Feed a cold and starve a fever?
This week’s “Here’s To Your Health” broadcasts provide details about the causes and treatment of fevers. A fever is when your body’s internal temperature is elevated. A fever is an important part of the body’s defense against infection. However, fevers can be dangerous in certain situations. If you have a prolonged fever or extremely high temperature, contact a physician. To learn more about the causes and treatments for fevers, or to schedule an appointment with a Primary Care physician, please contact UAMS at 501-686-8000.
Transcript
| Is it starve a cold and feed a fever or the other way around? Regardless of where you stand on this issue, the best way to treat a fever is with an over-the-counter medication, either acetaminophen or ibuprofen, although ibuprofen should not be used on children younger than six months old. Aspirin is very effective for adults but should not be given to a child unless their physician says it is alright. A lukewarm bath or sponge bath may help cool someone with a fever, especially after a medication is given, because otherwise, the temperature might bounce right back up. Do not use cold baths, ice, or alcohol rubs because these cool the skin, but often make the situation worse by causing shivering, which raises the core body temperature. Fever can cause fluid loss and dehydration, so drink water, juices or broth. For a child under age 1, use an oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte, which contains water and salts proportioned to replenish fluids and electrolytes.
This program was first broadcast on May 13, 2011.
T. Glenn Pait, M.D., of UAMS is the host of the program.