Clipping Board » Medical Myths ─ The truth about healthcare is often different from what you intuitively think.
[Reporter Su Xiangyun / Taipei Report] | Taiwan New Life News – September 30, 2012
Some elderly people believe that once a fever occurs, it must be quickly reduced, and fever-reducing medication should be taken until the fever is completely gone to be considered cured. However, this is a misconception. Dr. Chen Yifu, a family medicine attending physician at Kangning Hospital, stated that when using fever-reducing medication, it is unnecessary to lower the body temperature until there is no fever at all—keeping it below 38 degrees Celsius is sufficient. A fever is a warning sign of illness, and forcibly suppressing it with medication may mask the worsening of symptoms, potentially delaying medical treatment.
Dr. Chen Yifu pointed out that children are more prone to fevers caused by viral infections, while fevers in adults are mainly due to bacterial infections such as respiratory, gastrointestinal, or urinary tract infections. If a fever is caused by a bacterial infection, the symptoms are often more severe. Besides infections, conditions like tumors, autoimmune diseases, and hormonal imbalances, though less common, can also cause fever.
When the fever is between 37.5 and 38 degrees Celsius, resting and drinking plenty of water while monitoring symptoms is recommended. However, if the fever exceeds 38 degrees Celsius, lasts for more than two or three days, or fluctuates between fever and no fever—especially if accompanied by fatigue, lethargy, or other respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms—medical attention should be sought.
For children with a fever, a lukewarm sponge bath can help, but using alcohol to reduce fever is not advised. Additionally, some elderly individuals may not exhibit fever symptoms even when suffering from an infection. Family members should pay close attention to their condition and seek medical help promptly if abnormalities are detected.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E7……% 92- % E9% 8C% AF- 151500420. html
Must Fever be Quickly Reduced? Wrong
Some elderly people believe that once a fever occurs, it must be quickly reduced, and fever-reducing medication should be taken until the fever is completely gone to be considered cured. However, this is a misconception. Dr. Chen Yifu, a family medicine attending physician at Kangning Hospital, stated that when using fever-reducing medication, it is unnecessary to lower the body temperature until there is no fever at all—keeping it below 38 degrees Celsius is sufficient. A fever is a warning sign of illness, and forcibly suppressing it with medication may mask the worsening of symptoms, potentially delaying medical treatment.
Dr. Chen Yifu pointed out that children are more prone to fevers caused by viral infections, while fevers in adults are mainly due to bacterial infections such as respiratory, gastrointestinal, or urinary tract infections. If a fever is caused by a bacterial infection, the symptoms are often more severe. Besides infections, conditions like tumors, autoimmune diseases, and hormonal imbalances, though less common, can also cause fever.
When the fever is between 37.5 and 38 degrees Celsius, resting and drinking plenty of water while monitoring symptoms is recommended. However, if the fever exceeds 38 degrees Celsius, lasts for more than two or three days, or fluctuates between fever and no fever—especially if accompanied by fatigue, lethargy, or other respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms—medical attention should be sought.
For children with a fever, a lukewarm sponge bath can help, but using alcohol to reduce fever is not advised. Additionally, some elderly individuals may not exhibit fever symptoms even when suffering from an infection. Family members should pay close attention to their condition and seek medical help promptly if abnormalities are detected.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E7……% 92- % E9% 8C% AF- 151500420. html