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Fever in adults for colds — the evidence
Fever is the body doing its job — most cold fevers in adults stay under 39 °C and pass in two to three days. Paracetamol or ibuprofen reduce the fever and the aches; they do not shorten the illness. The temperature alone is less important than how the person looks and breathes.
Lo que dice la evidencia
Verdict: Works. Fever is the body doing its job — most cold fevers in adults stay under 39 °C and pass in two to three days. Paracetamol or ibuprofen reduce the fever and the aches; they do not shorten the illness. The temperature alone is less important than how the person looks and breathes.
Qué hacer de verdad
Treat the discomfort, not the number: if a fever of 38.5 °C feels tolerable, drink and rest; if 38 °C feels awful, take paracetamol or ibuprofen at the label dose. See a doctor when fever passes 39.5 °C and does not come down, lasts past three days, or comes with confusion, breathlessness, a stiff neck or a rash.
Source: NICE CKS — common cold · checked 2026-09-07
Referencia de autocuidado, no consejo médico. Niños, adultos mayores, embarazo y cualquiera con una condición de larga duración deberían tener un umbral más bajo para llamar a un clínico. Síntomas graves o que empeoran, dificultad para respirar o confusión: busca ayuda médica.