All across America, there is a common misconception that a fever is bad, dangerous, and should be eliminated immediately. Parents everywhere are overcome with unwarranted fear when their child strikes a temperature. What most people don’t know is that fever is a symptom, just like a cough, runny nose, or headache. It’s our body’s way of triggering higher white blood cell production in order to fight off the illness. Fever is actually a good sign that your body is fighting to ward off infection.

Now, with that being said, some fevers can be dangerous. A temperature in a child of 103 and higher should be brought down if it hasn’t broken for a long period of time. The main reason for this is the possibility of dehydration. First, try a luke-warm bath. It will almost always work. You can also apply cold towels to the forehead & neck. Dress your child in light clothes, and don’t use any blankets. Offer water & other liquids as much as possible.

Having a high fever for 3-5 days is totally normal for children (I know this because my doctor told me this morning!) As long as your child isn’t vomiting, shaking tremendously, or struggling to breath, he or she is probably just fighting off something viral. Fevers can be uncomfortable, so if your child is unable to sleep for long periods of time, that’s when I suggest administering the Tylenol or Advil. After all, sleeping is the best way to feel better. If the child cannot sleep, he or she will most likely feel worse. The benefits of the OTC medication outweigh the risks in this situation. If your child is under 3 months, definitely contact your doctor immediately and seek advice.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking. “What’s the big deal with giving Tylenol or Advil? It’s not like it’ll hurt anything.” WRONG. There is actually a really big deal. There has been a DEFINITE link between infant tylenol and asthma, as well as allergies & eczema, by a whopping 46%. I am not making this up, peeps. Google it yourself & find tons of medical journal articles on this subject.

So, you could actually be doing your child more harm than good by administering OTC meds to them at a young age. Skip the tylenol for teething, we all know it doesn’t work anyway! Next time your child has a fever, try some home remedies to break it before drowning them in medicine. Remember, fever is not bad! Don’t be afraid of it. Here are some fun facts about fever to make you feel a little better:

• The body is diff temps in diff areas. Rectally=subtract a degree, Under the arm=add a degree. The most accurate temp is to take it in 3 places, then average the 3.
• The chance of brain damage from a fever is VERY low, even at a temp. of 105.
• Seizures from very high fevers can happen in 2-6% of children. They are called febrile seizures, and are actually not harmful & cause no damage to the nervous system.
• Your child’s temperature is not as important as how your child is acting/responding/feeling.
• By not giving OTC meds for fever, you can actually shorten the illness time by letting the body repair itself quicker.
• Fever can be a sign that something serious is wrong, such as meningitis. If the fever is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, excessive shaking, unresponsiveness, severe headache, confusion, stiff neck & back, etc, seek emergency care immediately.

Here are some home remedies for fever:

• Lukewarm baths or showers
• Cool Towels
• Drink lots of cold water
• Peppermint oil diluted with coconut oil applied to the back of the neck and along the spine. Peppermint is a natural fever reducer, but be careful to not get it anywhere near the eyes.
• Keep child in just a diaper
• Eat popsicles
• Eat fresh pineapple, a naturally anti-inflammatory
• Offer chamomile tea

XO

Lisa O