First aid for fevers

You can run a fever if you have an infection or an underlying disease. Fever is your body’s natural response when trying to get rid of an infection. Your body may feel hotter than usual, and you may have a chill as this is going on. The first care you provide for someone who has a fever can help prevent any harm and reduce their discomfort.

The first aid for fevers may require household items or pain relievers that also reduce fever. Medicines that reduce fevers should not be used for more than two days. If symptoms persist beyond that, get medical advice from your healthcare provider.

Some home care remedies help reduce fever. These include:

• Wet a clean towel with cool water and wipe a child all over with it. Taking off a child's clothing can also help it to cool down. These measures may be less useful for an adult.
• Keep the person who has a fever hydrated by giving them clean water to drink. If the person is vomiting, give water in small portions at intervals. You can substitute water for oral rehydration salt (ORS) solution if the person has vomited a couple of times.
• Give the person a pain reliever like paracetamol or Ibuprofen. These medicines do an excellent job of reducing fever within thirty minutes to one hour. However,  they do not treat the cause of the fever. If the fever persists, seek medical attention.

When you are caring for someone with a fever you will need:

• A thermometer. These are usually glass devices used to measure how hot the body feels. They can measure body temperature correctly in the mouth (under the tongue), armpit (or flexed elbow) or anus. You can buy one over the counter in Nigeria.
• A mild pain reliever that also reduces fever. The most commonly used examples include paracetamol (tablet or syrup) and ibuprofen (tablets, gels or syrup). These medicines relieve pain and discomfort while reducing the inflammation that causes excessive body temperature. This medicine does not treat the underlying disease but can promote rest and recovery.
• Clean towel and cool water. Wet the towel with water before wiping the person down. This action will cool the skin and promote a feeling of wellness.
• Drinking water. Fever can cause excessive sweating and fluid loss. Giving the feverish person water to drink can keep them from becoming dehydrated and worse off.

You should get the feverish person to a healthcare centre immediately, after first aid, if in addition to fever they have any of the following:

• A feverish child appears weak.
• Has difficulty breathing.
• Experiences chest pain.
• Has a severe headache.
• Shows signs of confusion or agitation.
• Suffers from abdominal pain.
• Vomits repeatedly.
• Has a dry mouth, decreased or dark urine, or refuses to drink fluids, which may indicate dehydration.
• Experiences skin rashes.
• Has difficulty swallowing fluids.
• Experiences pain while peeing or has pain in the back.

The feverish person should take a mild pain reliever and some water. Then arrange transport to the healthcare centre. Do not let the feverish person attempt to sleep it off.

Most fevers cannot be prevented since they are caused by infections or other inflammatory disease. Treating the disease is more important than treating the fever itself, since the fever will go away when the infection clears or the disease is under control.

When your child (less than five years old) has a fever, you should immediately take them to the hospital for proper medical attention. You should provide first aid treatment only for a day or enough to get them to a healthcare centre. Most fevers in adults are cared for at home. However, if all the home remedies fail, you should seek medical attention from your healthcare provider.