Fevers--Friend or Foe??

We've all been there. Child wakes up in the middle of the night, crying, whining, you sit down beside them, pull them into your lap, and--FEVER! They feel like they are burning up. You take their temp, and it's 102.2. What do you do? Do you run to get the Tylenol or Advil or Motrin? Or do you bed them down in your room and let them ride it out? If you are like most moms in America, you grab the fever reducing medicine, get it down them and wait for the fever to go down. After all, isn't that what you are supposed to do? Isn't that what your doctor says to do?

We need to start thinking about fevers a little differently. Instead of thinking of them as enemies, we need to think of them as our allies--fighting a battle for us! Try this. Next time one of your children (or you) develops a fever, imagine that it's saying this, "Slow down!! Rest a while! There's something in this body that's not quite right, and I need to get rid of it so I'm going to raise your body temp, keep you from feeling like normal so you'll lie down. Then I can focus all my energy on getting rid of that little microscopic invader!!" Do you see how much harm we can do then by taking a fever reducer?? Our goal as moms (and doctors as well, it seems) is to get our children (or ourselves) back to normal as soon as possible. We think that by seeing them bouncing off the walls again, we've done them a great service. Nothing could be further from the truth. You see, that fever is telling us that there is a foreign "germ"--whether viral or bacterial-- that doesn't need to be there. Our body temperatures rise so that we become an inhospitable host to that "germ." We (or our children) also feel like crap because of that rise in temp so we take it easy, sleep, and give our immune systems time to focus on those foreign invaders and do the job it was created to do! Sometimes this takes a few hours. Sometimes it takes a few days. That depends on how well our immune system is working and how much we've suppressed it. It also depends on the nature of the "germ" as well, obviously. If it's a viral infection--like chicken pox, hand, foot and mouth, Fifths disease, cold, or flu; we have to just let it run it's course. If it's bacterial--like ear infection, strep throat or other, it will sometimes need a little help to get rid of it. Most of the time these things are easily treated with homeopathics and herbal remedies. But I'm not saying that I haven't used the occasional antibiotic as well!! Garlic is a wonderful tool to draw out infections--by making a garlic poultice. When I use one, I place it on the chest for 60 seconds, the back for 60 seconds and the bottom of each foot for the same. The feet readily absorb anything!

But as far as the fever goes, we should consider them friends. They are our first line of attack--the first clue that something isn't right in there! Let's let our fevers fight for us, do their jobs. If you become uncomfortable with a rise in temp (like say, in the 103-104 range--even up to 105 for some kids who just always get high fevers) there are some other things you can do.

• Make a ginger bath with tepid water. Boil some water on the stove and slice some fresh ginger root into it. Let it steep at least 10 minutes then pour it into a tepid bath. Let child play in the bath for as long as he/she can stand it.
• Make a chamomile tea bath using same method.
• Peppermint tea cools a fever and chamomile calms and relaxes so you can make a combination tea for your child.
• There are several homeopathics for fever, but the two I have handy are aconite and belladona. Aconite--This is for the sudden onset of fever or at the very beginning of a fever--usually in winter. It's for a very restless child who is tossing and turning and difficult to calm down.  Belladona--This is for a feverish child who has chills or has a flushed or red face or body. His pupils are typically dilated. I have different children who always need the same fever remedy for them.

These remedies will not bring the temp down to 98.6, but remember that's not the goal! The goal of these fever reducers is to get the fever to a temp that you can feel comfortable with as a mother (usually around 100-102.5) and still allow the fever to do it's job. I usually try to put off using any reducer for a few hours and then use one of these for a little relief for the child. I hardly ever use anything for myself with a fever.

*There are a few things to remember: If any child  6 weeks old or under has ANY sort of fever (above 99) he needs immediate medical attention. If any child 7 weeks to 3 months has a fever above 101, he needs immediate medical attention. If your child has a stiff neck or any symptoms of meningitis, seek immediate medical attention. If you ever just have a "gut feeling" that something is wrong, take your child in! You are the mom, and no one knows your child better than you!

Dr. Sears has some really good tips and recommendations as well for fevers! He's always good when in doubt!