How to Make a Fever Break

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A fever is a temporary increase in your body temperature, which should normally be around 98.6° F (37° C). [1] It often indicates that your body is fighting an infection or disease, since most viruses and bacteria don't flourish at high temperatures. Fevers may be uncomfortable for a day or so, but they aren't a cause for concern unless they reach 103°F (39.4°C) or higher in adults, or greater than 104°F or (40°C) in children. [2] Most fevers break on their own naturally, but reducing dangerously high fevers can make you more comfortable and prevent serious complications. Keep reading for information on how to lower a fever at home and when you should see a doctor.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Reducing a Fever Naturally

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  1. If an infection is the cause of your fever, it should disappear within 3 to 4 days. [3] You should take your temperature with a digital thermometer twice a day to make sure your fever doesn't get dangerously high. For infants and toddlers, it's best to take rectal readings. Fevers that last longer than 4 days or rise above 103°F or (39.4°C) are reason for concern in adults, while fevers that last longer than 5 days or rise above 104°F or (40°C) are concerning in children. [4]
    • Keep in mind that body temperature is usually lower in the morning and higher in the evening. Menstruation, feeling strong emotions, and being in a hot or humid environment can also raise your core body temperature temporarily. [5]
    • In addition to sweating, other symptoms associated with fevers include: body aches, fatigue, shivering, headache, loss of appetite and flushed complexion. [6]
    • Visit the ER if you have a fever along with any of the following symptoms: confusion, irritability, convulsions, seizures, difficulty breathing, pain or tenderness in your belly, nausea or vomiting, severe headache, or stiff neck.
    • While waiting out a mild-to-moderate fever, make sure to drink plenty of fluids. Fevers trigger sweating, which can quickly lead to dehydration. [7]
  2. A simple method of lowering a fever is to remove excess clothing and blankets. [8] Clothes and blankets insulate our bodies and prevent heat from escaping from our skin. So, wear one layer of lightweight clothing, and use one lightweight blanket for sleep when trying to combat a high fever.
    • Avoid clothes and blankets made from synthetic fabrics or wool. Stick with cotton fabrics instead because they breathe better.
    • Remember that your head and feet are capable of losing a lot of heat, so try not to cover your head with a hat or your feet with thick socks while fighting a high fever.
    • Don't bundle up someone who develops the chills from a fever because they can overheat quickly.
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  3. If you (or your child) develops a high fever, lower your body temperature by taking a lukewarm bath or shower. [9] It's important not to use cold water, ice, or rubbing alcohol because it can lower your body temperature too quickly. If you’re giving a child a sponge bath, sponge for 20 to 30 minutes, and stop if they start to shiver. [10] Taking a bath may be easier than a shower if you are tired, weak, and achy.
    • Alternatively, grab a clean cloth or sponge, soak it in cool water, wring it out, and apply it to the forehead or the back of the neck. [11]
    • Another good idea is applying a cold pack under your arm for 10 minutes at a time. Do not use it on babies or young children, however, since they can’t always tell if it’s too cold for their skin.
  4. Staying hydrated is always important, but it’s even more important when you have a fever because you lose more water via perspiration. Aim to increase your fluid intake by drinking water, juices, or broth. Men should drink 15 cups of water and women should drink 11 cups of water per day. [12] Drink cool beverages with ice to try and bring a fever down. Oral rehydration solutions, like Pedialyte, are a good idea because they contain sodium (an electrolyte), which is lost during sweating. [13]
    • Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages, which can make you more dehydrated. [14]
  5. The more air that circulates around your body and over your sweaty skin, the more effective the evaporative cooling process is. That's why we sweat in the first place, so that our skin and surface blood vessels cool down as the ambient air evaporates the moisture. Being near a fan simply speeds this process up. Therefore, using a fan can make you feel more comfortable and help with accompanying symptoms of a fever. [15]
    • Don't be so close to a fan or have it turned up so high that it causes chills, as shivering and the resulting goose bumps acts to increase the core body temperature.
    • Air conditioning may be the best idea for a hot and humid room, but a mechanical fan is usually a better choice because it’s less likely to make the room too cold after a while.
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Part 2
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Reducing a Fever with Medical Intervention

