All too often when children are sick and have a fever, parents reach for an antipyretic drug – drugs intended to reduce fever. While parents may believe they are alleviating their child’s suffering by this action, they may be unwittingly preventing complete healing.
As long as the fever doesn’t rise too high or too quickly, holistic practitioners prefer to support the fever rather than suppress it. From this perspective a fever is considered an ally and a beneficial partner in the healing process. Fasting, rest, drinking plenty of fluids and beneficial herbs are often utilized to encourage the purposes of a fever.
Fevers serve two important purposes – to stimulate immune system function and to create an environment inhospitable to invading organisms, known as antigens.
A fever stimulates the production of antibodies, white blood cells and interferon, which are all major players in your body’s immune system.
Antibodies are unique and designed to attack one specific invading organism by attaching to the antigen and preventing it from harming your body. Think of this like sending in the SWAT team, which is a special group of police with special training and equipment skilled in handling unusually dangerous or violent situations. Your antibodies are specially trained and equipped to handle unique antigens.
The primary purpose of the six main types of white blood cells – neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes and lymphocytes – is to fight infection. Some white blood cells protect the body from antigens by ingesting them, a process known as phagocytosis.
Interferon prevents the spread of viruses to your healthy cells, enhances phagocytosis by white blood cells and stimulates resistance to further infection. Interferon is like the barrier between the SWAT team and the dangerous situation.
Most bacteria and viruses require a temperature that is slightly lower than the human body temperature to thrive. A fever causes an increase in body temperature, which directly kills antigens. On the contrary, antipyretic drugs may decrease body temperature sufficiently to prolong the life of antigens.
Instead of immediately giving your child an antipyretic drug, one of the best things you can do is support your child’s fever and allow nature to take its course.
Research published in the November 2011 edition of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology supports this holistic approach to fever management. Researchers observed that elevated body temperature helps certain types of immune cells work better.
The study authors found that when immune cells were heated to a temperature of 103.1 degrees Fahrenheit before exposure to an antigen a greater percentage of immune cells were produced. These cells then differentiated – altered from a generalized purpose to a more specific function – and became capable of destroying the introduced antigen.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Medical attention for a fever is warranted in the following circumstances:
~ Infants who have a fever of 101° F
~ Infants younger than 3 months of age with a fever
~ Infants with a fever who refuse to eat or drink, are irritable, lethargic or unresponsive
~ Children with a fever who are listless, irritable or vomit repeatedly
~ Children with a fever after being left in a hot car
~ Children with a fever that persists longer than 1 day (ages 2 and younger)
~ Children with a fever that persists longer than 3 days (ages 2 and older)
~ Adults with a temperature greater than 103° F
~ Adults with a fever that persists longer than 3 days
~ When any of these signs or symptoms accompany a fever: severe headache, throat swelling, unusual skin rash, unusual sensitivity to light, stiff neck and pain when you bend your head forward, mental confusion, persistent vomiting, difficult breathing, chest pain, extreme listlessness or irritability, abdominal pain when urinating or any other unexplained signs or symptoms
The author of this article is not in the business of providing medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services for any disease or condition. The intent of this article is to provide general information for educational purposes only. The information provided in this article is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information to discontinue the advice of your physician or other healthcare provider.