A fever is a symptom indicating the presence of an illness in the body. When the temperature rises, it could mean the body is fighting an infection, leading to a fever, or showing signs of inflammation causing the fever. In Indonesia, it is common for people to advise against bathing when experiencing a fever, believing it might worsen the condition.

But is this advice true? According to the book "Buku Ajar Ilmu Kesehatan: Memahami Gejala, Tanda, dan Mitos" (2019) by Dr. dr. Umar Zein, DTM&H., Sp.PD., KPTI FINASIM, and dr. Emir El Newi, Sp.M., the prohibition against bathing during a fever is merely a myth prevalent in Indonesian society.

In fact, bathing can actually help reduce body temperature. However, if the fever is accompanied by chills, it is recommended to bathe with warm water rather than cold. Bathing with warm water is also advisable because, for some people, bathing with regular or cold water can cause shivering. This happens due to the sudden change in body temperature. In the book "Mengenal Demam dan Perawatannya pada Anak" (2015) by Lusia, it is also explained that bathing is permissible, even for children, during a fever. Lusia recommends bathing with warm water around 30-32 degrees Celsius rather than cold water.

This is because if the external temperature feels warm, the body will interpret the external temperature as sufficiently hot. Thus, the body will lower its temperature regulation control. Additionally, bathing helps clean the body of germs on the skin. Therefore, bathing during a fever is perfectly fine, just as usual, twice a day.