Many parents panic when their child has a fever. The first time my child spiked a temperature of 102.5 °F/ 39 °C, I was very upset too.
It is a scary thing to hold your child and they are hot, flushed and obviously very uncomfortable.
It is important to learn ways to manage your child’s fever and not lower it artificially with over the counter medications. The journal Pediatrics recommends as much suggesting that parents let fevers run their course in healthy children. (1)
It would be best if you just threw these drugs away and don’t even have them in your medicine cabinet because even infrequent use of an over-the-counter drug like Tylenol has been linked with serious, lifelong illness like asthma.
Instead of panicking, honor your child’s fever and learn to use it constructively to improve your child’s health and vitality over the long term, because, believe it or not, fevers are fabulous and accomplish important things in a child’s developing body.
I am one of seven children, so we had a lot of fevers going around our home during cold/flu season. Despite this, my Father who is a retired Family Physician never succumbed to treating a fever with meds.
Ever.
He taught us that bringing down a fever only prolonged the illness and weakened vitality for the next illness to come. I remember him saying, “No, I can’t bring down your fever because you’ll get sicker quicker and next time it will be worse.”
Repeated forced reduction of childhood fever has been linked to childhood cancer. And eliminating fever will usually cause a secondary infection.
When you bring down a fever you start a domino effect toward antibiotic use.
In other words, if you want to avoid antibiotics, don’t bring down the fever! Fever reduction suppresses the immune system. Your child is trying to get well himself with the fever and when you bring it down you are opening him up to a secondary bacterial infection that will further entrench the virus or bacteria. It cannot be stressed enough that fever has an important role to play in your child’s overall well being.
Why Do We Get Fevers?
Why do our bodies produce fever? One reason is that fevers greatly slow down pathogens. Fevers are a highly beneficial immune response that we suppress to our detriment.
The “germ” – bacteria or virus causing the child’s distress typically replicates every few minutes and the fever slows this process down. Fevers work to slow down the spread and severity of the illness and are your friend in avoiding a secondary infection (usually respiratory illness), a trip to the doctor and a script for antibiotics.
So treating a fever with meds to bring it down gives free license to the virus or bacteria to spread in an unrestrained manner. And don’t panic if your child’s temperature gets to 102-103 °F/ 38-39 °C – this is actually the ideal range for a fever.
I can’t tell you how many times my children have spiked a beautiful fever of about 102-103 °F for a few hours with no other symptoms whatsoever.
When the fever resolved, the illness was over. No cough, no rash, sinus congestion, no nothing. Just a fever and that’s it. I can almost guarantee that if I had forcibly brought the fever down with meds, they would have gotten a secondary illness on top of the fever. Probably a cough or sinus congestion would have quickly appeared morphing from an afternoon of chills and discomfort into a two week ordeal with a trip to the doctor and prescription meds.
Treating a Fever With No Meds
I find that holding your child is the best home remedy for fever. When they are feverish, they want to be with you. Put on a light robe and crash on the couch with your child and hold her for hours if you need to. If you let the fever go and just let the child’s body do what it is trying to do, the fever won’t last very long — just a few hours.
You can take their temperature if you want to, but it is not necessary. Put your lips on your child’s forehead, and if the child seems hot, you know she has a fever. I can tell within a half a degree what the temperature is using this method with no thermometer required. Many children find it distressing to use a thermometer when they are ill anyway. My dad taught me this trick–he never took our temperatures. He knew the temperature.
Sometimes a fever will go for three days. It will go up and down, with peaks and valleys, and it usually peaks about 4-6 in the afternoon. If your child has a fever in the afternoon followed by a good night’s sleep and no fever in the morning, that doesn’t mean he is over it. Don’t send him to school until you know what happens at 4-6 in the afternoon. The fever is likely to come back in a lot of cases. Until you’ve passed a late afternoon with no fever, your child is not yet on the road to recovery.
Should You Feed or Starve a Fever?
My father taught me that food will naturally drop a fever within about 20 minutes. This drop will last for an hour or two. My father always believed that it was fine to feed a child with a fever if the child was willing to eat. But don’t force food if he doesn’t want it. And you don’t have to give your child a lot of food. Just a few bites of scrambled egg or a few sips of homemade broth can bring that fever down a bit. It will not make the fever go away but will manage it hopefully within the ideal 102-103 degree range.
High Fevers
If a child’s fever is very high–over 103.5 degrees F – then you need to take steps to bring it down down. One method for treating a fever naturally to bring it down without any meds is a cool water enema. Enemas have such a bad rap! Nobody likes them but they are a very effective remedy for many things.
You can get an enema bag from any pharmacy for about ten dollars and they’re incredibly easy to administer. If the fever is getting really high, just get a thick beach towel and put it in the tub. Lay your child on his side without taking clothes off. Slide their pajamas down a little. Place 1/2 to 1 quart warm filtered water in the bag and insert the enema nozzle lubricated with a bit of coconut oil. Your child will start to feel pressure and will want to go to the bathroom–the water usually doesn’t run out. Then gently put him on the toilet and let him go. This will bring the fever down by a degree or two.
