Can I shower with a fever?

Is it safe to shower when you have a fever?

For most people, yes, if the water is lukewarm. None of the health sources we checked warn against washing during a fever. Their warnings are about cold water, ice, and alcohol rubs.

MedlinePlus lists a lukewarm bath or sponge bath as something that may help cool a person with a fever. It adds a timing tip: this works best after fever medicine has been given. Otherwise your temperature may bounce right back up.

The two things that matter are the water temperature and how steady you feel on your feet.

Should the water be cold, warm, or lukewarm?

Aim for lukewarm: comfortable on your skin, not chilly and not steaming. For reference, the AAP's pediatric fever guide uses 85 to 90 F (29.4 to 32.2 C) for lukewarm sponging.

A cold shower can feel like the fast fix, but MedlinePlus says not to use cold baths, ice, or alcohol rubs. They cool the skin but often make things worse by causing shivering, which raises your core body temperature. A cold shower works the same way on your skin, so it is a poor choice too.

Very hot water has its own problem. The NHS lists being too hot as a cause of fainting, and a hot, steamy shower on top of a fever is an easy way to get lightheaded.

• Lukewarm: fine, and may help you feel cooler
• Cold or ice water: skip it, shivering pushes your temperature back up
• Rubbing alcohol: never on skin to cool a fever
• Very hot water: raises the chance of feeling faint

What if you feel weak or dizzy in the shower?

When you are sick, you may eat and drink less than usual. The NHS names being too hot and not eating or drinking enough as causes of fainting. MedlinePlus adds standing in one place too long and a sudden drop in blood pressure, such as from being severely dehydrated. A shower can stack several of these at once.

If you feel faint, the NHS advises lying down with your legs raised, or sitting with your head lowered between your knees, then drinking some water. In a shower, that means turning off the water and sitting down right away, on the floor or a shower chair, before you fall.

• Drink a glass of water before you get in
• Keep it short and the bathroom door unlocked
• Use a shower chair or sit in a lukewarm bath if standing feels shaky
• Tell someone at home you are showering
• Get up slowly when you finish

What about after the shower?

Dry off and dress in one layer of light clothing. MedlinePlus suggests one lightweight layer and one lightweight blanket for sleep, and says not to bundle up someone who has chills.

Keep drinking. MedlinePlus suggests plenty of fluids, such as water, soup, ice pops, and gelatin.

If you plan to check your temperature, wait a few minutes. The NHS notes that a child's temperature may read higher for a short time right after a bath or being wrapped in a blanket, and suggests waiting a few minutes and checking again.

Can kids take a bath with a fever?

The sources we checked do not warn against an ordinary bath to get your child clean. What they advise against is using sponging, ice, or alcohol baths as a way to bring a fever down.

The AAP now says alcohol baths, ice packs, and sponging are no longer recommended to reduce fevers in children, and that they can have adverse effects. The NHS also says not to undress a child or sponge them down to cool them. The AAP's symptom checker still lists lukewarm sponging as an option only for a fever above 104 F that does not come down with medicine, given at least an hour to work, and says to stop if your child shivers or becomes cold.

Never use rubbing alcohol on a child. The AAP warns it can cause a coma. Instead, dress your child in a single layer, offer plenty of fluids, and give a blanket if they have the chills.