Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
The American Academy of Pediatrics has “pulled an Al Gore”.
In similar amusing fashion to the former Vice President’s claim that he invented the Internet, researchers in the journal Pediatrics have recommended the “novel approach” of letting a fever run its course in otherwise healthy children. (1)
Evidently these doctors are suffering from an extreme case of memory loss or egomania as was the case for Mr. Gore. Either that or they made a practice of napping during their Medical History classes in Med School. More likely, these types of classes weren’t even offered at the request of the pharmaceutical companies donating copious amounts of cash to the particular institution they attended.
After all, we wouldn’t want newly minted doctors knowing anything about the history of effective, non-drug based remedies and treatments, would we?
While it may be claimed that this research is somehow “new” and goes against conventional wisdom, this is simply not so.
Au contraire. Prior to the advent of the American obsession with all things pharmaceutically produced which began to gather momentum in the 1970s, doctors routinely recommended against treating the fevers of healthy children. My own father, a retired MD who specialized in Family Practice, never brought down fevers in his own children nor did he suggest doing so to his patients even in cases where the fevers were rather high at 105F.
Why? Because doing so would prolong the illness, of course! Simple common sense medicine for normal, healthy children.
A fever is the primary mechanism for the immune system to fight off viruses and bacteria. Bringing it down handicaps this natural immune response prolongs the illness and more than likely induces a secondary infection that may require – you guessed it: a visit to the Doc to get a prescription for antibiotics.
Unfortunately, it seems that common sense is something that Pediatricians need a research study to finally embrace.
How to Keep a 24 Hour Bug From Turning into a 2 Week Ordeal
The wisdom of the “leave the fever alone” strategy was driven home to me once again just last week. One of my kids came home from school on Thursday afternoon with a bad headache. Since he rarely complains of anything like this, I figured he was trying to fight off some sort of virus.
Sure enough, within a couple of hours, he spiked a fever to 102-103F. This fever basically held (with a few brief dips to 99-100F after sipping a cup of homemade broth) for 24 hours. Did I treat it with Tylenol or ibuprofen?
No way! He had a big soccer tournament that very weekend and his best chance to still compete was to do nothing!
The fever and headache were the only symptoms he ended up having. They were both gone within 24 hours and he competed in the weekend tournament as planned. He played hard too and in the 88F heat. The kid bounced back fast because his natural immunity was left to operate as Nature intended with no meddling from vitality zapping over the counter meds.
I have no doubt that if I had panicked and brought that fever down justifying my actions in order “to help him get a good night’s sleep for the soccer tournament” that he would still be sick and probably have some sort of secondary infection in his lungs with a lot of mucus and coughing.
Letting the fever run its course is more important than a good night’s sleep for getting well, in my experience! If you absolutely must do something, use homeopathic cell salts or a fever bath to speed the process along.
I am so glad the value of fevers was impressed upon me at a young age. Don’t wait for your Pediatrician to wake up to common sense strategies before adopting them yourself.
References
(1) Fever and Antipyretic Use in Children
(2) Traditional Remedies for Childhood Illnesses
(3) Treating Fevers in Children
Al Gore invented Snopes.
Perhaps I misunderstood but in the article above you mentioned that a fever of 105 does not need to be treated but in the first article you listed as a source (Traditional remedies) you stated that a high fevers should be treated and different ways to treat them. This article was very enlightening to me and my oldest son usually has very high fevers during his illness….. to the point he vomits. Sorry, but being new to traditional foods and remedy’s I have given medicine to bring the fever down and his virus has last several days. I’m curious to let the virus run it’s coarse but from ready both articles I’m a little confused if/when I should be concerned about the fever. Thanks for the great article to prepare for the cold/flu season.
Just have to point out that Al Gore NEVER said he invented the internet. I know it hard for people to understand that real people really where behind its creation though and that Al Gore was one of them http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp
I use eucalyptus essential oil for fevers, it’s great for pain relief and kills infections and viruses and everything else. The first time I used it I was amazed…my son had a high fever and was shaking, he was throwing up, didn’t want to eat or drink anything, and I put some eucalyptus on his feet and 15 minutes later his fever was gone and he was sitting up, after another 15 minutes he got up and had some breakfast and went outside to play and was fine. I couldn’t believe it…it still seems like an “Oh sure yeah right” story that I probably wouldn’t believe if I hadn’t seen it 🙂
This is always my first plan, just let it run it’s course. My husband in quick to rush to the doctors office when anyone is sick (including our pets). The best analogy I can give him for leaving a fever alone is water. When your water is bad you boil it to kill bacteria, your body heating up is just trying to kill whatever is in there.
Mandy Flory my son would do the same thing, for years. Our homeopath recommended Homeopathic Belladonna. Look into it and see if it fits him. The high fever and glazed eyes def fit Belladonna.
My son has gotten a high fever (104’s) every February for the last 3 years and when his temp gets that high he gets delusional. He doesn’t recognize me or my husband, his eyes are glazed, he doesn’t know who where he is at. Very scary!! What is your suggestion in situations such as this?
Thanks for the info. Will defiantly will have to remember this. My son has coughed once or twice in the past 3 days and my mom already wanted me to give him medicine. I don’t like to medicate if not necessary.
What about giving homeopathic medicine?
My pediatrician says that you have to monitor the child’s reaction to the fever as much as the fever itself. Some kids can have a high fever and still seem ok. Others can have a low fever and be loopy. If my kid is alert and fairly active or able to sleep comfortably, I don’t usually medicate. If they are overly fussy and seeming more lethargic, loopy then I will medicate if natural methods don’t bring the fever down.
I’m sitting here at 3:30 am letting my infant’s fever run its course. And letting him nurse to his hearts content. We have been changing a lot of diapers since he is eating more than usual for comfort, but the fever will probably be gone soon – just like it has since I stopped treating them with tylenol!!