aka “Fever: Knowing When To Medicate & When To Let It Run Its Course”
Even as a little girl, Mother often told me it was best to watchfully ‘let a fever run its course’. She told me her mother, my Nana, had taught her the same thing and that germs couldn’t live with the heat.
So cautiously over time, and later with a mother’s intuition born of experience, I’ve used her example in the illnesses of our own children despite what I was taught in nursing school.
Recently there has been confirmation that it is best, in most cases, to let the fever run its course without medication – with a watchful eye, of course.
So, because a fever can help your child fight an infection – especially a viral infection – it’s a good idea to let it run its course, but if a fever climbs high enough to cause discomfort, irritability, or dehydration, moderating it through some age-old practices (not medication) can help the patient to rest or sleep or get back to play.
As Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson said, “Our goal isn’t to take a temperature from 103 degrees down to 101, but to take a child that feels doesn’t feel well and make them feel better!”
Methods To Increase Comfort Without Medication
- Place a cool, damp washcloth on your child’s forehead while she rests and replace it when it is no longer cool. It works like a radiator to remove excess heat from her body.
- Give your child a lukewarm/tepid tub bath or a sponge bath. As water evaporates from her skin, it will cool and bring her temperature down, but don’t use cold water. It can cause shivering and make the body temperature rise again. Similarly, don’t use rubbing alcohol (a dangerous old-fashioned fever remedy). It can cause a temperature spike and possibly even alcohol poisoning.
- Offer your child plenty of fluids. Chilled foods such as banana (mashed for baby or cut up and 20 minutes in the fridge), yogurt, or applesauce help hydrate and cool the body from the inside out.
- Skin-to-Skin (kangaroo care) moderates/rebalances the fever in a baby or a child.
- A reader reminded me of this: “My grandma use to let fever run its course also and wipe my feet down with witch hazel (radiator effect). I guess it worked because I am never sick and have no ailments at 65.”
- Turn on a fan. Keep the fan at a low setting and circulate the air around your child rather than blow directly to prevent chilling.
- Remove layers of clothing so your child can lose heat more easily through the skin. Dress in one light layer. If shivering, give your child a light blanket until shivering stops.
- Stay indoors in a cool place. If outside, stay in the shade.
What temperature constitutes a fever? (source)
- Normal temperature – 97 to 99 degrees (36 to 37.2 Celsius)
- Low-grade fever – 99 to 100.9 degrees (37.3 to 38.3 Celsius)
- Common fever – 101 to 103.5 degrees (38.4 to 39.7 Celsius)
- High fever – any temperature over 103.6 degrees (39.8 Celsius)
Some Guidelines:
~104 degrees would be the time to call your pediatrician and see what they say.
~If your baby is under 3 months old and has a temperature over 100.4 degrees F, you should call the doctor rather than try to bring his fever down yourself.
~fever for up to 3 days can be normal and productive to fight an infection. Many infectious agents do not survive in elevated temperatures so your body increases the temperature in an effort to eradicate the infection. It is a healthy response.
Warning For Kids With Fever From Vaccinations:
Combination of Ibuprofen or Tylenol and Vaccination is Dangerous!!
Cellular Glutathione is Depleted by Acetaminophen
What About Febrile Seizures?
Febrile seizures are addressed in this British Journal of Medicine (BJM) study involving the use of antipyretics such as paracetamol (Tylenol) and ibuprofen. “Children with high risk of recurrences of FS (complex features of FS, family history of FS, age less than 1 year, low grade fever at the onset of FS) develop recurrences in at least 80% while those without these risk factors rarely develop recurrences. Antipyretics are used for both groups of children, suggesting that it is these risk factors, and not antipyretics, which are the crucial determinants of the risk of recurrence.”
Caveat: Don’t give aspirin to children. Aspirin puts children at risk for a rare but potentially fatal illness called Reye’s syndrome (pronounced ‘rise’). There is a difference in over-the-counter fever reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Tylenol (acetaminophen) seems to have less side-effects. Ibuprofen is recommended only for children 6 months and older, and they both have side-effects, so please use judiciously.
(source)
Now the American Academy of Pediatricians has over-ruled what I was taught in nursing school. A new report in Pediatrics (see Summary) states that not only is there no need to bring down a temperature in an otherwise healthy child, but in fact, the researchers determined that bringing fevers down could actually prolong illness.
Also let me add this – in my experience oftentimes an “illness” is the body preparing for growth. Children either physically grow a week or so after being sick or they would develop a new skill. Illness is not always the enemy.
So Mother was right!
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” ~Psalm 139:14
Charlotte Moore
I did not know this when our boys were babies. Wish I had. I did read this a few years ago and was very surprised.
Hope you are doing well.
BLESSINGS!
Jacqueline
Hi, Charlotte! It’s no wonder because we are taught and hear over and over to just give them Tylenol…I hope this helps get the word out to more 😀 Be safe and stay warm, friend 🙂 J
Jennifer
Hello! I have just recently begun my research jour et into the world of natural medicine and I must say that I am overwhelmed by the conflicting evidence I see everywhere. Your blog has provided valuable insight to me and I’m so very grateful to you for the links you provide for further research! Do you have any websites or books to recommend for a mother of young children just beginning to learn more about these things? I would love to know and understand more. Thank you for blessing me!
Jacqueline
Yes, Jennifer, we need good old-fashioned doctoring more than ever.
This old book is a treasure: http://amzn.to/2GBajoO I love Dr. Lendon Smith!
Here is one Amazon review that sums up my feelings: “Great book! Especially for children’s complaints/diseases. My son was waking up every night, screaming; very icthy behind. Found out from this book it was pin worms, easily treated.”
I need to do a post on the old gems that we used to be able to find. There has been much squelching of the truth in the last 6- years!
Blessings as you learn. I just prayed for wisdom every day and the Lord supplied abundantly!
J
Jennifer
A post on old resources would be so valuable!! These days anyone can write a blog post with their opinion, but very little is based on fact. I’m very excited to get the recommended book you suggested and look forward to more resources full of wisdom! Thanks so much!
Vino
I always put on my winter pajamas and get under all my covers and sweat it out. Making sure I have liquids and electrolytes to replace what I sweat out so as not to become dehydrated.
Jacqueline
Vino, that is how my grandmother used to handle a fever…sweat it out! And it worked! ~J