Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is a Fever?When to TreatHome RemediesOTC MedicationsPrescriptionsComplementary/Alternative Options
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is a Fever?
When to Treat
Home Remedies
OTC Medications
Prescriptions
Complementary/Alternative Options
Ways to treat a fever include rest and drinking plenty of fluids. Medication isn’t always needed but if you’re uncomfortable, over-the-counter (OTC) fever relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), or aspirin may be helpful.
Afeveris an increase in body temperature that is a natural and beneficial response to an infection, helping to mobilize the immune system to fight whatever bacteria, virus, or other microbe has entered the body.A fever also may develop as a symptom of inflammation.
Call your healthcare provider if you have a fever along with a severe headache, stiff neck, shortness of breath, or other unusual symptoms.
What Is Considered a Fever?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a fever as any temperature at 100.4 F (38 C) or higher.
Fever is not an illness, but instead a way your body fights an illness or infection. The heat of fever works to:
Unless a fever becomes dangerously high or lasts for a prolonged period, it may be better to let a fever run its course, given its role in helping to fight infection. But if a fever is causing discomfort, there are several remedies you can use.
When to Treat a Fever
You shouldsee a healthcare providerif:
How to Decrease Fever at Home
A fever under 104 degrees F in adults is not considered dangerous andreducing fever at homemay be adequate treatment.These strategies on their own or in combination may be effective:
Never use ice or an ice bath to try to lower body temperature. The same goes for usingrubbing alcoholon the skin. Neither strategy is effective and both can be dangerous.
Milan_Jovic / Getty Images
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Remedies
Although there are several medications that can help bring down a fever, they should be used with discretion and based on how elevated the temperature is and the age of the person with the fever.
In adults, a temperature over 100.4 degrees F is considered a fever, but a fever reducer isn’t recommended unless the fever is over 101 degrees F. A child between 3 months and 3 years of age does not need medication for a temperature under 102 degrees F.
Over-the-counter (OTC) fever relieversinclude:
Although both acetaminophen and ibuprofen are effective at reducing fever, a review of 10 studies concluded that ibuprofen reduced fever faster than acetaminophen.
Carefully follow the instructions on the medication package or a healthcare provider’s guidance for the proper dose and safe intervals between doses. Note that for children, the dosage of a fever reliever is based on weightandage.
If you are taking a multi-symptom cold or flu formula, be aware that it may contain acetaminophen. You risk an overdose if you take additional acetaminophen, which can cause liver damage.
What is the fastest way to get rid of a fever?Depending on the cause of the fever, a combination of an OTC fever reliever along with plenty of rest and fluids is likely to break a fever the fastest.
What is the fastest way to get rid of a fever?
Depending on the cause of the fever, a combination of an OTC fever reliever along with plenty of rest and fluids is likely to break a fever the fastest.
Prescription Medications
There are no prescription-strength medications for fever, but a healthcare provider may prescribe a medication to treat the underlying condition that is causing the fever. Once the condition is treated, the temperature will return to normal.
For example, you may be prescribed an antiviral medication if you have influenza and are in a high-risk group. An antibiotic may be necessary to treat a bacterial infection such as bacterial pneumonia or strep throat.
Always take the full course of a prescribed antibiotic, even if your fever comes down and you start feeling better.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Remedies
Aspirin was derived from willow bark before it was synthesized in the lab and is still sometimes regarded as a natural remedy for fever. However, the scientific evidence does not support its use for fever.
Other herbs purported to treat fever include:
There is no scientific evidence confirming the effectiveness of any of these herbs.
Use extreme caution when taking any herbal remedies, especially with children. Some have naturally occurring derivatives of salicylic acid, which is the component of aspirin that can cause Reye’s syndrome. Talk to your healthcare provider or your child’s pediatrician first.
