Can covering up with a quilt help reduce fever caused by a cold?

Feb 26, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Ren Yi
Introduction
Fever refers to an elevated body temperature, and fever reduction refers to lowering the body temperature. Generally, when a patient's body temperature is in the rising phase, covering with a quilt may help reduce the fever. However, if the temperature is very high, using a quilt to reduce fever may not be recommended. If the fever is severe or persists for a prolonged period, prompt medical attention should be sought to avoid delaying treatment. During the illness, it is recommended to maintain adequate fluid intake to prevent dehydration.

Fever refers to an elevated body temperature, while fever reduction refers to lowering the temperature. Generally speaking, when a patient's body temperature is in the rising phase, covering with a blanket may help reduce the fever. However, if the temperature is already very high, it may not be advisable to use heavy blankets to reduce the fever. If the fever is severe or persists for a prolonged period, prompt medical attention should be sought to avoid delays in treatment. Detailed explanations are as follows:

When a patient's body temperature is in the rising phase, also known as the chills phase, the patient will feel cold. At this time, adding appropriate clothing or covering with a thick blanket can help keep the patient warm and promote sweating, which aids in temperature regulation. However, once the temperature starts to decline and excessive sweating occurs, clothing should be reduced or thinner blankets used to avoid excessive sweating that could further elevate body temperature.

When the body temperature is already significantly elevated, especially above 38.5°C, covering with a blanket to induce sweating might further increase the temperature and could even trigger convulsions. When a person has a fever, the body naturally attempts to lower the temperature through heat dissipation mechanisms such as vasodilation of the skin and sweating. Covering with a blanket at this stage may hinder the body's ability to release heat effectively.

During illness, it is recommended to maintain adequate hydration to prevent dehydration, which helps regulate body temperature and supports recovery. During treatment, it is important to develop healthy lifestyle habits, including eating a balanced diet and avoiding spicy or irritating foods such as pepper, chili, and garlic, which may hinder recovery.

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