Are High Fevers Dangerous?
High fevers– those that range between 104 and 105 F – are not dangerous in themselves. But they make the metabolism run very fast and increase the risk of dehydration. Blood sugar often drops with the metabolism running at this high level, which can lead to convulsions. To prevent this, have your child sip fresh fruit juice diluted 50% with filtered water to keep tissues hydrated and blood sugar levels in the normal range. If your child is too lethargic or won’t take anything, you can administer about 4 ounces of diluted fruit juice rectally using a $2 bulb syringe. Again, this is so easy to do! The body will absorb it rectally very quickly. Don’t worry – it won’t run out and make a mess. This may save you a trip to the emergency room.
Fevers rapidly deplete vitamin A so be sure to give your child drops of high vitamin cod liver oil under the tongue while the fever is running its course.
Fever Baths or Infrared Saunas To Hasten Healing
Sometimes a child will run a low-grade fever day after day and not seem to get better. In that case, you can help her generate a higher fever to help resolve the illness more quickly with a fever bath. Put her in the tub. Fill it with water as hot as she can stand. You can get it hotter if you put them in the tub while you are filling it. You want it pretty hot, but still comfortable! No need to fill it all the way as this might be too hot. Just have her sit in the tub and fill it to the navel.
Leave her in the bath for 10-12 minutes, then get her out, dry her quickly and wrap her up snugly. Put her into bed, well covered up. This should help the fever rise to the point where it can be effective in resolving the illness. By morning, she may have a normal temperature.
I have used the fever bath method for treating a fever on myself with great results too! Be sure to be drinking plenty of fluids.
Another option is to use a near infrared sauna to gently raise body temperature by a few degrees to hasten healing by stimulating the immune system. I recently used this method to successfully stave off a serious virus that was going around our community. About 30 minutes in a near-infrared sauna powered by safe incandescent bulbs (I use this one) will successfully achieve this immune system enhancement.
Note that I do NOT recommend far infrared saunas due to the health implications from the EMFs and flicker stress from the LED lights.
References
(1) Fever and Antipyretic Use in Children
(2) The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Childcare, p. 220
(3) Advice on treating fevers from an old-fashioned medical doctor (My Dad!)
What if you’re an adult who has brought down fevers with Ibuprofen their whole life? Should this method still work?
I let my 18 year old son’s fever run it’s course till the evening of the 3rd day. He started to spike rapidly to over 104 and was no longer lucid.
I did the Aroma Touch Technique with essential oils on him and by the time I was finished it had dropped 2 degrees. He fell into a deep sleep and woke the next morning a completely new person! He had not been this bright and perky for days!! He was totally over the problem and was inspired to use the experience for a paper he had to write called “Fighting fire with fire”.
Best part is I got a good nights sleep that night too! So that made two of us happy in the morning!!LOL!
Fevers are highly cleansing for the body and burn off a lot of toxins. I ran a very high temperature a few years ago due to a knee infection. The fever ranged from 103-105 F on and off for several days. When it was over, I felt like I was in a new body and was 20 years younger. Fevers are amazing and spiking a good strong fever is a sign of strength and vitality, not something to be feared unless the person has an underlying medical condition. Most folks don’t realize is that many cancer patients can’t even run a fever at all .. their immune system is too weak. Not a good sign to go for a long time without a good fever.
I wonder if this cleansing effect of fevers is why I always notice a leap in my kids’ development after having a high fever. My two year old just had one last week and gained several new words in her vocabulary and started talking in small sentences right after being sick…
I also remember reading somewhere that for every degree higher your body temp is- the white blood cells reproduce exponentially (can’t remember the exact amount) and that a high fever is ok as long as the person stays hydrated. We don’t try to reduce fevers as long as he/she is drinking lots of fluids. Thanks for the great info!
I’ve noticed the developmental leaps following fever as well. My 20 mo. old recently had a fever over a couple of days and ran pretty hot. I never gave him meds for it. It got scary, but when the fever went away, he started saying lots of new words and more clearly than before. It’s really amazing how our bodies work and grow in times of stress!
YES! Great point! Children frequently make a huge developmental leap following a good strong fever. I’ve noticed this with my own children as well. My first son actually started to walk the day after his very first fever (which of course I did not bring down).
Seriously? I definitely would not post medical advice online. Say someone listens and their child dies….then you are liable because they got medical advice from you. Anyway, my kid gets fevers that top out at 105 and there is no way in hell I would resort to any of these methods when it comes to that. Sorry, I will not risk my child having convulsions or going into shock. I think it is fine and great for you to do it your way since it is your life, but I would not recommend anything to anyone online….especially medical advice.
That’s why there is a Disclaimer page on this blog … these articles are for information only and should not be construed as medical advice.
I use catnip to reduce fever, what are your thoughts on that?
