What does breaking a fever mean

This article was medically reviewed by Jason R. Our stories are reviewed by medical professionals to ensure you get the most accurate and useful information about your health and wellness.

For more information, visit our medical review board. You can help break a fever by resting, drinking plenty of fluids, and cooling the skin with ice packs or a washcloth. Medication, such as ibuprofen Advil or acetaminophen Tylenol , can also help reduce fever symptoms. Most fevers will resolve themselves within a week, and following these strategies can help you get through it. This story is part of Insider's guide to Fever.

Loading Something is loading. Kelly Burch is a New Hampshire-based freelance journalist writing about finances, health, family, and more. Follow her on Facebook or Twitter , and or learn more here. Additional comments. Email optional. Raising your temperature by a few degrees may also kill some bacteria or viruses that are sensitive to slight temperature changes.

When your body raises its temperature set point, it's really prompting you to do things that raise your body temperature, like wear warm clothes, climb under the blankets, or drink hot liquids. In other words, it's raising your temperature at least partly in a roundabout way.

By making Of course, the problem with fever is that it doesn't take much to overheat the human body. That's why many doctors still recommend lowering fever. Drugs like aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen do this by blocking the production of fever-inducing chemicals called prostaglandins in the brain.

They won't help you beat the bug that's making you sick, but they will prevent you from running a dangerously high temperature. Now try and answer these questions:. Kluger's article "Fever: A Hot Topic" , which discusses thermal regulation and set points in more detail, is available from Physiology Online.

The Mayo Clinic offers a comprehensive overview of Fever , from symptoms to prevention and treatment. See the Tool. See the Collection. You do not need to see a doctor every time you have a fever. In many cases, fever can be treated with over-the-counter medications such as Ibuprofen, Aspirin, and Acetaminophen. These medications help to block prostaglandins , compounds in the body that trigger temperature increases.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers tips on fever-reducing medications that you can give to children. In children, small changes in body temperature may indicate a serious underlying issue. For a child, a fever is anything higher than There are some instances where it's vital to get medical help in response to a fever. Infants and children tend to react poorly to fevers. They may be suffering from a heat-related illness like heat exhaustion.

If your child is vomiting, has a fever for more than three days, or has mental symptoms such as confusion and irritability, call your pediatrician. Make sure to see a doctor if you have symptoms including severe headache, skin rash, stiff neck, shortness of breath, confusion, or seizures in addition to fever. Some of these symptoms may be an indication of dehydration. When you have a fever, you may experience sweating that can result in fluid loss and lead to dehydration.

Sweat contains vital electrolytes that help support normal cellular functions including muscle contractions. Without enough electrolytes you may experience signs of dehydration, including headache, dizziness, and confusion. You may also feel fatigued and thirsty, along with experiencing a rapid heartbeat and decreased frequency of urination.

This causes your body temperature to increase, resulting in the recurrence of a fever. If the fluid and electrolyte loss is not addressed, your fever may rise to dangerous levels. This is known as hyperthermia , a condition where the core temperature rises above degrees Fahrenheit. Dehydration, age, and medical conditions can all increase the risk of developing hyperthermia. Left untreated, hyperthermia can cause serious problems, including cellular death, organ failure, and death.

Fortunately, you can avoid dehydration when you have a fever by making sure to drink plenty of electrolytes and fluids. When your body is properly hydrated, it is more efficient at regulating your temperature. Proper hydration and addressing electrolyte and fluid loss when sweating can encourage a quicker recovery. One of the most serious side effects of fever is dehydration, especially in children. As your fever breaks and your body sweats to cool you down, you lose electrolytes.