Does rubbing alcohol bring down a fever?

Question

My grandmother always used to rub alcohol on our skin when we had a high fever. My younger sister has a fever now, and I was wondering if this old remedy actually works to bring down the temperature.

Kavita Sharma · Accepted Answer

Honestly, don't use rubbing alcohol on the skin for fever because it gets absorbed and can be dangerous, especially for kids. Stick to simple cold water sponge strips on the forehead and neck, that is much safer. But if the temperature is rising very high, please skip the home remedies and visit a doctor immediately.

Rohan Malhotra · Answer

Bro, never do this. My hostel roommate tried rubbing alcohol during high fever once and got super dizzy because of the fumes. Plain old tap water sponging is way better and totally safe. Just take a basic paracetamol if your doc told you to, don't experiment with stuff like alcohol.

Ananya Sen · Answer

Using rubbing alcohol to bring down a fever is actually an outdated practice and quite unsafe. It can cool the skin too rapidly, causing shivering, and the vapors are toxic to inhale. For any high fever, it is always best to consult a general physician and follow their prescribed treatment instead of relying on internet hacks.

Vikram Saluja · Answer

Please don't try these random hacks at home. When my son had a stubborn fever, the pediatrician at Max Hospital strictly warned us against using rubbing alcohol because of toxicity. Just book a quick consultation with your family doctor and get proper medicine prescribed.

Balakrishnan Nair · Answer

My grandmother used to suggest lukewarm water sponging for high temperature, never rubbing alcohol. It can cause sudden chills and is not good for the body at all. We must trust what the medical professionals say. Better to consult a local doctor if the fever does not subside in a day.

Does rubbing alcohol bring down a fever?

5 answers

Consult a internal medicine specialist

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