Summary
A fever is a symptom or sign that your body is fighting an illness or infection. Treatment may include simply letting the body fight the infection on its own. But if a fever is uncomfortable, remedies such as OTC medications, fluids, cold packs, or a lukewarm bath may help relieve symptoms.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Walter EJ, Hanna-Jumma S, Carraretto M, Forni L.The pathophysiological basis and consequences of fever.Crit Care. 2016;20(1):200. doi:10.1186/s13054-016-1375-5Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Definitions of signs, symptoms, and conditions of ill travelers.Wrotek S, LeGrand EK, Dzialuk A, Alcock J.Let fever do its job: The meaning of fever in the pandemic era.Evol Med Public Health. 2021;9(1):26-35. doi:10.1093/emph/eoaa044MedlinePlus.Fever.American Academy of Pediatrics.Fever without fear: Information for parents.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dehydration and heat stroke.National Health Service.Fever in adults.Kaiser Permanente.Sponge bath for a child’s fever.American Academy of Family Physicians.Fever in infants and children.American Academy of Pediatrics.Fever and pain medicine: How much to give your child.National Library of Medicine Medline Plus.Ibuprofen dosing for children.Stanford Medicine.Reye syndrome.Yin F, Liu Y, Guo H.Comparison between ibuprofen and acetaminophen in the treatment of infectious fever in children: A meta-analysis. Khan R, ed.Journal of Healthcare Engineering. 2022;2022:1-8. doi:10.1155/2022/1794258National Organization for Rare Disorders.Reye syndrome.MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen.National Library of Medicine Medline Plus.Willow bark.Additional ReadingCleveland Clinic.Fever: When to call the doctor.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Walter EJ, Hanna-Jumma S, Carraretto M, Forni L.The pathophysiological basis and consequences of fever.Crit Care. 2016;20(1):200. doi:10.1186/s13054-016-1375-5Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Definitions of signs, symptoms, and conditions of ill travelers.Wrotek S, LeGrand EK, Dzialuk A, Alcock J.Let fever do its job: The meaning of fever in the pandemic era.Evol Med Public Health. 2021;9(1):26-35. doi:10.1093/emph/eoaa044MedlinePlus.Fever.American Academy of Pediatrics.Fever without fear: Information for parents.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dehydration and heat stroke.National Health Service.Fever in adults.Kaiser Permanente.Sponge bath for a child’s fever.American Academy of Family Physicians.Fever in infants and children.American Academy of Pediatrics.Fever and pain medicine: How much to give your child.National Library of Medicine Medline Plus.Ibuprofen dosing for children.Stanford Medicine.Reye syndrome.Yin F, Liu Y, Guo H.Comparison between ibuprofen and acetaminophen in the treatment of infectious fever in children: A meta-analysis. Khan R, ed.Journal of Healthcare Engineering. 2022;2022:1-8. doi:10.1155/2022/1794258National Organization for Rare Disorders.Reye syndrome.MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen.National Library of Medicine Medline Plus.Willow bark.Additional ReadingCleveland Clinic.Fever: When to call the doctor.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Walter EJ, Hanna-Jumma S, Carraretto M, Forni L.The pathophysiological basis and consequences of fever.Crit Care. 2016;20(1):200. doi:10.1186/s13054-016-1375-5Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Definitions of signs, symptoms, and conditions of ill travelers.Wrotek S, LeGrand EK, Dzialuk A, Alcock J.Let fever do its job: The meaning of fever in the pandemic era.Evol Med Public Health. 2021;9(1):26-35. doi:10.1093/emph/eoaa044MedlinePlus.Fever.American Academy of Pediatrics.Fever without fear: Information for parents.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dehydration and heat stroke.National Health Service.Fever in adults.Kaiser Permanente.Sponge bath for a child’s fever.American Academy of Family Physicians.Fever in infants and children.American Academy of Pediatrics.Fever and pain medicine: How much to give your child.National Library of Medicine Medline Plus.Ibuprofen dosing for children.Stanford Medicine.Reye syndrome.Yin F, Liu Y, Guo H.Comparison between ibuprofen and acetaminophen in the treatment of infectious fever in children: A meta-analysis. Khan R, ed.Journal of Healthcare Engineering. 2022;2022:1-8. doi:10.1155/2022/1794258National Organization for Rare Disorders.Reye syndrome.MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen.National Library of Medicine Medline Plus.Willow bark.
Walter EJ, Hanna-Jumma S, Carraretto M, Forni L.The pathophysiological basis and consequences of fever.Crit Care. 2016;20(1):200. doi:10.1186/s13054-016-1375-5
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Definitions of signs, symptoms, and conditions of ill travelers.
Wrotek S, LeGrand EK, Dzialuk A, Alcock J.Let fever do its job: The meaning of fever in the pandemic era.Evol Med Public Health. 2021;9(1):26-35. doi:10.1093/emph/eoaa044
MedlinePlus.Fever.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Fever without fear: Information for parents.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dehydration and heat stroke.
National Health Service.Fever in adults.
Kaiser Permanente.Sponge bath for a child’s fever.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Fever in infants and children.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Fever and pain medicine: How much to give your child.
National Library of Medicine Medline Plus.Ibuprofen dosing for children.
Stanford Medicine.Reye syndrome.
Yin F, Liu Y, Guo H.Comparison between ibuprofen and acetaminophen in the treatment of infectious fever in children: A meta-analysis. Khan R, ed.Journal of Healthcare Engineering. 2022;2022:1-8. doi:10.1155/2022/1794258
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Reye syndrome.
MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen.
National Library of Medicine Medline Plus.Willow bark.
Cleveland Clinic.Fever: When to call the doctor.
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