Symptoms

When the body is fighting an injury or infection, the hypothalamus (a part of the brain) sets the body temperature at a higher level.

The body compensates for this by moving blood away from the skin so the amount of heat lost through the skin is reduced.

The muscles might repeatedly contract to keep the body warm, which causes shivering. When the blood that is warmed up to the new temperature reaches the hypothalamus, these symptoms usually stop, and just the fever remains.

When the body's thermostat is set back to its normal temperature, it moves the blood back to the skin and excess heat is lost through sweating. Sometimes chills occur when this happens.

The body's temperature may go up and then either return to normal or stay up. People with alcoholism, seniors, and very young people may lose body heat when they're fighting a major infection.

Causes

Fever can be caused by factors outside or inside the body. Microorganisms, including bacteria and parasites, can produce chemical poisons.

Both the microorganism and the poisons cause the white blood cells (called monocytes) to produce substances called pyrogens. It's the pyrogens that actually cause the fever.

The body also produces pyrogens in response to infection, inflammation, cancer, or an allergy. Illnesses in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues (called an autoimmune disease), such as rheumatoid arthritis, can also cause fever.

Too much exercise in hot weather, overexposure to sunlight, hormonal problems, or some medications can cause fever, as well.

Home Remedies

- Drink as much water as you can in order to replace fluid loss. It will also help to bring down body  temperature.

- Rest as much as possible.

- Avoid suddenly changes in atmospheric temperatures.

- Avoid eating solid foods until the fever is gone. You can replace the foods by drinking plenty of distilled water and/or juices.

- When you have fever do not take any supplement containing either iron or zinc. Taking iron causes great tension in a body that is fighting infection; and zinc is not absorbed by the body when you have fever.

- Take cool bathes, fill a bath tub, submerge and lay down for 5' approximately. Repeat as needed until the fever is down.

- :If the fever does not exceed 102 degrees let it run its course. It helps the body to fight infection and eliminate toxins.

- When a child has fever do not give them aspirin, instead try to reduce the fever with cold baths. 

If you have suggestions or know of a proven home remedy add it here in the comment area.

Catnip Promotes sweating and brings down fever.

Echinacea Tincture or tea helps break a fever.

If you have suggestions or know of a proven herbal remedy add it here in the comment area.

The prime concern during a fever is to protect against dehydration.

Drink a lot of liquids throughout the day to replace lost fluids and eat a low-fat diet to ease digestion.

Fevers are best treated with gentle with gentle measures, such as washing with cold vinegar to cool the body or taking hot baths to induce a sweat.

Get plenty of rest while the temperature is elevated. Avoid rapid changes in atmospheric temperature. Consume large quantities of liquids to prevent dehydration and flush out toxins.

Drink plenty of distilled or quality bottled water and juices to replace fluid loss, but avoid solid food until the fever breaks. This will also help to bring down body temperature.

While feverish, avoid taking any supplements that contain iron or zinc. When an infection is present, the body attempts to "hide" iron in the tissues in an attempt to keep the infecting organism from using it for nourishment. Taking a supplement containing iron therefore causes undue strain on a body that is fighting an infection. Zinc is not properly absorbed while a fever is present.

Calf wraps for fever. Dip 2 dish towels in cold water, wring them out slightly and wrap them around the calves. Cover the wet compresses with a dry terry hand towel, and enclose both lower legs in a large plastic bag. Remove the wraps after 15 minutes. Wait 30 minutes, then repeat this procedure.

Take cool sponge baths. Do not use rubbing alcohol to cool off since it gives off noxious fumes. Cold treatments like cold-water leg rinses and cold vinegar washes, are also good remedies for lowering an excessively high body temperature. Bed rest is also recommended after cold treatments.

Cold-Water Leg Rinses: Rinsing the lower legs with cold water dissipates heat and helps to bring down a fever quickly. Rinse your legs, starting at the knees and moving down to the feet. Begin with the water temperature about 4°F lower than your body temperature. Gradually reduce the temperature over the next 15 minutes until it is about 60°F. Follow immediately with bed rest.

A sweat treatment can cool the body and lower a fever. It can also mobilize your immune system, thus helping to rid the body of fever-inducing microbes. Dissolve 1-2 pounds of table or sea salt in hot bath water and then soak in the hot tub for 20 to 30 minutes. You can drink a cup of hot elderberry juice or elderberry flower or linden-flower tea before getting into the bath in order to help the bath induce perspiration. Follow the bath with 24 hours of strict bed rest. A sweat bath is not a good idea if you have heart problems, check with your health care provider before starting treatment.

To induce sweating, which may shorten the length of the fever, wrap up in a warm blanket or robe for 20 minutes. Replace lost fluids as soon as you can.

It should be noted that lowering a fever is not always the best thing to do for an otherwise healthy individual. As long as a fever does not get too high, above 102°F (38.89°C) in an adult or 103°F (39.44°C) in a child, let it run its course. It helps to fight infection and eliminate toxins.

If body temperature rises above 102°F (38.89°C) in an adult or 103°F (39.44°C) in a child, take measures to reduce the fever, and consult with your health care provider. This can be a sign of a worsening infection.

If a baby of three months or under has a temperature of 103°F or higher, take the child to a health care provider immediately.

In a child of any age, fever accompanied by a stiff neck, swelling of the throat, or disorientation needs immediate attention from a health care provider as these symptoms may indicate meningitis.

See a health care professional immediately if you develop a fever associated with any of the following:

Frequent urination, a burning sensation while urinating or blood in the urine.

Pain concentrated in one area of the abdomen.

Shaking chills or alternating chills and sweats.

Severe headache and vomiting.

Profuse watery diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours.

Swollen glands or rashes

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