is it bad to take a shower when you have a fever?

Question

you see all of a sudden i get sick you know the usual headache, fever, stuffy nose, cough, body ache etc. well some ppl say i prob got sick cuz my body is to tired since im 16 and have 2 jobs well 3 with babysitting. and i cant go a day without taking a shower and i took one last night and now i cant sleep cuz of my headache i have a high fever i took medicine which hasnt done much etc. is it true that by taking a shower esp if cold(its so hot here in the south) its bad. thats what my friend said is getting my condition to become worse.what do you think?

Answer 1

Yes.

Fever (also known as pyrexia, or a febrile response from the Latin word febris meaning fever, and archaically known as ague) is a frequent medical symptom that describes an increase in internal body temperature to levels that are above normal (37°C, 98.6°F). Fever is most accurately characterized as a temporary elevation in the body’s thermoregulatory set-point, which is usually by about 1-2°C. Fever differs from hyperthermia, which is an increase in body temperature over the body’s thermoregulatory set-point (due to excessive heat production or insufficient thermoregulation, or both).

The elevation in thermoregulatory set-point means that the previous "normal body temperature" is considered hypothermic, and effector mechanisms kick in. The person who is developing the fever has a cold sensation, and an increase in heart rate, muscle tone and shivering attempt to counteract the perceived hypothermia, thereby reaching the new thermoregulatory set-point.

When a patient has or is suspected of having a fever, that person's body temperature is measured using a thermometer. At a first glance, fever is present if:

* rectal temperature (in the anus) is at, or higher than 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit)
* oral temperature (in the mouth) is at, or higher than 37.5 degrees Celsius (99.5 degrees Fahrenheit)
* axillar temperature (in the armpit) is at, or higher than 37.2 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit)

However, there are many variations in normal body temperature, and this needs to be considered when measuring fever. Body temperature normally fluctuates over the day, with the lowest levels at 4 A.M. and the highest at 6 P.M.. Therefore, an oral temperature of 37.5°C would strictly be a fever in the morning, but not in the afternoon. Normal body temperature may differ as much as 0.4°C (0.7°F) between individuals. In women, temperature differs at various points in the menstrual cycle, and this can be used for family planning (although it is only one of the variables of temperature). Temperature is increased after meals, and psychological factors (like the first day in the hospital) also influence body temperature.

There are different locations where you can measure temperature, and these differ in temperature variability. Tympanic membrane thermometers measure radiant heat energy from the tympanic membrane (=infrared). These may be very convenient, but may also show more variability.

Children develop higher temperatures with activities like playing, but this is not fever because their set-point is normal. Elderly patients may have decreased ability to generate body in fever, so even a low-grade fever can have serious underlying causes in geriatrics.

In conclusion, temperature is ideally always measured the same moment of the day, in the same way, after the same amount of activity.

Temperature is regulated in the hypothalamus. Substances that induce fever are called pyrogens. These are both external or exogenous, such as the bacterial substance LPS, and internal or endogenous. The endogenous pyrogens (such as interleukin 1) are a part of the innate immune system, produced by phagocytic cells, and cause the increase in the thermoregulatory set-point in the hypothalamus. The endogenous pyrogens may also come directly from tissue necrosis.
Hyperthermia: Characterized on the left. Normal body temperature (thermoregulatory set-point) is shown in green, while the hyperthermic temperature is shown in red. As can be seen, hyperthermia can be conceptualized as an increase above the thermoregulatory set-point.Hypothermia: Characterized in the center: Normal body temperature (thermoregulatory set-point) is shown in green, while the hypothermic temperature is shown in blue. As can be seen, hypothermia can be conceptualized as a decrease below the thermoregulatory set-point.Fever: Characterized on the right: Normal body temperature (thermoregulatory set-point) is shown in green. It reads “New Normal” because the thermoregulatory set-point has risen. This has caused what was the normal body temperature (in blue) to be considered hypothermic.
Hyperthermia: Characterized on the left. Normal body temperature (thermoregulatory set-point) is shown in green, while the hyperthermic temperature is shown in red. As can be seen, hyperthermia can be conceptualized as an increase above the thermoregulatory set-point.
Hypothermia: Characterized in the center: Normal body temperature (thermoregulatory set-point) is shown in green, while the hypothermic temperature is shown in blue. As can be seen, hypothermia can be conceptualized as a decrease below the thermoregulatory set-point.
Fever: Characterized on the right: Normal body temperature (thermoregulatory set-point) is shown in green. It reads “New Normal” because the thermoregulatory set-point has risen. This has caused what was the normal body temperature (in blue) to be considered hypothermic.

