just as sick without a fever. Bodies are different. My daughter was one who’d get strept and not have a fever.
People in general take too many antibiotics, we’re not patient enough. Old time doc I worked for years ago used to say, write a prescription for tincture of time. lol
Interest post,
Sandy
welcome mats always for visitors.
This is great information. I didn’t know that you needed to do all of these things.
http://theinformer.today.com
She’s so cute - the picture. Also, of course, as always, an excellent article.
Karen
http://gardendiva.today.com/
Hi,
I have given you the ‘you’ve been tagged award’ plz collect it… Hope you don’t mind
http://healthnbeauty.today.com/2009/02/08/ive-been-tagged/
Gazal
@Arthi: Paracetamol is only harmful if taken everyday. It causes gastritis (abdominal pain). And obviously overdosage of paracetamol can occur.
But if you take the 500 mg tablet every 4-6 hours, you are safe. Some doctors recommend 2 tablets of 500 mg.
@Kyellis: Sure, she is.
@Gazal: Thank you.
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