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Methods of reducing fever

Methods of reducing fever

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:

Increased Body Temperature

Increased Body Temperature

A body temperature above 38°C (100.4 °F) is known as fever or pyrexia, and a person with fever is termed 'febrile.' Typically, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, regulates body temperature through a thermoregulatory setpoint. It receives signals from cold and warm thermal receptors throughout the body and adjusts the body's temperature accordingly. Fever occurs when this hypothalamic setpoint is altered, usually in response to an infection or illness.

Decreased Body Temperature

Decreased Body Temperature

A decreased body temperature can occur in patients with hypothermia and frostbite. Heat loss with extended cold exposure overpowers the body's ability to create heat, resulting in hypothermia. Core temperature readings help classify hypothermia. Mild hypothermia is temperatures between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 35°C (95 °F) and is caused by impaired thermoregulation. Moderate hypothermia is temperatures between 28 C (82.4 °F) and 32 °C (89.6 °F) caused by sustained extreme cold exposure, and severe...

Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature

Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature

Heat is a widely used method to control microbial growth by targeting and denaturing cellular proteins, thereby killing or inactivating microbes. This method's effectiveness is quantified using parameters such as the thermal death point (TDP), thermal death time (TDT), and decimal reduction time (D value). TDP represents the lowest temperature at which all microorganisms in a liquid suspension are eliminated within 10 minutes, whereas TDT is the time necessary to achieve sterilization at a...

Factors Affecting Body Temperature

Factors Affecting Body Temperature

As a nurse, it is vital to understand the factors affecting body temperature to monitor variations and effectively evaluate deviations from regular.
Factors may include:

Assessing Body Temperature - Rectal

Assessing Body Temperature - Rectal

Rectal temperature measurement is considered the most precise method for assessing core body temperature and typically registers higher than oral temperature. For adults, the rectal thermometer should be inserted 1 to 1.5 inches into the rectum to obtain the most accurate reading.
Follow these steps for rectal temperature assessment:
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene and don clean gloves to prevent cross-infection.
Step 2: Position the patient in a side-lying position to better visualize the rectal...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Published on: November 21, 2017

Fever control using external cooling in septic shock: a randomized controlled trial.

Frédérique Schortgen¹, Karine Clabault, Sandrine Katsahian

¹Service de Réanimation Médicale, CHU Henri Mondor, 94000 Créteil, France. frederique.schortgen@hmn.aphp.fr

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

|February 28, 2012

Summary

External cooling effectively reduced vasopressor needs and early mortality in patients with septic shock. This fever control method proved safe and beneficial for improving outcomes in critically ill patients.

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Short-Duration Hypothermia Induction in Rats using Models for Studies examining Clinical Relevance and Mechanisms

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Published on: March 3, 2021

Area of Science:

Critical Care Medicine
Infectious Diseases
Physiology

Background:

Fever control in septic shock may improve vascular tone and reduce oxygen demand.
However, fever plays a role in combating infection.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if external cooling to control fever reduces vasopressor requirements in patients with septic shock.

Main Methods:

A multicenter randomized controlled trial involved febrile septic shock patients requiring vasopressors.
Patients were assigned to external cooling to achieve normothermia or no cooling for 48 hours.
The primary endpoint was a 50% decrease in vasopressor dose at 48 hours.

Main Results:

External cooling significantly lowered body temperature and vasopressor dose requirements starting from 12 hours.
Shock reversal was more frequent in the cooling group (86% vs. 73%).
Day-14 mortality was significantly reduced with external cooling (19% vs. 34%).

Conclusions:

Fever control with external cooling is safe in septic shock.
External cooling decreases vasopressor needs and early mortality in septic shock patients.