Selecting an appropriate treatment for reducing fever relies on first determining the cause.
Medications such as antipyretics induce heat loss, while corticosteroids interfere with the hypothalamic response and reset the raised set-point.
If fever is due to a bacterial infection, antibiotics are prescribed to help fight against fever-causing pyrogens.
Conversely, if fever is due to viral infection, it can be managed non-pharmacologically since viruses have a short life span.
If a person experiences a drug allergy or hypersensitivity reaction, they may experience fever and a rash or pruritus. Interventions include discontinuing medication, treating impaired skin integrity, and allergen education.
Heatstroke requires emergency treatments such as administering intravenous fluids and irrigating the stomach and lower bowel with cold solutions as prescribed.
Non-pharmacological methods of fever reduction include tepid sponging, applying ice packs to axillae and groin areas, oscillating fans, and hypothermia blankets.
Though these techniques encourage further heat loss, nurses must ensure they do not cause shivering.
The signs and symptoms of fever include hot and dry skin, flushed face, thirst, muscle aches, anorexia, headache, tachycardia, tachypnea, and fatigue. Elevated body temperature is reduced using two methods: pharmacological and nonpharmacological. Proper identification and treatment of the root cause of a fever is of utmost importance.
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
Nonpharmacological Methods Of Reducing Fever:
Heatstroke:
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Treatment involves relocating the patient to a cooler area, removing extra garments, using cold, damp cloths on the skin, and using oscillating fans to enhance convective heat loss along with medical emergency treatments such as administering intravenous (IV) fluids, irrigating the stomach and lower bowel with cold solutions, and applying hypothermia blankets.