As autumn approaches, the cold weather is bringing more and more colds and flu cases. The changeable, often humid weather of the autumn months is conducive to the spread of various respiratory infections, and fever is a more common accompanying symptom, which can be a burden for both children and adults. Although the fever is not the illness itself, it is often a sign of the body’s fight against pathogens, so it is worth knowing when and how to use antipyretics.
Let’s look at the importance of fever control and effective ways to reduce the discomfort of fever without disrupting the body’s natural defences.
The role and importance of fever control
The main aim of fever control is to improve the patient’s comfort, not to cure the disease. It is important to emphasise that fever is the body’s natural defensive response to fight infections. However, if the fever is high or prolonged, antipyretics may be necessary to alleviate the patient’s condition and avoid complications. When treating fever, it is worth considering the advantages and disadvantages of different antipyretic methods to choose the safest and most effective solution.
Ways to relieve fever
Different methods of fever control include physical cooling techniques and the use of medicated antipyretics. The patient’s age, general condition and the degree of fever all play an important role in the management of fever, and will influence which method of antipyretic treatment is most appropriate. In children, physical cooling, such as cooling baths or compresses, is often preferred, while in adults, fever relief with medication may be more effective. The right choice of antipyretics can help to reduce fever and improve well-being without putting unnecessary strain on the body. Proper fever control can help patients recover faster while minimising the discomfort caused by fever.
Medicated fever relief
Routine administration of antipyretics in well children or adults is not indicated if the only indication for fever control is to reduce body temperature. Pharmacological fever control should be considered if the febrile patient is unwell. In children, the views and expectations of the parent or guardian will also influence the choice of medication.
It is important to know that antipyretics do not prevent complications of fever, such as febrile convulsions, also known as febrile eclampsia.
The simultaneous use of several antipyretics is not recommended. Be aware that many over-the-counter hot drink powders also contain antipyretic agents. Always take this into account when giving antipyretics in tablet form!
Alternating the use of different active ingredients is not routinely recommended. However, if the response to the first drug is not satisfactory, a change of antipyretic drug may be considered.
Physical methods
As a physical method of fever relief, a cooling bath and a poultice of the torso or the whole body may be used. They are used especially in cases where the option of medication is not possible. However, care should be taken to ensure that the temperature of the cooling water or the poultice is not too low, and avoid cooling with ice or extremely cold water. Dizziness should be avoided at all costs, as it is both a very unpleasant experience for the already fallen patient and can increase body temperature. Under no circumstances should these methods be used in children who are afraid of this method of fever control.
For cooling baths, place the patient in bath water at the same temperature as their current body temperature and cool slowly and gently until uncomfortable, but do not cool the water below 31°C. Cooling is more effective if the water is only up to the warmest part of the body and the exposed body surface is continuously splashed with the mixed water, rather than if the patient is immersed in water up to the neck. Do not continue cooling if the body temperature has already dropped to 38 °C.
Be very careful when using cooling baths for heart patients!
Practical methods for the care of patients with fever
One of the major risks of febrile conditions is not satisfying the increased fluid needs caused by high body temperature. In such cases, dehydration of the body can significantly aggravate the patient’s condition. This is particularly dangerous in young children. Therefore, make sure that the fever patient is regularly hydrated. If the infant is still breast-feeding, breast milk is the perfect source of hydration.
Signs of dehydration include:
- dry lips
- plaque on the tongue
- sunken eyes
- in young children who do not yet have a closed cuticle, a plugged cuticle
- reduced urine output
If you are unable to drink enough fluids on repeated occasions, seek professional help!
Do not go to the community if you have a fever!
When dressing a febrile patient, take care to avoid both underdressing and overdressing! Dress the patient in comfortable, loose clothing!
Avoid thick blankets or duvets when covering a febrile patient! These trap heat underneath and can cause heat exhaustion by preventing heat from escaping, so the fever does not go down.
Avoid taking cold, icy baths or wrapping yourself in cold, wet sheets to relieve the fever.
Only take or give antibiotics on the advice of a doctor.
If a fever patient develops a rash on the skin, seek medical advice. The treatment of rashes, especially in children, is a medical problem, especially because of the risk of complications. If the patient develops skin haemorrhages, see a doctor immediately, as even a short delay can put the patient at risk. A simple method to detect the presence of skin haemorrhages is the glass beaker test. If a red spot does not fade when a transparent glass beaker is pressed against the patient’s skin, there is a high probability of a skin haemorrhage. In this case, seek medical advice immediately!
Seek medical attention immediately for the following warning signs!
- If the patient is found to have a non-fading skin haemorrhage with the glass vial test
- In case of febrile convulsions, especially if it is the first time
- Patient is sleepy or cannot be awakened
- The patient shows symptoms of dehydration, even despite drinking
- New unusual symptoms occur
- The general condition of the patient worsens
- Fever lasts for more than 3 days
The febrile seizures
Febrile seizure is a condition associated with fever, with seizures occurring especially when the fever rises. It does not depend on the current body temperature and can occur even when the temperature rises. The underlying cause is an infection in the body. It is not uncommon and can occur in at least 3% of children aged 6 months to 6 years. The most common age of onset is one and a half years.
If a fever spasm occurs, the first thing to do is to stay calm! Be sure to stay with the child and look after his/her physical well-being! Turn the child on his/her side and remove any dangerous objects from the child’s reach, such as sharp furniture or pointed toys. Put a soft pad under his head to prevent him from hitting his head on the floor. Do not give the child anything by mouth, in which case it is advisable to administer antipyretics through the rectum in the form of a suppository. Be sure to consult a doctor!
An ambulance should be called if the convulsion lasts longer than 5 minutes. If the child was in water, under water and breathing heavily or suffered a head injury when the febrile convulsion occurred, it is also advisable to seek immediate medical help. If the child’s breathing does not settle after the convulsion, or if the lips remain blue, call a doctor immediately.
During the autumn months, when colds and fevers are more common, antipyretics play an important role in improving the patient’s well-being. Although fever is a natural defensive response, it can be relieved by physical and medical means, if necessary, taking into account the patient’s age and condition. Appropriate fever management can not only make the fever more tolerable, but can also contribute to a faster recovery, especially if the cause of the fever is treated with targeted treatment.
Sources: www.nodoryl.hu