People are most likely to catch colds when the weather changes greatly. The summer flu is even more dangerous. One second, you might be jumping around and going shopping for ice cream. The next second, you fainted! Fever is one of the common symptoms of a cold. If the body maintains a high temperature, the condition may be aggravated. How to reduce fever quickly if you have a cold?

Should you use a hot towel or a cold towel when you have a fever?

1. Methods to reduce fever

Alcohol scrub

Function: When scrubbing the patient's skin with alcohol, it can not only stimulate the dilation of blood vessels in the skin of patients with high fever, but also increase the The heat dissipation ability of the skin; due to its volatility, it can absorb and take away a large amount of heat, which can lower body temperature and relieve symptoms. Method: Wet gauze or soft towel with alcohol, twist until semi-dry, and gently wipe the patient's neck, chest, armpits, limbs, hands and feet. The concentration of alcohol used in bathing should not be too high, otherwise using high-concentration alcohol on a large area will irritate the skin and absorb a large amount of water from the epidermis.

Wet compress

Effect: Wet compress helps to lower body temperature. Hot, moist compresses can reduce fever. However, when the patient feels uncomfortable due to heat, cold compresses and wet compresses should be used instead. Method: Apply a wet towel on the forehead, wrists, and calves, and cover other parts with clothes. When the cold compress reaches body temperature, it should be replaced repeatedly until the fever subsides. You can also wrap ice cubes in a cloth bag and place them on your forehead.

Second, if the following conditions occur, seek medical treatment in time.

High fever above 1.40.5℃. Fever in infants under 4 months old. Fever and stiff neck. The fever has lasted for several days. In children under 6 years old, if the oral temperature exceeds 38.8°C, it may cause convulsions (convulsions). Adults with chronic medical conditions, such as those with heart disease or respiratory problems, may not be able to sustain a high fever.

3. Should I use a cold towel or a hot towel when applying wet compresses for fever?

1. When the body temperature is below 39 degrees, during the rising period: use a hot towel. The body needs heat. If you use a cold towel to fight heat, it will only cause the central nervous system to issue more "severe" commands, and the patient's body temperature will definitely rise higher. Therefore, when the patient is in the rising phase of fever, warm towels should be used.

2. If the body temperature is above 39 degrees and the temperature is stable: use a cold towel. If your fever exceeds 39 degrees, use a cold towel. The goal is to draw heat from your head, reducing pain and damage to the brain. If you have a high fever, you should use ice cubes (but it is generally not recommended to use ice packs. Temperatures below body temperature will cause skin capillaries to constrict, which is not conducive to skin heat dissipation). Especially the head, you can't keep a high fever, it will burn your head.

In addition, when the body temperature is in a stable period, if the fever has been maintained at 39°C for a short period of time, it means that the release of the central mediator of the fever has been completed or temporarily ended. At this time, you can apply a cold towel or ice pack to the head, or use a cold towel to wipe large blood vessel distribution areas such as armpits, neck, and leg sockets. This can help the patient cool down his fever and prevent his body temperature from rising again.

3. When the body temperature drops or later: use a cold towel. During the period when the body temperature is dropping, which is when the body is slowly dissipating heat, you can use a cold towel. This period is characterized by the dominance of the heat dissipation process, the role of the heat source in the body gradually disappears or weakens, and heat production begins to decrease. The blood vessels in your child's skin begin to expand, and they will sweat a lot at this time. When sweating occurs, it is in most cases a sign that the fever is subsiding. At this time, using a cold towel can help dissipate heat and make the heat subside faster.