I’ve never given either of my sons medication to ‘treat a fever’. That doesn’t mean they’ve never had a fever, they have had many! As a health care professional my trust and understanding of the human body is high, but most of the parents I speak with aren’t so confident.
I’ve always felt my job is help foster greater understanding of the power of the body, and to empower families to make decisions they can have greater confidence in. However, responding to illness can be difficult, and fevers seem to be quite stressful!
Let me try and give you some reassurance:
Fevers are part of a healthy immune response.
Fever is one of the body’s first lines of defense against bacteria and viruses. By raising the temperature inside the body creates an inhospitable environment for bacteria or viruses to survive! The number of circulating white blood cells increases (important immune system fighters). The amount of iron in the blood (which bacteria need to survive) is moved into the liver where it is stored. And finally, many toxins are released through perspiration.
Fevers are a good thing!
They are the sign of a healthy, functioning immune system.
A fever on its own is not a reason for concern.
It’s important to monitor your child for other signs of possible illness (runny nose, tugging at ears, coughing, etc.) before assuming they are sick. Other factors can also be responsible for an increase in body temperature (i.e. over-dressing, physical activity, heat exposure).
If your child has a fever:
- Watch them for other signs of a possible illness.
- Ensure they eat nutritious food (unprocessed, low-sugar, unrefined, whole foods) get adequate rest, and increased fluid intake (broth, diluted juice, H2O). If they are breastfeeding increase the frequency of feedings.
- If they are really miserable, consider sponging them with tepid water to offer some cooling.
- Give them extra love, comfort, and reassurance their body is strong and working well to help them heal.
Most importantly, I want to remind you to do what feels comfortable for you. The more you learn, the better you can handle illness with greater ease. If ever in doubt be sure to reach out to a health care professional for further evaluation.
What To When Your Kid Is Sick is an amazing resource created by Dr. Melissa Longo. It’s your guide to 30+ natural remedies to deal with colds, coughs, congestion, tummy troubles, fevers, and ear infections using natural remedies based on Dr. Melissa’s 23 years of clinical experience, and 23 years as a mother! In this book and audio bundle you’ll find natural remedies for the most common illnesses -colds, tummy troubles, and ear infections – and practical ideas to respond to your sick child and get them back to health. With simple explanations and real-life stories, you’ll learn to understand the body using foundational principles that a trusted pediatric professional uses everyday, and a 3 step system to triage illness within your family. You’ll also grasp when your child needs emergency care, how to best work with health care professionals, and practical solutions to get your child back to their smiling, thriving self, without relying on medication.
