Rajesh Nayak Rajesh Nayak Asked 5 months ago

Does rubbing alcohol reduce fever?

My wife's elder sister always tells us to use rubbing alcohol when our kids have a high temperature. We usually just use paracetamol. Does rubbing alcohol really help to reduce fever effectively?

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7 answers

Sameer Vyas Sameer Vyas Joined Feb 2026 5 months ago
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Do not trust these WhatsApp forwards or internet myths about rubbing alcohol. It is a highly dangerous practice because the skin absorbs the alcohol, and breathing in the fumes is toxic. Always consult a real doctor to get safe, clinically-approved fever medicine.

Anjali Gokhale Anjali Gokhale Joined Jun 2026 5 months ago

Haan na, people tell you anything online these days. Rubbing alcohol is actually very risky to use during fever, it can cause sudden chills. Better to use simple tap water for sponging, ho na? Please ask a proper doctor if the fever is too high.

Satish Gupta Satish Gupta Joined Feb 2026 5 months ago

Why go for risky things when we have simple, time-tested methods? Just do a normal sponge bath with lukewarm water and let the person rest in a well-ventilated room. If the fever stays high, a paracetamol tablet from the local chemist is much safer than rubbing alcohol.

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Consult a internal medicine specialist

Kapil Dev Sharma Kapil Dev Sharma Joined Feb 2026 5 months ago

Haan, don't try this at all. Rubbing alcohol is not meant for reducing fever, skin absorb kar leti hai and it can cause alcohol poisoning in kids especially. Normal thande paani ki patti rakho sir pe, that is much safer na. Aur fever badhe toh seedha doctor ke paas jao.

Rajiv Mehra Rajiv Mehra Joined Apr 2026 5 months ago

We strictly follow our family physician's advice at Fortis for any illness. When I asked about this once, the doctor clearly said rubbing alcohol is dangerous and should never be used for lowering body temperature. Stick to the prescribed paracetamol and consult your doctor.

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Shalini Nair Shalini Nair Joined Feb 2026 5 months ago

With my thyroid condition, my body temperature is already all over the place, so I never experiment with things like rubbing alcohol. It is safe to avoid such old remedies. Get a proper medical consult and maybe do your routine blood tests if the fever is persistent.

Rohan Kamath Rohan Kamath Joined Jan 2026 5 months ago

Actually, that rubbing alcohol thing is a total myth and super dangerous, yaar. It evaporates fast so you feel cool temporarily, but it can actually spike your internal temperature and cause shivering. Better to take proper rest and consult a doc if you are feeling really sick.

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