The claim
「Potato slices or cooling patches bring down a fever」
Verdict
MythThese provide brief local skin cooling but don’t shift the body’s temperature set point, so they barely affect fever. When a child is uncomfortable, weight-dosed paracetamol or ibuprofen is what works — alongside fluids and rest.
Sources
NHS · UK National Health Service
NHS (UK National Health Service). (2024/01/03). High temperature (fever) in children. https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/fever-in-children/
Direct source · Government / official agency · checked 2026-10-13
AAP · American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2025/09/23). Fever without fear: Information for parents. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/fever/Pages/Fever-Without-Fear.aspx
Mechanism source ° · Academic institution / professional society · checked 2026-10-13
° Sources with this mark do not address the claim directly; their content supports the mechanism behind the verdict.