From Dr. Coplin: “The most concerning calls I get as a physician are from parents who have a child with a fever. Most of my patients understand that the fever is the body's response to an infection, and not the illness itself. Because of this we look for tools to help the fever do its job of eliminating the infection without chemically suppressing it (Tylenol and aspirin) or allowing it to get too high where it can cause bodily damage (over 104°F is where I make sure my patients are being actively monitored and treated by me or another physician). Managing a fever is the perfect application for hydrotherapy at home, and here are some basic guidelines for you to follow.

First, one of the best things to do is reduce food intake during a fever; teas, broths, and diluted juices can be ok, but heavier food is too hard to digest when the body is fighting off a fever and can lead to a longer period of fighting it off.

Next, the basic hydrotherapy techniques we are going to cover use a warming reaction to stimulate the body’s immune and circulatory response. As you will see, the higher the fever, the more skin we will want to cover to modulate and enhance the effect.

If you or a family member is sick, but have a temperature reading between 98.0-98.6°F, start by taking a warm bath or shower for 5-10 minutes to artificially raise the body temperature. Afterwards, follow the directions for the Warming Abdomen Wrap found below.

If the fever is between 98.6-99.5°F, use the “Warming Sock Treatment.”

For this treatment, wring out a pair of cotton socks in cold tap water, you want them damp but not dripping.

Put them on your feet (it is only uncomfortable for a second), then cover the damp cotton socks with a pair of thick dry wool socks. In 15-20 mins the socks will have completely warmed, and you can continue to wear them until they dry out (which they will). You can apply this treatment multiple times a day and before bed as an added sleeptime therapy. It is particularly effective for upper respiratory illnesses like stuffy noses, earaches and low grade sore throats.

If the fever is between 99.6-101°F, use the “Warming Abdominal Wrap.”

For this treatment, wring out a thin bath towel in cool to cold water so that it's damp but not dripping, and fold the long edge in half so you get two layers that can wrap around your abdomen. The easiest way to apply it is to lay your back on the towel and wrap the two edges around your front onto your abdomen. Ideally you want the wrap to touch the skin of the front and the back from the bottom of the chest to the hip bones. Wrap yourself up in a thick blanket or robe to keep the towels in contact with your skin. Wear this wrap for 15-20 minutes, or until the towel is warm.

If the fever is between 101-104°F, use the “Warming Upper Body Wrap.”

For this application we are using a linen sheet instead of a towel and going to cover much more of the upper body than before. Wet a linen or cotton sheet in cold water. (Bathtubs or kitchen sinks are good for this due to the size.) Wring out the sheet with another person or by tying one edge to a fixed point and twisting. Wrap the damp sheet around the body as many times as it will go. Tuck the sheet under the armpits and have it extend all the way down to your bum. Make sure that the sheet is touching the skin, and then wrap a wool or other thick blanket around the sheet to prevent the air from cooling the surface. Leave this on until the sheet is warm to the touch; this helps cool the core temp of the body and ensure that the fever stays in a therapeutic range. 

If the fever is 104°F or higher, it is important to have your doctor's input on managing the case. High fevers are not always dangerous, but they take a skilled eye to manage. While you are working with your health care team to manage the fever, apply the “Full Body Sheet Wrap”- this application is best applied by another person.

Prepare the sheet as you would with the “Warming Upper Body Wrap.” Wet a linen or cotton sheet in cold water. (Bathtubs or kitchen sinks are good for this due to the size.) Wring out the sheet with another person or by tying one edge to a fixed point and twisting. Wrap the damp sheet around the person with their arms inside the warp. Extend the sheet from the shoulders all the way down to the ankles. You may wrap the sheet once or twice around the body depending on its size. Then wrap a thick blanket, ideally wool, around the sheet making sure to seal the wet sheet from the air. With this application you can keep the person wrapped until the sheet is totally dry or quite warm. The action on the body will help to gently cool the core temperature.