How to Lose a Fever (And How to Break It)

We’ve all been there – sick in bed, feeling hot and cold with a high fever. All we want is to feel better. Naturally, we wonder how to break a fever and get rid of it.

Looking for a natural fever remedy? You’re in luck! There are several natural ways to treat a fever, just like beating a flu or cold.

Believe it or not, having a fever isn’t the worst thing. In fact, it’s often a defense against infection, a good sign that your immune system is working. Fevers are generally harmless and can indicate your body is trying to heal itself.

But that doesn’t make the fever any more pleasant, and we definitely don’t want to have it for too long. So, let’s see how to break a fever with some simple, natural methods.

What Is a Fever?

A fever is a high body temperature, usually a symptom of an underlying infection.

While a fever can be uncomfortable, it’s not usually dangerous as long as it’s not severe. Depending on your age, health, and the cause of the fever, you may not need medical treatment to get rid of it.

What Qualifies as a Fever?

Generally, a fever is a body temperature higher than normal. The average normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37°C), but the normal range is between 97.5°F (36.4°C) and 99.5°F (37.5°C).

Most doctors consider a temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) in adults a sign of a fever. A fever of about 101°F is mild and usually doesn’t require medication or a doctor’s visit.

Normal body temperature can vary with age, health, activity level, and time of day. Infants usually have higher temperatures than older children.

It’s normal for our temperatures to be highest in the late afternoon and early evening and lowest in the middle of the night and early morning. Even the amount of clothing we wear and the environment can affect body temperature.

How Do You Know if You Have a Fever?

If someone in your family has a fever, they may feel warm, flushed, sweat more, and be thirstier than usual. Other symptoms depend on the underlying cause, such as an earache, sore throat, rash, or stomachache.

Some types of fevers are called hyperthermia, which is a dangerous rise in body temperature caused by a failure of the body’s heat-regulating mechanisms to deal with heat. This includes heat fatigue, cramps, exhaustion, and stroke, which usually cause more noticeable symptoms like dizziness, fainting, sweating, and cramping.

Good news: Brain damage from a fever generally doesn’t occur unless the fever is above 107.6°F (42°C). Untreated fevers caused by infection rarely go above 105°F unless the person is overdressed or in an extremely hot environment.

How Long Does a Fever Last in Adults?

Most fevers resolve within a few days. If you have a fever between 101 and 103°F for more than three days, it’s best to get help to rule out serious underlying causes.

How to Break a Fever

Want to get rid of a fever quickly? Remember that a fever doesn’t always need to be completely gone. The goal is usually to lower it, not eliminate it, as the fever may be helping fight the infection.

Most people feel better when their temperature drops even a little, so the first step in getting rid of a fever is not to try to bring it down too quickly.

Typically, if a fever is mild, drinking plenty of fluids and resting will usually take care of it within a couple of days. These are the two main things to focus on.

Make sure to stay hydrated and keep an eye on symptoms to see if they’re getting worse. Also, get plenty of rest and wear comfortable clothing.

Can you “sweat out” a fever? Sweating can be helpful because it indicates the fever is breaking and resolving.

Heat is lost through your skin, so don’t bundle up. Wear comfortable clothing. There’s no need to intentionally increase sweating with lots of layers, as it may not help. You might even want to expose some skin if it makes you feel better.

You may experience changes between feeling cold and shivering and feeling hot. This is normal as your body fights the fever and may be a sign it’s going down.

How to Get Rid of a Fever

Here are some of the best tips on how to get rid of a fever:

1. Rest Is Key

When we rest, our bodies repair and restore themselves, helping to heal. Sleeping allows the brain to release hormones that promote new tissue growth, which is what you want to happen when your immune system is working.

When you rest, especially when you sleep, your body makes more white blood cells that can attack viruses and bacteria, which is exactly what you need.

If you can’t sleep, your fever is likely to last longer. So, make sure to get plenty of rest, aiming for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.

2. Drink Plenty of Fluids

Hydration is important because fluids can help remove toxins, which speeds up the healing process. Here are some hydration tips:

• Don’t give too much fruit or apple juice to a child, but dilute it. Bacteria live on a type of sugar called glucose, so less sugar is better.
• Avoid sports drinks as they’re often filled with sugar and other additives. Coconut water is a great choice as it’s hydrating and provides electrolytes.
• Herbal teas like peppermint or chamomile are also good options.

3. Eat Mild, Bland Foods

It’s normal to have a loss of appetite when you have a fever. Eating mild, bland foods can be helpful, especially if vomiting occurs. You don’t have to force yourself to eat, but make sure to drink plenty.

Mild and bland foods include bananas, oatmeal, and bone broth. Fruit juice popsicles are often good for children. Try to offer unrefined, less sugary foods when possible.

4. Consume Probiotics

Probiotics are especially helpful for the gut during illness as they support the immune system. Over 70% of your immune system is in your digestive tract. When you have a fever, your immune system is weakened. Probiotics can reduce the risk of certain acute common infectious diseases and enhance immune function.

Having some kombucha, miso soup, or yogurt when you’re sick with a fever can be beneficial.

5. Take a Lukewarm Bath

A lukewarm bath or sponge bath can help cool a fever. However, don’t use cold baths, ice, or alcohol rubs as they can make the situation worse by causing shivering.

Adding Epsom salt and a few drops of peppermint or lavender essential oil to a bath can soothe muscles and relax the body.

6. Don’t Overdress

How can you get rid of fever chills? Don’t bundle up with blankets or extra clothes, even if you or your child has chills, as this may prevent the fever from coming down or even make it rise.

