Your Child's Fever-Friend or Enemy?

Starve a fever, feed a cold? Parents are often confused about how to deal with their child’s fever. In fact, a recent survey found that many parents tend to treat high temperatures much more aggressively than health care professionals do.

A fever below 100.4 F (38 C) can be beneficial to a child, but how can we know when a fever is beneficial and when it’s a sign of an emergency? It can help to understand what a fever is.

A fever is one of the body’s many adaptive functions to deal with foreign substances such as an infection. Viruses and bacteria live at body temperature, so when a child’s internal thermostat rises and creates a fever, white blood cells are activated and body temperature heats up to kill off potentially threatening bugs.

Normal body temperature in a child can vary. The average normal temperature values are described below.

Under the tongue: 97 to 99 Farenheit, 36 to 37.2 Celcius Under the arm (axillary): 96.5 to 98.5 Farenheit, 35.8 to 36.9 Celcius

When taking your child’s temperature, it’s important not to use a glass mercury thermometer. If it breaks, the mercury is an environmental toxin and can cause serious harm to your child. Purchase a digital thermometer from a drugstore.

I recommend using the armpit method for taking a child’s temperature under the age of four. For children over the age of four, an under-the-tongue digital temperature can be taken.

Lowering Your Child’s Fever

• Make sure to hydrate your child with plenty of water and fresh natural fruit juices to replenish the fluid lost due to the fever. If breastfeeding, continue to do so.
• If your child has lost his or her appetite for a couple of days, do not force-feed your child. Loss of appetite is an adaptive response that allows the body to deal with the problem at hand.
• Dress your child in loose, light clothing. Try to prevent shivering with clothing, light blankets or warm baths.
• Bathing your child in lukewarm water can help to lower body temperature.
• Ensure your child gets plenty of sleep and rest.

When Should I Call My Doctor?

Your heath care professional should be consulted immediately if:

• A child under the age of three months develops a fever.
• Your child is convulsing or hallucinating.
• Your child’s fever has not changed in over three days.
• Your child is complaining of a stiff neck.
• Your child has repeated vomiting and/or diarrhea.
• Your child’s fever is 104 F (40 C) or over orally, or 102.9 F (39.4 C), under the armpit.

Remember, if your child does get a fever, do not panic - fever is one of the body’s built-in defence systems. If the fever does rise to a concerning temperature, consult your health care practitioner immediately.

Homeopathic Fever Remedies

Choose the remedy that best matches your child’s symptoms. Repeat hourly for up to three doses, each at 30C potency. If fever doesn’t improve, switch to another remedy. For oral temperatures above 104 F (40 C) take the indicated remedy every 15 minutes and seek medical attention.

PDF Table  of Homeopathic Fever Remedies

Source: Mark Stengler, ND