One model for the mechanism of fever is the detection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is a cell wall component of gram-negative bacteria. An immunological protein called Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein (LBP) binds to LPS. The LBP-LPS complex then binds to the CD14 receptor of a nearby macrophage. This binding results in the synthesis and release of various cytokine factors, such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha. These cytokine factors are released into general circulation where they migrate to the circumventricular organs of the brain, where the blood-brain barrier is reduced. The cytokine factors bind with endothelial receptors on vessel walls, or interact with local microglial cells. When these cytokine factors bind, they activate the arachidonic acid pathway. This pathway (as it relates to fever), is mediated by the enzymes phospholipase A2 (PLA2), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E2 synthase (membrane-associated protein involved in eicosanoid and glutathione metabolism, also known as mPEGS-1). These enzymes ultimately mediate the synthesis and release of PGE2.

PGE2 is the ultimate mediator of the febrile response. The set-point temperature of the body will remain elevated until PGE2 is no longer present. PGE2 acts near the ventromedial preoptic area (VMPO) of the anterior hypothalamus and the parvocellular portion of the periventricular nucleus (PVH), where the thermal properties of fever emerge. It is presumed that the elevation in thermoregulatory set-point is mediated by the VMPO, whereas the neuroendocrine effects of fever are mediated by the PVH, pituitary gland, and various endocrine organs.

The brain ultimately orchestrates heat effector mechanisms. These may be

* increased heat production by increased muscle tone, shivering and hormones like epinephrine and thyroid hormones, or,
* prevention of heat loss, such as vasoconstriction or crawling under a blanket.

The autonomic nervous system may also activate brown adipose tissue to produce heat (=non-exercise associated thermogenesis, also known as non-shivering thermogenesis), but this seems mostly important for babies. Increased heart rate and vasoconstriction contribute to increased blood pressure in fever.

Answer 2

If the shower was a cool shower it will help bring your fever down, better yet, a cool bath. You should see a doctor though, stress can bring on headaches but has nothing to do with fevers. A fever is a sign of an infection or virus. Stress will lower your immune system too, not only will you get sick easier but it will take longer for you to get well too. By the way, I also live in the south so I know about the heat. I've taken cool showers since I was little and have never had a problem. Get well soon. :)

Answer 3

The guy who did the LONG post is useless. He lifted probably copyrighted material from the net and after 2000 words gave you the wrong answer.

To answer your question: no, taking a shower (cold or hot) will not make you sicker. I am a nurse in one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the U.S. When I have a patient with fever I try to reduce it and make the patient comfortable using tylenol, tepid baths, and fans. This is standard practice around the world.

P.S. You describe the symptoms of the flu. The flu is usually self-limiting, but you can develop a secondary bacterial infection in some cases. Call your doctor and ask him at what temperature does he want you to see him or go to ER.

Answer 4

i take a shower everytime i get sick. just dont walk around barefoot and and with a wet head, after your done go bundle up with something warm with no caffine or sugar ,those arent good when your sick.chicken soup really does help and it will warm u up. ive heard so many things about bathing when sick ,one person says this ,the other that .what u have to watch for is a high fever, if it is go to the hospital, dont mess with that kind of stuff. all i can tell u is that i always feel better after taking a nice warm shower. so u choose what sounds best to u, ok.

Answer 5

In hot, humid weather, it is necessary to take a shower/bath, moreso if you are working 2-3 jobs daily. I shower twice daily coz its hot and sticky weather where I live - Morning before I go to work and evening, after I'm back from work.

If you have a fever, you can use lukewarm water to bathe and not linger in the water for long. And yes, if "over the counter" medicines dont work, pls see a doctor and get the flu / fever treated before it develops into something nastier !!

Answer 6

shower can help your fever become lower,but pay attention not to become cold...I think because of working hard and more than usual you body has became weak and you get headache or etc...

Answer 7

yes coz u will have very more pain in your body specially your head got an ache but the best thing that you have to do is to take medicine but LEGAL MEDICINE OK

Answer 8

Ok unless one is in an unheated home in very cold winter and the chill will make one sicker.

Answer 9

No,I don't think it's the shower,sounds like the flu is just getting worse.

get well soon,see ya.

Answer 10

it is too bad to take cold shower.because cold can large the symtoms of fever.

Answer 11

good answer by nacco... be carefull, and get well soon
you aso have to cool the body down if you have high fever