Instead, use one layer of lightweight clothing and one lightweight blanket for sleep. The room should be at a comfortable temperature. If the room is hot or stuffy, a fan can help circulate the air.

Should You Take an Over-the-Counter Fever Reducer?

If you feel the need to use medications after trying home remedies for a fever, try Tylenol or Motrin. Always call your doctor for children under 3 months.

A study in the Italian Journal of Pediatrics shows that parents and caregivers often use self-prescribed synthetic medications like acetaminophen, and over-dosing can occur. The study recommends taking preventive action to reduce the use of acetaminophen as an antipyretic drug in children to reduce fever phobia and self-prescription.

Causes

While many fevers are caused by common infections, there are also non-infectious causes.

• Most fevers caused by viruses are short-lived and not serious. But don’t ignore them.
• Physical activity, strong emotions, eating, heavy clothing, medications, high room temperature, and high humidity can all increase body temperature.
• Almost any infection can cause a fever, including bone infections, respiratory infections, ear infections, sinus infections, mononucleosis, bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, urinary tract infections, viral gastroenteritis, and bacterial gastroenteritis.
• A child may have a low-grade fever for a day or two after some immunizations, and teething can cause a slight increase in temperature but usually not above 100°F.
• A woman’s menstrual cycle can cause a temperature increase of one degree or more.
• Autoimmune diseases or inflammatory disorders like arthritis or connective tissue illnesses can also cause fevers.
• Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, vasculitis, or polyarteritis nodosa can affect temperature.
• The first symptom of cancer can be a fever, especially Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and leukemia. Blood clots or thrombophlebitis can also cause fever.
• Medications like some antibiotics, antihistamines, and seizure medicines can raise the temperature.
• You may also have unexplained fevers that last for days or weeks.

Fever in Infants and Children

Usually, fevers in infants and children are more concerning.

Children may show accompanying symptoms like lethargy, fussiness, poor appetite, sore throat, cough, ear pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, which you should tell your doctor about.

It’s normal for parents to worry when their baby has a fever, especially the first fever. But fevers aren’t always dangerous for babies and children. Most fevers between 100 and 104°F are okay for sick kids, according to University of Utah Health.

A child has a slight fever when their temperature is at or above these levels:

• 100.4°F (38°C) measured in the bottom (rectally)
• 99.5°F (37.5°C) measured in the mouth (orally)
• 99°F (37.2°C) measured under the arm (axillary)

An adult probably has a fever when the temperature is above 99-99.5°F (37.2-37.5°C), depending on the time of day.

• Infections are by far the most common cause of fevers in children. Health experts estimate that more than 10 million mild infections (such as throat and skin infections) occur every year, mostly caused by viruses like colds, upper respiratory infections, and common childhood diseases like chickenpox.
• Some infections caused by bacteria may require special treatment, such as certain ear and throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, blood infections, and meningitis.
• There are other, relatively uncommon causes of fever in children, such as allergic reactions to drugs or vaccines, chronic joint inflammation, some tumors, and gastrointestinal diseases.
• Overdressing a baby can cause a temperature increase.

Even though many older infants have high fevers with minor illnesses, if a newborn has a fever higher than 100.4°F (38°C) rectally, you should talk to your child’s doctor.

How can you reduce a fever in your child naturally? Some methods for adults may not be suitable for babies and children. Experts recommend waiting and observing your child’s symptoms and only going to the doctor if the child seems very uncomfortable.

Usually, fevers from most viral illnesses last only two or three days. If they last longer, get your doctor’s help. In the meantime, give your child time to rest, plenty of fluids, and Tylenol or Motrin if they seem uncomfortable.

Another important thing to note is that febrile seizures can occur in some babies and young children, which can be scary. But most febrile seizures are short-lived and don’t cause lasting harm. It’s still something you may want to check with your doctor.

When to Call the Doctor About a Fever

It’s important to know when to call a doctor or get professional help for a fever in an adult or child. Here are some things to look for:

• Feeling listless or uncomfortable even after the fever goes down.
• The fever comes back after it goes away.
• The child doesn’t make tears when crying.
• No urination in the past eight hours.
• If a child is under 3 months old and has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, is 3-12 months old and has a fever of 102.2°F (39°C) or higher, or is under 2 years old and has a fever that lasts longer than 48 hours.
• Anyone with a fever above 105°F (40.5°C), unless the fever comes down easily with treatment.
• Having fevers that come and go for up to a week or more, even if they’re not very high.
• Having other symptoms that suggest an illness needs to be treated, such as a sore throat, earache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or a cough.
• Having a serious medical condition like a heart problem, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, or cystic fibrosis.
• Having recently had an immunization.

Call 9-1-1 if the fever is accompanied by issues like severe crying in children, confusion, inability to walk, strong headaches, blue lips, a very stiff neck, a sudden rash, or a seizure.

Final Thoughts

• Most doctors consider a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees a sign of a fever.
• A fever is often a good thing as it’s the body’s defense against infection. Fevers are generally harmless and can indicate a healthy immune system and healing process.
• Most fevers are caused by infections, but not always.
• Here are some tips on getting rid of a fever: Rest is key, drink plenty of fluids, eat mild and bland foods, consume probiotics, take a lukewarm bath, and don’t overdress. Not bundling up too much to sweat can be helpful and shows the fever is breaking.
• How long does a fever last in adults? Usually several days, rarely more than three to five. Children usually recover from a fever within a few days.