Fever is not a disease, but a symptom . When our body is attacked by an infectious agent (a virus or a bacterium), it pushes up the thermostat to stop the proliferation of microbes, so that our immune system can eliminate them more easily. We talk about fever from 38 ° C, but everything depends on the usual temperature of each one. A person whose temperature normally stagnates below 37 ° C is considered feverish beyond 37.5 ° C.
Fighting fever is not always justified
Our first instinct is to want to "drop" the fever. But "this is not always appropriate, says Dr. Loic Etienne, emergency doctor, except for young children, the elderly and heart patients. Better to rest so that the body devotes all its energy to fight the infection. You should also drink a lot to limit dehydration, as fever increases perspiration.
The threshold not to be exceeded is 40 ° C. For the thermometer to stay below, do not cover too much and apply wet cloths to your skin. Or take a bath in water at 1 ° C below your body temperature.
From 39.5 ° C, medication is needed
If discomfort becomes severe or the temperature exceeds 39.5 ° C, medications should be used. Paracetamol is the antipyretic (anti-fever) recommended first-line. Be careful not to exceed doses: "500 mg to 1 g per dose for an adult, spacing at least 4 hours. And never more than 4g per 24 hours! "Says Dr. Etienne.
Ibuprofen or aspirin can also be used. But do not add aspirin and paracetamol, otherwise you will amplify the side effects of aspirin (risk of ulcer or haemorrhage in particular). You can also drink an infusion of yarrow-yarrow, a medicinal plant that reduces the rise in temperature by accelerating perspiration or a decoction of white willow, whose bark contains natural aspirin.
Children, adults: when should you worry?
The severity of a condition is not correlated with the intensity of the fever that accompanies it. But in children under 3, it is best to see a doctor from 38.5 ° C and quickly if it is an infant under 30 months.
In adults, a medical diagnosis is required if the fever persists for more than 3 days. And consult urgently if it is associated with severe headache, stiffness in the neck, discomfort, significant breathing difficulty or severe chest pain.
How to take a good temperature?
Do not rely on the hands on your forehead. A thermometer is more appropriate.
The rectal temperature is the most reliable because it corresponds to the central heat of the body. But other methods can be used.
The oral temperature (under the tongue) is relatively precise, provided to add 0.5 ° C to the result obtained. Likewise, add 0.9 ° C if you take your temperature under the armpits. Ear thermometers (add 0.4 ° C to the result) may give truncated measurements if the tip is mis-oriented or if you have a wax plug.
