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Treating A Child's Fever NaturallyFacts and Tips for Parents when Temperatures Rise
It's frightening for parents when temperatures rise and they realize their infant, toddler or young child has a fever. When should you see a doctor? What can you do?
What causes a childhood fever in kids?Fever in infants and children is a natural defense against infectious agents: viral, bacterial or environmental. Most fevers are beneficial to a child and caused by viruses, with others caused by bacteria. These fevers usually don't exceed 104-105° and won't harm the infant or child according to doctors. Dr. Robert Mendelsohn and Dr. William Sears state a fever doesn't damage until over 105°, but these are exceptionally rare, usually caused by toxins or heatstroke. This is why many medical professionals are beginning to encourage parents to not rush fever suppressing drugs to their children. Even over-the-counter, fever-reducing drugs have toxic effects given in wrong doses and have been shown to prolong the fever-causing illness by suppressing the child's natural healing process. What can I do to help a child's fever at home?Herbs – Elder flower and yarrow increase sweating to help manage hot fevers, while ginger has warming effects to help manage fever with chills. Tea is an excellent way to administer herbs while keeping a feverish child hydrated and nourished. Helpful herbal teas for fever include chamomile, red clover, rosemary and peppermint. Lemon juice or honey can be added to the tea (never give honey to infants under one year). Essential Oils – Lemon, lavender, eucalyptus, thyme, pine, rosemary and sage essential oils are beneficial for feverish children and also help support the immune system to support the body's defenses instead of suppressing them. Drop some lavender essential oil in cool water and use a washrag to wipe a child's forehead for a cooling, relaxing effect. See more information on Treating Fevers with Aromatherapy. Homeopathy – Aconite, Belladonna, Nux Vomica and Pulsatilla are four common remedies indicated in childhood fevers. See more information on using Homeopathy to Relieve Childhood Fevers for help selecting the proper remedy. Foods/Fluids – Many children lose their appetite when feverish, so parents can give nourishing fluids like fruit juices, teas, broth and juiced vegetables to keep a energy and hydration levels up. Whenever a child can eat try feeding them easy to digest fruits, vegetables and nuts to avoid constipation, provide plenty of energy and gently stimulate digestion. Let the child eat as much as they desire rather than purposefully "starving a fever" as the old myth goes. Rest and Light Activity – While infants and children with a fever will often sleep more often, or longer than usual, parents should allow their children to be lightly active if they feel like it. A walk around the block in the fresh air can raise a sick child's spirits. False-Alarm-Fevers - Dr Sears states in The Baby Book that over-bundling an infant is the number one cause of “false-alarm fevers” he sees! Parents should check a child is unclothed and without heavy blankets if the infant seems to be developing a fever. When should a feverish child be seen by a doctor?For 90% of infant and childhood fevers parents can successfully support the healing process at home but there are times to call for help. A parent should immediately take their child to the emergency room if they suspect the child has ingested, or been exposed to poisonous substances (remember, toxic chemicals can be absorbed through the skin, or breathed into the lungs) or if the fever has overheating causes. These life threatening conditions should be taken seriously. Consult a doctor if the fever doesn't respond to home treatments after three days, the child's condition worsens, breathing becomes labored, rapid or shallow, the child becomes dehydrated, or the feverish infant is under eight weeks of age. Sources:
The copyright of the article Treating A Child's Fever Naturally in Natural Medicine is owned by Angela England. Permission to republish Treating A Child's Fever Naturally in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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