Question
When you have a fever, what temperature of water should you use to wipe your body? Should you use hot water to help sweat, or warm water to lower the skin’s surface temperature?
Answer
During a fever, it is generally recommended to use warm water or alcohol for wiping the body to lower the skin’s surface temperature. If the body temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, consider using this method. If the temperature is below 38.5 degrees Celsius, it is necessary to provide symptomatic anti-inflammatory medication to the patient promptly, and change into damp clothes to prevent catching a cold. These are the suggestions for using hot or warm water to wipe the body during a fever. Wishing you a speedy recovery. translationKey,department,title,ask,answer pediatric-68065,Internal Medicine,What should I do when I have a fever? Should I use hot or warm water to wipe my body?,I’ve heard that when you’re feverish, you should cover yourself with blankets to sweat, but then I was told to reduce clothing to dissipate heat. So, what temperature of water should I use when wiping a patient’s body? Should I use hot water to induce sweating, or warm water to lower the skin’s surface temperature?,The usual approach for fever is to use warm water or alcohol for wiping the body to reduce the skin’s surface temperature. If the temperature is above 38.5 degrees Celsius, this method can be adopted. If the temperature is below 38.5 degrees Celsius, it is still necessary to provide symptomatic anti-inflammatory medication to the patient promptly, and change into new damp clothes while paying attention to prevent colds. These are the suggestions for using hot or warm water to wipe the body during a fever. Wishing you a speedy recovery.