What To Do If My Child Has A Fever
Sometime during a child's life they will have a fever! It is a sign of a good healthy immune system.
At the time, especially if it's the first time, it can feel pretty scary. There are a few points to remember about fevers that will help you through!
Your body will choose to produce a fever, which means your brain will purposely instruct your body to raise its own temperature, in order to help itself in the following situations.
In response to infections (viral or bacterial), where these have multiplied in numbers and our first line defence immune cells require some extra help.
The high body temperature makes it more difficult for the bacteria or viruses to survive. This is essential for quicker recovery.
An issue in the body where the immune cells are required to work more efficiently and therefore aid the body’s recovery.
In response to a vaccination (This is because the body realises an emergency situation whereby a virus, bacteria or other material that is not usually in the bloodstream, has been detected and the immune system needs immediate help in mobilising the immune cells into action)
In response to Homeopathic treatment.
Now why would your child’s body do this? For the very fact that fevers mobilise the immune system cells as mentioned above!
When the immune system has been overwhelmed or weakened and where underlying sickness has been allowed to dominate, the homeopathic remedies can fire up our immune responses and go to work again on bringing our child’s body back to health.
Interestingly the body can produce low grade fevers regularly when there is an underlying issue of increased unwanted bacteria or viruses in the body, but is not able to fight these off 100%. These low grade fevers are working hard to keep the body safe and are essential until the underlying condition is addressed. Homeopathy is wonderful for this!
So with all the above in mind, does it still make sense to use a drug like Tylenol or Calpol or Nurofen to bring these fevers down?
These medicines may be essential in life-threatening situations but in everyday immune response fevers, they become detrimental to the body in its fight against an infection.
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?
It is not uncommon for a child who has a fever to just want to go about their normal activities! If this is the case then just let them do that and supply extra fluid. Bear in mind your child may not want to eat because the immune system needs all the energy it can to fight an infection rather than use energy up for digestion! Do not try to force your child to eat.
If however their fever is high and they are showing signs of being uncomfortable/poorly with it, you may wish to try the following:
You can use techniques to cool the body down, removing unnecessary layers of clothing and keeping the room cool. You may also wish to use a cool cloth across the forehead or the wrists if the child will let you.
You can keep your child hydrated by offering them water regularly, even if it is just little sips.
In situations where your child has a high fever and is uncomfortable, you may wish to try one of the following common Homeopathic remedies in 200c potency (or 30c if that’s what is available to you), 1 dose every 15 minutes if needed for up to 4 doses then wait. You can repeat that if necessary or change the remedy if nothing has improved after this time.
Remember the purpose is NOT to just bring down the temperature on the thermometer but to make your child more comfortable (although sometimes you may see a high temperature like 40 degrees come down and resolve the issue)
A common response is that they may fall asleep or just appear more able to cope after a remedy.