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  1. Oftentimes, a fever is a good sign that your body is fighting an illness or infection. [16] It shouldn't always be reduced or suppressed to prevent serious complications, such as a febrile seizure, coma, or brain damage. Make an appointment with your doctor if your fever doesn't go away after 4 days or rises above 103°F or (39.4°C). [17] Your doctor will have all the necessary instruments to take a temperature reading in the most appropriate area—either orally, rectally, under the armpit, or in the ear canal. [18]
    • Take your child to the doctor if their fever is higher than 104°F or (40°C), or they are: listless, irritable, vomiting, makes poor eye contact, appears very sleepy most of the time and/or has completely lost their appetite. [19] Since children are smaller and growing, they can become seriously dehydrated if their fever continues more than a few days.
    • Adults should see their doctor if they develop a high fever or any of the following symptoms: severe headache, throat swelling, bad skin rash, light sensitivity, stiff neck, confusion, irritability, chest pain, abdominal pain, constant vomiting, numbness and tingling in limbs and/or seizures.
    • If the high fever is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor may recommend antibiotics to control or eliminate the infection.
  2. Acetaminophen is not only a painkiller (analgesic), but also a strong antipyretic, which means it can trigger the hypothalamus in the brain to lower body temperature. [20] In other words, it works by turning down your brain's thermostat. Acetaminophen is safe for lowering a fever in young children, teenagers, and adults—as long as you follow the dosage recommendations on the box. [21]
    • You can take 2 regular-strength Tylenol tablets every 4 to 6 hours. For adults, the maximum recommended daily dose of acetaminophen is 3,000 mg. [22]
    • Taking too much acetaminophen or taking it for too long can be toxic and damaging to the liver. Pay attention to the ingredients in other medications as well. For example, cold medicine can include acetaminophen.
    • Alcohol should never be combined with acetaminophen.
  3. Ibuprofen is also a good antipyretic that can help reduce fever in children and adults. [23] The main issue is that it's typically not recommended for children younger than 2 years (especially infants younger than 6 months) because of potential side effects. [24] Ibuprofen is also a good anti-inflammatory (unlike acetaminophen), which can be helpful if you or your child also experience muscle or joint aches with the fever. [25]
    • For adults, between 400 mg can be taken every 4-6 hours. Ask your doctor for dosage information in children, since it depends on their weight and other health factors. [26]
    • Taking too much ibuprofen or taking it for too long can be irritating and damaging to the stomach and kidneys, so take the medication with food. In fact, stomach ulcers and kidney failure are the most serious side effects. Furthermore, alcohol should never be combined with ibuprofen. [27]
  4. Aspirin is a good anti-inflammatory and strong antipyretic and is very effective for treating high fevers in adults. [28] However, aspirin is more toxic than acetaminophen and ibuprofen, particularly for children. Aspirin should not be used for fever reduction or any other condition in children or adolescents, especially those experiencing or recovering from viral illness such as the chickenpox or flu—it's linked to Reye's syndrome, a sometimes fatal illness [29]
    • Aspirin (Anacin, Bayer, Bufferin) is particularly irritating to the lining of the stomach and a significant cause of stomach ulcers in the United States and Canada. Always take aspirin on a full stomach. [30]
    • The maximum adult daily dosage of aspirin is 4,000 mg. [31] Exceeding this amount may cause an upset stomach, ringing in the ears, dizziness and blurred vision.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    My toddler's fever has been staying at 103 under the arm for 6 hrs. I gave him ibuprofen, and the fever went down but then it came back. What can I do to help break this?
    Janice Litza, MD
    Board Certified Family Medicine Physician
    Dr. Litza is a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician based in Racine, Wisconsin. With over 25 years of educational and professional experience, she has extensive experience providing full-spectrum Family Medicine, including obstetrics, newborn care, and hospital medicine. She is currently the Residency Program Director for Family Medicine at Ascension. Dr. Litza received her MD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and has completed additional fellowship training in Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona.
    Janice Litza, MD
    Board Certified Family Medicine Physician
    Expert Answer
    Your child should be evaluated by a doctor. If they have been evaluated already, then I would recommend monitoring the fever and scheduling medication doses as needed until the fever goes away. The fever will continue to come back until the body has successfully fought the infection on its own or with medicine, antibiotics, if indicated. You will need to monitor closely and schedule the doses as needed until the fever resolves.
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      Tips

