Bottom line: a moderate fever is a friend. However, infants under 3 months old normally don’t get fevers. If they do, and it’s more than 101 F ( 38.5) it is considered a medical emergency. It is possibly meningitis with a 25% mortality rate.

3 months – 18 months, can manage a fever to 103 F (39 C). At 105 F, ( 40 c) danger of convulsion. Most childhood diseases show within 4 days of fever. If the fever is constant it can indicate a bladder infection.

Danger signs

• Fever in infants under 3 moth old
• Fever gets very high, more than 104F or 40c.
• Child becomes confused, or loses consciousness.
• Seems hot on one side of the body yet cold on the other
• Starts to twitch. Or has a history of febrile seizures
• Child refuses fluids
• Child cries inconsolably or otherwise acts extremely irritable
• Complains stiff neck or can not touch his chin to his chest.
• Your child breaks out in a purple rash that resembles tiny bruises. This could be a sign of a rare but serious infection.
• Child seems to be in severe pain.
• Child becomes dehydrated (dry skin and lips, crying without tears, no urination within 8 hours, listlessness)
• Child has signs of respiratory distress (rapid breathing, sucking of the skin between the ribs and above the breastbone when breathing in, bluish tinge around the mouth, wheezing or crackling sound with breathing).

Things you can do to manage a fever

1st, do nothing. Observe closely. Can your child drink fluids well? Urinate every 3-4 hours? Does your touch console her? Is she playing normally? If the answer to these questions is yes, then she’s not seriously ill.

General rules

• A wet fever is better than dry fever. Try to get your get your child to sweat.
• Diet: keep food to a minimum, so that your child’s energy is not used to digest food, but is free to fight the infection. Fever can be considerably prolonged by giving too much to eat, especially rich and sugary food. Even when the fever comes down and the appetite returns, it may be advisable for your child to avoid food for anther 12 hours, unless there are signs of great weakness.
• Encourage fluids, especially nutritious fluids. Good herbal teas: lemon balm, peppermint, elder flowers/berries, oat straw, chamomile. If your child craves cold food – make herbal tea into ice cubes with half herbal tea and half fruit juice.
• Give water, hydrate the kids in the morning, if you know he is going to get a fever in the afternoon.
• Enemas to bring fever down, it cools and hydrates the baby. Use a solution 1 degree below rectal temperature, put a pinch of salt in a cup of water, to avoid leaching out minerals. Lay baby over the abdomen, lubricate the bulb (can use butter), squeeze out the air, so not pump air into the rectum. Give 1 dose (2 oz) each hour until the water comes out.
• Cold cotton socks: brings down the temperature, sedates them, also good for teething.
• If you suspect a bacterial infection, contact your health care provider
• Bathe with water temperature 1 degree below body temp.
• Dress lightly or bundle: depend on your child’s perception of temperature. If your child looks pale, shivers, or complains of feeling chilled (early stage of fever) bundle her in breathable fabrics (cotton, wool) so that sweat will evaporate. If she is comfortable and her fever is low, dress her snugly and give warm liquid (best boneset tea) _ cup 3 times per day for a 40 pound child to assist the body’s fever production. If she sweats and complains of heat, dress her lightly and let her throw off the covers. (but don’t over cool, and get a chill).

Herbs

• To speed up recovery and avoid complications. See a licensed Naturopathic doctor for proper use of herbs.*

Herbal water spray

can help send a feverish youngster off to sleep2 drops of essential oil of chamomile, lavender, thyme, ylang ylang, or rose with 4 oz of water in a spray bottle. These oils provide some anti-bacterial action along with a sense of tranquility. Spray liberally on arms, legs, back and chest, but keep this spray away from eyes and out of the reach of small children. Best to use in a warm, steamy bathroom so that your child doesn’t get chilled.

Febrile Seizure

• Try to stay calm: stimulate a pressure point between the upper lip and nose.
• Look at your watch – time the length of the seizure. If exceeds 5 minutes, call 911.
• Turn your child on his side – reduce his risk of gagging or inhaling secretions.
• Make sure the immediate environment is safe. Remove objects your child might hit.
• Do not restrain your child
• After the seizure is over, comfort and reassure your child, then call your doctor for immediate appointment.

How to differentiate a Cold from the Flu

good food, rest, love and herbs

1. Feed your child warming food – finger, garlic, onions, peppers, soups, grains and herbal tea. Immune boosting soup. Avoid cold, refined, high sugar food such as ice cream, pop and crackers.
2. Encourage your child to drink lots of fluids such as teas, diluted juices, and soup broths. Reduce respiratory congestion.
3. Humidify your child’s room. Use a humidifier. The cool steam is better, use grape seed extract to keep it clean.
4. Use steam – inhale steam with essential oils
5. Check out food allergies / intolerance
6. Wash hands often
7. Teach your child to use a tissue.
8. Hot bath or hot foot bath, work up a sweat.  Do not do it if has high fever (above 103F).

Nutritional supplement

Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, Zinc, Proboitics (acidophilus), cod liver oil.

Homeopathic remedies

• Homeopathic remedies can be extremely effective to bring down fever, resolve viral and bacteria infection very quickly. Eg. Choose the right remedy, can resolve strep throat in less than 24 hours.
• Very effective to treat complication and side effect of difficult birth, injuries, post-partum depression, mastitis, ear infection, tonsillitis, cough, chicken pox, teething related problems, cold and flu, etc.
• There are about over 2000 remedies, need to choose the right remedy for it to work. They are powerful medicines. If use the wrong remedy repetitively may cause new problems. Ask for professional help.