3 Medicines for Fever

Gelsemium- Fever with absolute thirstlessness; Patient is dull, dazed, drowsy and confused minded; there is mild delirium with fever; there may be loss of muscular coordination with fever; involuntary stool and urine; trembling of limbs with heaviness, bruised and cold feeling; pulse slow, full and soft; It corresponds especially to remittent type of fever; fever brought on by warm weather; the chill is partial.

Belladonna- High temperature with excessive heat and dryness of skin; fever due to inflammatory conditions; temperature rises suddenly with active delirium; fever with severe throbbing headache; congestion of blood head and face causing redness of face, redness of eyes and headache; pain all over the body with dryness of mouth; tongue is dry, swollen and bright red; no thirst with fever; perspiration only on covered parts; the patient becomes sensitive towards motion, noise and bright light.

Rhus toxicodendron- It is effective in catarrhal fevers; fever commences with weakness of the whole body with desire to lie down; soreness and bruised sensations in the limbs; aching of limbs, bones and back; restlessness is there with fever which becomes worst when lying still; other symptom which are present with fever are loss of appetite, increased thirst, dryness of mouth, repugnance of food, etc.

Some other medicines used in fever are Aconite, Ferrum Phosphoricum, baptisia, pulsatilla, sulphur, Nux Vomica, Bryonia, Mercurius, Arsenic, Kali mur, Natrum sulph, Eupatorium Perf, Natrum mur, China, etc.

What happens with a fever

when a fever starts and your body tries to elevate its temperature, you feel chilly and may shiver to generate heat. At this point, you probably wrap yourself in your thickest blanket and turn up the heating pad. But eventually, as your body reaches its new set-point, you likely feel hot. And when your temperature finally begins to return to normal, you may sweat profusely, which is your body's way of dissipating the excess heat.

A fever usually means your body is responding to a viral or bacterial infection. Sometimes heat exhaustion, extreme sunburn or certain inflammatory conditions such as temporal arteritis — inflammation of an artery in your head — may trigger fever as well. In rare instances, a malignant tumor or some forms of kidney cancer may cause a fever.

Fever can be a side effect of some medications such as antibiotics and drugs used to treat high blood pressure or seizures. Some infants and children develop fevers after receiving routine immunizations, such as the diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP) or pneumococcal vaccines.Sometimes it's not possible to identify the cause of a fever.

How to take a temperature for fever?

Measuring an axillary (under the armpit) temperature for fever:

Axillary temperatures are not as accurate as rectal or oral measurements. Studies show that glass thermometers must be left in place for approximately 10 minutes to accurately measure an axillary temperature. An axillary temperature will read approximately 1 degree lower than a simultaneously obtained oral temperature.

Measuring fever by eardrum temperature:

Eardrum temperature measurements are not accurate in small children and should not be used in children under 3 years of age. This is especially true in infants below 3 months of age when obtaining an accurate temperature is very important.

Measuring fever by oral temperature:

Older children and adults can have their temperature taken under the tongue with their mouth closed. A standard glass and mercury thermometer should be left in place for at least three minutes. Make sure to shake down the thermometer before using it. The tip of the thermometer should be placed as far back under the tongue as possible. Oral temperatures will be inaccurate if you have had hot or cold drinks within 20 minutes of temperature measurement.

Measuring fever by rectal temperature:

Infants should have rectal temperature measurements. A standard glass and mercury thermometer should be left in place for a minimum of 3 minutes. Make sure to shake down the thermometer before using it. Appropriate care should be taken in inserting, maintaining and withdrawing the rectal thermometer. To take a rectal temperature safely, place the child prone on a firm surface. After separating the buttocks, insert a lubricated thermometer approximately 1 inch into the rectum. After at least three minutes, remove the thermometer. A rectal temperature will read approximately 1 degree higher than a simultaneously obtained oral temperature.

Measuring fever by electronic thermometer:

Electronic thermometers that are designed to be used orally or rectally are an acceptable alternative to a glass thermometer and take a temperature more quickly. They are, however, more expensive than the glass alternative. Strips that measure temperature on the forehead are not accurate and should not be used.

How to clean an oral thermometer:

Wash the thermometer with cool, soapy water and rinse it with clean water. Then, let it air-dry or wipe it dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Be sure to wash the thermometer before and after each use.
You can use rubbing alcohol to clean an oral thermometer. If you do use alcohol, be sure to rinse off the thermometer before using it again to get rid of the alcohol taste.