Fever in Adults (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Fever in Adults Overview
- Fever in Adults Causes
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Fever in Adults Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
Fever in Adults Treatment
Self-Care at Home
You can make the diagnosis of fever by taking your temperature with a thermometer. The best place in an adult is to put the thermometer in the mouth or rectum, using a rectal thermometer.
In general, a fever can be reduced with ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Both medications help control pain and fever. Alternating doses of each will also work and prevent accidental overdose. At times, a combination of both acetaminophen and ibuprofen will be needed to stop the fever.
Aspirin is not the first choice for fever reduction. It may be toxic in large doses in adults or cause Reye syndrome in children.
- Ibuprofen stops the hypothalamus from raising the body temperature. It comes in 200 mg tablets purchased over the counter at a drug store. You may take 1-2 tablets every 4 hours to decrease your temperature. Use the lowest possible dose.
- Side effects of ibuprofen include nausea and vomiting, which may be prevented if the medication is taken with food. Rare side effects include diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, and stomach pain. People with stomach ulcers or kidney disease, pregnant women, and those with an aspirin allergy should avoid ibuprofen.
- Common brand names of ibuprofen include Advil, Motrin, and Nuprin. Read the product label for specific ingredients described as ibuprofen.
- Side effects of ibuprofen include nausea and vomiting, which may be prevented if the medication is taken with food. Rare side effects include diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, and stomach pain. People with stomach ulcers or kidney disease, pregnant women, and those with an aspirin allergy should avoid ibuprofen.
- Acetaminophen also prevents a fever from occurring. It comes in 325 mg tablets or 500 mg tablets over the counter. Again, 1-2 tablets every 4 hours should be used to eliminate a fever.
- Side effects are rare, but some people are allergic to the medication. Extremely large doses (overdose) may cause liver failure. Therefore, people with liver disease and chronic alcohol users should avoid this medication.
- Common brand names of acetaminophen are Aspirin Free Anacin, Feverall, Genapap, Panadol, Tempra, and Tylenol. Read the product label for specific ingredients described as acetaminophen.
- Side effects are rare, but some people are allergic to the medication. Extremely large doses (overdose) may cause liver failure. Therefore, people with liver disease and chronic alcohol users should avoid this medication.
- A fever can cause you to become very dehydrated. Drink lots of fluids. Attempts to cool the skin may only make you more uncomfortable. This may also cause shivering, which will actually increase your body temperature if the fever is being caused by an infection. Further therapy depends on the cause of the fever and the accompanying symptoms. Basic cold symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter medications.
- If the fever is caused by exposure to hot weather or overexertion, the technique is different from treating any other fever. Neither acetaminophen nor ibuprofen will be effective. The person needs to be cooled immediately. If the person is confused or unconsciousness, seek emergency medical help immediately. While waiting for help, remove the person from the hot environment and remove his or her clothes. The body should be cooled with a wet sponge, and a fan should be directed over the person.
Next: Medical Treatment »
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Important Safety Information
Vimpat (lacosamide) is a medicine that is used with other medicines to treat partial onset seizures in patients 17 years of age and older with epilepsy. Vimpat is generally well-tolerated, but may not be for everyone. Ask your doctor if Vimpat is right for you. Antiepileptic drugs, including Vimpat, may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have new or worsening symptoms of depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or suicidal thoughts, behavior, or thoughts about self harm that you have never had before or may be worse than before. Please see additional patient information in the Medication Guide at the end of the full prescribing information. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your condition or your treatment. Please see additional Patient Safety Information
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Fever of Unknown Origin »
Fever of unknown origin (FUO) was defined in 1961 by Petersdorf and Beeson as the following: (1) a temperature greater than 38.3°C (101°F) on several occasions, (2) more than 3 weeks' duration of illness, and (3) failure to reach a diagnosis despite one week of inpatient investigation.
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