      • A fever can be caused by viral infections, bacterial infections, gastrointestinal (GI) infections, urinary tract infections, skin infections, vaccinations, autoimmune disorders, certain medication reactions, or can. [32]
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      • Recent immunizations can cause short-term fevers in children, but they usually go away after 2-3 days. [33]
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      • Brain damage from a fever generally won't occur unless the fever is greater than 107°F (41.7°C). [34]
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      Tips from our Readers

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      • Apply a cold compress to the warmer areas of the body, like the stomach, the sides of the neck, and the armpits. Just don't make yourself so cold you get the chills.
      • If you live somewhere very hot, you can get a fever from staying outside too long. Going into a cooler place away from the sun should help you break the fever.
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      Warnings

      • Avoid treating a child's fever with aspirin—it can cause Reye's syndrome. [36]
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      • Seek medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms while you have a fever: severe rash, chest pain, recurrent vomiting, swelling on the skin that is hot and red, stiff neck, sore throat, confusion, or a fever that lasts longer than 4 days. [37]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/when-is-body-temperature-too-low
      2. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10880-fever
      3. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10880-fever
      4. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10880-fever
      5. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003090.htm
      6. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10880-fever
      7. ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-fighting-a-fever/
      8. ↑ https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003090.htm
      9. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/breaking-a-fever
      1. ↑ https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.sponge-bath-for-a-child's-fever.not59770
      2. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/breaking-a-fever
      3. ↑ https://www.ynhhs.org/articles/how-to-stay-hydrated-when-sick
      4. ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-fighting-a-fever/
      5. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/breaking-a-fever
      6. ↑ https://www.unomaha.edu/nebraska-medicine-uno-health-center/health-matters/fevers-101.php
      7. ↑ https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/doctors-debate-benefits-and-detriments-of-fevers
      8. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10880-fever
      9. ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-fighting-a-fever/
      10. ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/fever
      11. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1621668
      12. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/breaking-a-fever
      13. ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/aches_pain_fever/page5.htm#what_is_the_treatment_for_a_fever
      14. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1621668
      15. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/ibuprofen-for-children/who-can-and-cannot-take-ibuprofen-for-children
      16. ↑ https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/acetaminophen-nsaids-over-the-counter-pain-relievers
      17. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/ibuprofen-oral-route/description/drg-20070602
      18. ↑ https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/ibuprofen/
      19. ↑ https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003090.htm
      20. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10880-fever
      21. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/daily-aspirin-therapy/art-20046797
      22. ↑ https://www.arthritis.org/drug-guide/nsaids/aspirin
      23. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10880-fever#possible-causes
      24. ↑ https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/immunization-reactions/
      25. ↑ https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003090.htm
      26. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003090.htm
      27. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10880-fever
      28. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10880-fever

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you need to make a fever break, take a cool bath or a shower to lower the person’s body temperature. You can also apply a cloth soaked in cool water to their forehead to help bring down the fever, or have them sit or lie down near a fan. Acetaminophen works as an antipyretic, so administer a dose based on the person’s age and weight every 4-6 hours. You can also use ibuprofen if you prefer, but do not use this in children under the age of 2. Contact your doctor if the fever persists for more than a couple of days or rises above 101°F for children or 103°F for adults. Read on for more information from our medical reviewer on when to see your doctor, such as if your fever is accompanied by a rash.

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