Forget Lemsips, Night Nurse - Just Drink Your Water!

While fever itself is not a disease, it is the heralding sign for many illnesses and can have residual side effects such as dehydration or even febrile seizures.

When you or someone in your care has a fever, it's important to not let the fever get too high. Anyone experiencing a fever of 103 or better should be seen by qualified medical personnel as soon as possible to rule out any other cause for the fever such as an unseen infection.

Despite the general discomfort a fever brings, for the most part the fever is actually a good thing. A normal body temperature is 98.6, some people have normally a little lower or little higher as a baseline body temperature but it will be right around there. When you have a fever, it's your body's way of "burning out" unfriendly bacteria that thrive in cooler environments.

You shouldn't wrap up a feverish person to make them sweat it out, this can actually induce a heat stroke in some individuals. Also, you should you not make someone suffering from a fever cold through the use of ice when the fever is under 103-degrees, if the fever is over that please seek professional medical advice.

However, one thing you should do is keep the water intake regular. When the body runs a fever, it uses up it's fluid resources quickly and dehydration can occur. Although the ill person won't be doing much more than lying in bed and feeling terrible, it's very important to keep them hydrated. If they are having difficulty keeping water down, try letting them chew on ice.

An ill adult can easily tolerate 10 eight-ounce glasses of water and the average child (depending on their age and size) can usually consume between 6-10 glasses of water a day. Additionally, keeping the person adequately hydrated will allow the body's very efficient cleansing system to help remove the toxins from the body and proper hydration is required to perform this function.

If you or someone near and dear is suffering from a fever, keep an eye on their temperature and if it goes above 103 be sure to have them seen by a qualified professional. In the meantime, bring them something to read, fluff their pillows and keep their water glass filled and they'll soon be back to 100%.