Fever and temperature

Many things cause fevers including:

• colds and flu
• ear infections
• tonsillitis
• urine infections

But most symptoms of fever can be managed at home without seeing a doctor:

• take paracetamol to help with the fever (adults can take two Paracetamol regularly (every 4 hours to a maximum of 8 in 24 hours)
• make sure you keep cool by not wrapping up in blankets or thick clothing
• make sure you have plenty of fluids to drink to keep yourself well hydrated
• it is no longer recommended to bathe or sponge with cold water to reduce a fever as this causes blood vessels close to the skin to get smaller, reducing the amount of heat lost from the body, and raising the core temperature

For children see the Temperature in Children page

If the fever persists longer than 24 to 48 hours, especially in the young, old or frail, this may suggest a more serious problem and so a doctor should be consulted

Source: LSMP

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Last revision: December 2008