First Aid For Fevers

Facts About Fevers

  • Fever is above 38 ° C (measured in the rectum)
  • Fever is one of the body’s reactions to infection
  • Rising and falling temperatures during fever give chills and sweating, respectively
  • Children with fever should not receive acetylsalicylic acid to lower the fever

What is fever?

  • Fever is one of the body’s reactions to infection
  • Normal temperature is approx. 37 ° C in the morning and 37.5 ° C in the evening
  • Fever is defined as temperature above 38 ° C measured in the rectum
    • Measured in the mouth, the temperature is approx. 0.5 degrees below measurement in the rectum
    • Measured in the armpit, the temperature is approximately 0.6 degrees below measurement in the rectum
  • Fever due to infection rarely gets higher than 40.5-41 ° C
  • Fever above 41 ° C can be a serious disease

Typical symptoms and signs

  • As the temperature rises, you freeze
  • When the temperature drops you get sweat
  • Fever suppressants will give sweating. When the effect stops (after 3-4 hours), freeze again

First aid

  • Get the temperature down
    • Make sure the sick person is comfortable and that the room is cool
    • If necessary, put a cool cloth over the forehead
    • Give plenty of cool drink
    • Ingestion of paracetamol, ibuprofen usually reduces the fever
    • Children should not be given acetylsalicylic acid, but paracetamol or ibuprofen is recommended
  • Seek medical attention:
    • If the child is 3 months or younger
    • If the child has a temperature higher than 40 ° C
    • In adults whose temperature is higher than 40 ° C or at fever above 39 ° C for more than three days
    • With severe headache, stiff neck, swelling of the throat, impaired consciousness or difficulty breathing
    • In case of rash
    • In case of fever and abdominal pain
    • Get plenty of liquid
  • Contact The Emergency
    • If the child is 3 months or younger
    • If the child has a temperature higher than 40 ° C
    • In adults whose temperature is higher than 40 ° C or at fever above 39 ° C for more than three days
    • In case of fever and abdominal pain
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