What should I do if the fever remains at 38.8°C and does not subside?
Under normal circumstances, if a fever remains at 38.8°C without subsiding, measures such as drinking more water, physical cooling, and medication can be taken to promote fever reduction. Specific details are as follows:
1. Drink plenty of fluids: Increasing fluid intake helps lower body temperature and promotes sweating and the elimination of metabolic waste. It is recommended to drink warm water in small amounts frequently.
2. Physical cooling: Patients may immerse certain body parts in ice water to rapidly reduce body temperature. However, care should be taken not to prolong immersion time to avoid hypothermia or cold injury. Alternatively, wet towels or ice packs can be applied to areas such as the forehead, neck, and armpits to quickly lower body temperature.
3. Medication: Oral antipyretic drugs such as acetaminophen tablets or ibuprofen tablets can be used to reduce fever. However, attention must be paid to proper dosage and administration method, following either a doctor's advice or the instructions on the drug label.
In addition, adequate rest, appropriate adjustment of clothing, and nutritional support are also important. It is recommended that patients seek medical attention promptly when experiencing discomfort and receive standardized treatment under a doctor’s guidance, which will aid in recovery.