What to Do When you Have a Fever - Different Stages

What to Do When you Have a Fever - Different Stages

Many people are alarmed when their body temperature increases. However, a fever is not your enemy or a disease by itself. It is simply a symptomatic manifestation of the patient struggling to solve a problem that is usually infectious.

In the following OneHowTo article we'll explain what to do when you have a fever at the different stages.

Phase 1: Onset of fever

This is the first phase of a fever. The forehead is hot while the skin is still cold. During this phase, people often feel chills and their feet are usually very cold.

What to do?

You must try to heat the body both from outside and inside. This can be done by having a bath that gets progressively hotter. This can be achieved by getting into a bath with water at a comfortable, lukewarm temperature and then gradually adding hot water until it feels hotter. When getting out of the bath, do so carefully so as to avoid dizziness and get dried and wrapped up quickly.

Phase 2: Stabilization of the fever

During this phase of a fever, the skin becomes red and the body feels hot and dry to the touch. The pulse and breathing rate speed up. Usually, a patient feels general malaise accompanied by a severe headache, dizziness or even delusions.

What to do?

At this stage, it is really important to drink fluids such as water with lemon and apple juice. It is really important to refrain from eating solid foods when a fever is very high.

If the temperature has reached 40º C (104º F), it should be lowered by using cold compresses to rapidly cool the legs, arms, neck and forehead. Once you have placed them all on, start again, as you'll notice how the cold compresses have warmed up.

This must be done as many times as is needed until you see that you have managed to reduce the fever by taking the patient's temperature regularly.

Phase 3: Lowering of temperature and fever disappears

This next phase of a common fever is when the patient begins to sweat.

What to do?

Remove the sweat with towels soaked in warm water and squeeze them dry. It is also really important to drink temperate broths to replenish fluids and rest. If the patient is hungry, the best foods are vegetable soups and whole grain blended soups.

These are our tips on what to do when you have a fever. If at some stage or other you begin to feel worse, don't hesitate to go to the doctor or to call their office for advice.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to What to Do When you Have a Fever - Different Stages, we recommend you visit our Family health category.

Tips
  • The patient should not suffer a high fever for more than 4 days.
  • Remember that these are techniques to reduce a fever, but if this continues, you will have to go to your doctor promptly.