How to Bring Down a Fever in the Flu

The flu virus is highly contagious and, as with most viruses, cannot be cured with medication. The flu is sensitive to changes in body temperatures above 98.6. Fever is the body's way of fighting the disease. The fever associated with the flu usually lasts 24 to 48 hours. Riding out the fever can actually reduce the overall duration of the flu. If the fever becomes too uncomfortable, you can break the fever with over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin or Tylenol. If you are unable to take these medications, you also can break the fever by cooling the body.

Things You'll Need

• Over-the-counter medication (aspirin, ibuprofen or Tylenol)
• Two washcloths
• Six ice packs
• Six hand or dish towels

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Instructions

• 1

  Take over-the-counter medication, such as aspirin, ibuprofen or Tylenol. If you don't have any of these medications on hand, you can try cooling off your body.

• 2

  Place the ice packs in the freezer until they are partly frozen. The packs should be cold but not completely frozen.

• 3

  Take three of the ice packs out of the freezer and wrap a towel around each pack. You should be able to feel the cold through the towels.

• 4

  Wet one of the washcloths with cool water. Wring it out.

• 5

  Lie in bed and place one ice pack behind your neck and the other two under each arm pit. Place the packs next to your skin. Place the cool washcloth over your eyes.

• 6

  Keep the packs and washcloth in place until they warm to body temperature. Replace them with a fresh washcloth and ice packs. Continue alternating packs and washcloths until your temperature goes down.