Thank you Sarah, I will be sure to look this post up if I ever need it! I did read it all the way through and hopefully the information sunk in…
Your link to what I thought was a study on childhood cancers increasing due to reducing fevers just lead to a link on amazon for the book Nourishing Traditions…….while it is a good book, can you please post the link to the actual study that shows this correlation? Thanks!
Fawn,
At the bottom of the article it says that the info is on page 220 of the book. The only thing I see on that page about cancer is the very last sentence that says that there are scientific papers that document the regression of tumors in patients who contracted an infection and had a high fever. The book then cites:
“Hoption Cann SA and others. Dr. William Coley and tumour regression: a place in history or in the future. Postgraduate Med. 2003 79;672-680; Hobohm U. Fever therapy revisited. British Journal of Cancer. 2005; 92:421-425.”
Unless, I am missing something, the book doesn’t actually say these papers document “childhood cancers increasing due to reducing fevers”, but that tumors regressed in patients that got a high fever. Then the book says, “How much better to develop immunity to cancer by having the occasional fever during childhood”. I’m not really sure how the connection is made between tumors regressing with a fever and building immunity to cancer through childhood fevers, but I haven’t read the papers either.
I can see how the normal fevers we all get due to illness should usually run there course if there are non of the bad red flags. I have a situation with my daughter born in 2010. Every time she cuts a tooth she has three nights and four days of fever 103+. My husband and children also run cold by 2 degrees. Not only is there fever but she wont eat, cannot sleep longer then 30 minutes and crys and grasps and kicks and sleep talks and thrashes all night. I bathe her in hot water and she shivers and crys, will not drink much and nothing cold, i concentrate on coconut water. Then during the days she is lethargic and hot with short periods coolness and clarity (1/2). Then after three nights and the tooth cuts she is wonderful again. I have asked every living relative about others present and past and noone has ever heard of it. So in this fever case I do give her meds on the second night and once during the day, thee night fever is always the highest and we need sleep to heal, then during the day once so i can try and get her to eat and drink as much as possible. Every time I took her to the dr for this fever they would try and do a cath on her for a urine sample. After doing this once to my 6 month old daughter, who otherwise was fat happy and breast fed, with a negative for U.I. They had no clue what was up. Next fever i bring her again, they want to repeat their useless tests. No, and they about had a fit, I said check the records and left, I’m not torturing my baby for your lack of reason. Would love to hear if anyone else has any “HOT toothing” babies. BTW my first daughter never showed a sign of toothing they just magically appeared, no fuss no muss. Go organic non gmo grow a garden eat local and vote with your dollars.
Both of my boys got a fever with every new tooth. Recently I found that rubbing a drop of Lemon Essential oil on the soles of their feet helped reduce the discomfort and allowed them to sleep. I give them water with ginger and honey to sip while awake. They get the same treatment on the rare occasion they get sick. They are back to normal in no time. Peppermint oil is supposed to reduce fevers if needed. I never do that though.
DS2 would get a 104.5 fever every time he cut teeth. He would always cut at least 2 at a time. It scared me the first few times, but then I learned that was just how his body dealt with it. He would vomit anytime I tried giving him fever reducers. I started using catnip tea when he seemed particularly uncomfortable and couldn’t sleep. It would bring it down and relax him just enough that he could get some rest.
Your article would be more believable if you cited evidence for any of your claims at all, besides “my dad said so”. Kids could DIE if their parents take your dangerous advice!
No. She’s absolutely correct about everything she says in this artical ESPECIALLY about fevers being a natural pathogen fighter. The prime temperature for most bacterial growth is right around 98.6. Hmmm healthy body temp eh? Your body’s response? Kick up the thermostat! Even now as an adult I let a fever do its job and avoid meds. It drives my girlfriend crazy to watch me sweat and shiver it out but I militantly refuse medication.
She does cite more than just “my dad said so”. She has the most compelling evidence to support her claims and that is personal experience. Both from direct experience and employing the method on her children.
If a fever is high 104 and above.. then it is a cause for concern in both children and adults. I developed sepsis after I had surgery, my fever got up to 106. I was delerious and convusling. It needed to be brought down and I needed those IV antibiotics to save my life. I am all for using natural remedies when possible, But there comes a time when modern medicine should be sought and has it’s purpose. It is about balance and common sense. The reason we are having issues with antibiotics and resistant bugs, is because of our overuse of them. If they were used when they were supposed to be and very sparingly, we would not have the bugs that we do. I take prescribed medications that I use in combination with supplements. They work great for me and I will continue to do so. Not all medicine is bad and not all home remedies are good. I am more than happy to lance a boil or using a drawing salve to avoid antibiotic use. But I am very glad that antibiotics were available when I needed them in a life threatening situation.
Thank you so much for this great post…I had not heard of some of these ideas, and they give me some comfort in knowing I have some options should I need them for my kids.
I’ll be Sharing this on my blog…thanks to you and your awesome Dad!
I love using essential oils to bring down fevers and boost moods and make them feel better!