High Fever? We are here to help!

Here in this article we are going to brief you about the precautions, symptoms and quick home remedies to protect yourself and your loved ones from this season of high fever!

What is High Fever?

A high fever is a condition when the body temperature rises above 102 degrees Fahrenheit in a human adult (or above 101 degrees Fahrenheit in a child). This high body temperature signifies the presence of a serious infection that has triggered your immune system, which attempts to kill the infection by increasing the body temperature this high.

Causes

Causes of high fever vary on a wide range.Most common causes of fever are common infections such as colds and gastroenteritis. Some causes are more complex and include conditions like appendicitis and pneumonia, where as some rare cases also comprises infections of the ear, lung, skin, throat, bladder, or kidney; conditions that cause inflammation; side effects of drugs; cancer and vaccines.

Symptoms

After identifying the causes of your fever, additional signs and symptoms of high fever are as follows:

1. Sweating
2. Shivering
3. Headache
4. Muscle aches
5. Loss of appetite
6. Dehydration
7. General weakness
8. Swollen feet and swollen face
9. Vomiting and loss of appetite
10. Redness in eyes

Precautions

1. If someone in the family is suffering from fever, instruct him/her to maintain distance from rest of the members of the family.
2. Wash the infected person's clothes separately.
3. Use natural remedies to ward off the pesky mosquitoes which may cause complications such as dengue and malaria.
4. Wash your hands often and teach your children to do the same, especially before eating, after using the toilet, after arriving home from outside or after visiting a patient even at a hospital, after petting animals.
5. Teach your children how to wash their hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, by covering both the front and back of each hand with soap and rinsing completely under running water.
6. Use hand sanitizer with you for times when you don't have an access to soap and water.
7. Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes, as these are the main ways that viruses and bacteria can enter your body and cause infection.
8. Cover your mouth when you cough and your nose when you sneeze, and teach your children to do likewise.
9. Avoid sharing cups, water bottles and utensils with your child or children.

Treatment

1. Sponging
   Soak a clean cloth in cool tap water, wring out the excess water and then sponge areas like your armpits, feet, hands and groin to reduce the temperature. You can also place cold, damp washed cloth on your forehead and the back of your neck. Remember the cloth pieces should be changed regularly after a few minutes. This remedy is beneficial when dealing with a high fever as it helps keep temperature under control.
   REMEMBER: Do not use very cold water as it may cause the internal body temperature to increase.
2. Basil
   Basil is an effective herb for bringing down a fever. It is just as effective as many types of antibiotics in the market. Its healing properties will help reduce fever very quickly.
   TIP: Boil together 20 basil leaves or so and one teaspoon of crushed ginger in one cup water, until the solution gets reduced to half. Add a little honey and drink this tea 2-3 times a day for 3 days.
3. Garlic
   The warm nature of garlic can also lower a high fever by promoting sweating. This also helps eliminate harmful toxins from the body and speed up recovery.
   TIP: Finely mince one garlic clove and add it to one cup of hot water. Steep for 10 minutes, strain and sip it slowly. Drink this twice a day and you will feel much better the next day.
   REMEMBER: The garlic tip should not be used for infants and pregnant ladies.
4. Raisins
   Raisins help the body fight infections and reduce fevers. They are loaded with phenolic phytonutrients, which are known to have antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Also, raisins act as tonic for your body when you have a fever.
   TIP: Soak 25 raisins in one-half cup of water for one hour, or until the raisins become soft. Crush the soaked raisins in the water and strain the liquid. Add the juice of half a lime to this solution. Have this twice a day until your fever is gone.

However, it's always advisable to see a physician to identify the causes of fever and get the correct dosage of Paracetamol (which is a pain reliever and a fever reducer). Doctors Insta's specialists are available 24/7. You can video/phone consult them for instant medical advice and care.

For further queries visit our website: www.doctorinsta.com