We all succumbed to the gastro/flu bug doing the rounds in Bkk/Ptya. The package includes a fever, along with vomiting for 2 days. By now everyone knows that paracetamol brings down the temperature, and that this is important to prevent seizures.

But can anyone tell me how to bring down fever fast when cool sponge baths and high AC do not work? Taking anything by mouth was out, as it reappeared within minutes.

There used to be an English product called Aspro Clear. Basically soluble aspirin which disappeared into water. Not terribly pleasant, but we may have managed with that, if it was available, which apparently it is not.

Then I remembered when number one son was young, and we lived in Ireland, how if he had a fever which did not respond, my magical pharmacist gave me these tiny torpedo like suppositories which did the job. We couldn't find those here either.

I'm asking the ladies forum since it seems to me that the ladies in most cultures are often responsible for the families healthcare needs. I want to have a small stock of fever reduction meds on hand in case something like the dreaded gastro bug ever appears again.

Anyone have the answer?

Just having a fever doesn't mean you must get the temperature down.

A fever is one of the ways your body fights the infection. Anything under 101F you really shouldn't bother about; and seizures aren't really likely until 105F. It is rare for adults to run a fever that high even when very sick. Children will sometimes spike a temperature that high, especially at the start of an illness.

If you must, you add some rubbing alcohol to the water you use for the cool sponge bath. The rapid evaporation of the alcohol will cool the skin a LOT. Be careful doing this, as you can chill a person too much.

You can also use an ice bath, assuming you have enough ice, a bathtub and can stand the screams. Just put cold water into the tub, and then add ice until you have a nice layer of ice floating all over the surface. You can also chill a person too much this way.

Neither method should be used for a fever that is under 104F or not otherwise life-endangering. Stick with the cool water-only sponge baths.

there is a Thai product of water soluble aspirin, it is in a little paper packet and sold in alot of the older more traditional little mom and pop stores. Sorry, no idea of the name

What you are after is paracetemol or acetaminophen suppositories & they are available in Thailand. Brand name Panadol. Pharamacies catering to foreigners might also have tylenol suppositories.

need to be kept in the fridge to avoid melting.

Note that the dose is usually only 125mg (meant for small children) so if for adult you'd need to use 4 of them.

There are also a number of brands of paracetemol in solubkle form as ltitle sachets.

Other recourse is to go to any nearby hospital or clinic where they will give an injectable antipyretic and probably also an antiemetic to stop the vomiting, and a drip if needed for fluid replacement. One thing you need to be concerned about with the combo of vomiting and fever is dehydration, especially in children & elderly. Happens a lot quicker in this climate than back home. In which case going to hospital/clinic is essential, probably won't need to stay long, just to get re-hydrated and bring fever & vomiting down. As you might imagine this sort of thing is quite common here so even the very basic district hospitals can manage it OK.

An easy way to tell if dehydrated is by the color of the urine. Well hydrated it will be clear or very light yellow, a little dry and it is dark yellow, dehydrated and it is tea-colored or brownish.

What you are after is paracetemol or acetaminophen suppositories & they are available in Thailand. Brand name Panadol. Pharamacies catering to foreigners might also have tylenol suppositories.

need to be kept in the fridge to avoid melting.

Note that the dose is usually only 125mg (meant for small children) so if for adult you'd need to use 4 of them.

There are also a number of brands of paracetemol in solubkle form as ltitle sachets.

Other recourse is to go to any nearby hospital or clinic where they will give an injectable antipyretic and probably also an antiemetic to stop the vomiting, and a drip if needed for fluid replacement. One thing you need to be concerned about with the combo of vomiting and fever is dehydration, especially in children & elderly. Happens a lot quicker in this climate than back home. In which case going to hospital/clinic is essential, probably won't need to stay long, just to get re-hydrated and bring fever & vomiting down. As you might imagine this sort of thing is quite common here so even the very basic district hospitals can manage it OK.

An easy way to tell if dehydrated is by the color of the urine. Well hydrated it will be clear or very light yellow, a little dry and it is dark yellow, dehydrated and it is tea-colored or brownish.

Many thanks indeed for all this valuable information - much appreciated.

If it's an extremely high temperature on a child; you can put them in a bathtub and fill it with cool water while their in it, that way it won't shock the system, but it will cool the body, doing that and wiping them down with a wet cloth for a few minutes should knock it down some... but that is for extreme measures.

The advice that was offered here is good for normal fever. As cathyy also said, a low fever is the body's normal reaction to fighting infection, not all fevers are bad or dangerous.