How to Perform Physical Cooling for a Fever During Late Pregnancy?
Fever is clinically referred to as pyrexia. During late pregnancy, if the body temperature does not exceed 38.5°C, physical cooling methods such as wiping the skin with lukewarm water, cold compresses with ice, drinking more lukewarm water, and applying fever-reducing patches can be used. Details are as follows:
1. Wiping the Skin with Lukewarm Water: If the body temperature during late pregnancy is below 38.5°C, it is not recommended to take medication. Instead, physical cooling methods can be used, such as wiping the skin with warm, damp towels. The evaporation of water vapor helps remove heat from the skin surface and facilitates heat dissipation, contributing to a decrease in body temperature.
2. Cold Compresses with Ice: Dry towels can be used to wrap ice and place it under the arms, on the forehead, neck, both groin areas, and other parts where large arteries are abundant to help reduce body temperature.
3. Drinking More Lukewarm Water: Fever can lead to dehydration. Drinking more lukewarm water replenishes sufficient moisture, enabling the kidneys to produce more urine. Increased urination also helps reduce body temperature.
4. Applying Fever-Reducing Patches: Applying fever-reducing patches to the forehead also helps reduce body temperature. These patches should generally be replaced every 4 to 8 hours.
During late pregnancy, if the body temperature reaches 38.5°C, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly and take medication for fever reduction under the guidance of a physician. Do not take medication without authorization.