Every parent dreads the moment when their little ones wake up in the middle of the night, fretful and hot to the touch. You check your child’s temperature and it is creeping up to 38 degrees or more. She’s had a cold for a few days but hasn’t had a fever until now. You feel worried and don’t know what to do. Should you give Panadol, go to the emergency department? Should you call your doctor’s office hoping to reach someone in the middle of the night? Can you wait until morning? You’ve heard about using herbs for fever and thought it sounded good at the time, but now that your child has one, you’re not so sure. What should you do?
The answer to the above question for starters is:
- If your child is under 3-months old and has a temperature of over 38°, Yes, call your doctor or go to the emergency room.
- For everyone else, take a deep breath, relax, and read on…
What is a Fever?
Most importantly: Fever is not an illness. It is the body’s healthy, natural response that actually helps fight infection! Fevers are generally not dangerous and should be seen as a sign of a good healthy strong immune system. A temperature over 38 degrees is considered a fever. Most fevers are in the range of 38-39.5°. A high fever is over 39.5.
I know that when my own kids’ temperature creep up to 39.5 I find it hard to keep my own cool! But, the height of the temperature does not necessarily reflect the severity of the illness. Most low-grade fevers are not serious and kids can even run high fevers and not have serious illness — but it is scary. I have had the odd occasion where my kids have run really high fevers and then once the fever passed they were completely fine without any other symptoms at all!
I have only suppressed a fever once with panadol once in my child and I wish I had not done it…I was a nervous new sleep deprived mum and was swayed by the voices of others. I don’t believe that suppressing a fever is healthy. It may provide some temporary relief, but it makes it harder for the immune system to do its job. Interestingly, after I used panadol with my girl she developed a severe ear ache afterwards. I am wondering if I had have left the fever to do its job whether or not the ear ache would have developed…probably not.
Fevers in kids are generally caused by common viral infections, and most of these are not dangerous. Kids will often have symptoms such as a cough, runny nose, earache, or rash — but often the fever comes before the symptoms. Bacterial infections such as strep throat, urinary tract, and ear infections can also cause fever.
What Can You Do?
Keep in mind that you do not have to treat the fever. When your child has a fever the most important thing is to keep her comfortable and give plenty of fluids. Fevers may continue for a number of days or go away and come back — especially in the afternoon and evening — for several days. This is usually not a problem if the child is taking plenty of fluids and seems otherwise well.
- Let your child rest and sleep as much as she needs to. Create a quiet environment conducive to healing and recovery.
- Keep the child’s room fresh and comfortable.
- Diffuse light to soothe feverish eyes.
- To freshen the air, put some water with a few drops of essential oil into a clean plant mister and spritz around the room. Rosemary, lavender, thyme, rose, lemon, eucalyptus, and mint make refreshing scents.
- Give your child loads of fluids during the fever. Babies can be nursed often and given water by teaspoon, cup, or eye-dropper every 15-30 minutes. If the child is sleeping, you can rouse him periodically for a drink.
It is important to know that fevers may continue for a number of days or go away and come back — especially in the afternoon and evening — for several days. This is usually not a problem if the child is taking plenty of fluids and seems otherwise well.
Herbal Treatments
Herbs can be used to help ease the symptoms associated with a fever — aches, headache, tummy discomforts, and chills. While fevers don’t need to be treated, high fever can be lowered a bit with these herbs. Some classic herbs for feverish kids include:
- Ginger tea can help fight upper respiratory infection and helps sweat out a fever.
- For achiness, headaches, or restlessness, strong teas of catnip, chamomile, or lemon balm can be used alone or in combination. Baths with these herbs are also soothing.
- Lavender oil and a little apple cider vinegar can be added to a warm bath, 5 drops per bath, to bring a sense of restfulness and relief of the above symptoms.
Nursing moms with feverish nursing babies can drink adult doses of these herbal remedies. Some of the benefits of the herbs will pass through the milk to the baby.
Catnip, Chamomile and Lemon Balm Tea
Mix equal parts of the dried herbs and prepare according to tea instructions. This is very pleasant tasting and very gentle even for little babies. Soothes tummy upset, aches, and eases fever symptoms.
Steep the herbs in a covered tea pot for 20 minutes. Strain and sweeten lightly (no honey for kids under 1 year old; maple syrup is a good alternative). Give as warm as your child will take it, and often, until a sweat results. We have these herbs available at the centre.
Peppermint leaf, Feverfew and Elderflower Tea
Steep the herbs in a covered tea pot for 20 minutes. Strain and sweeten lightly (no honey for kids under 1 year old; maple syrup is a good alternative). Give as warm as your child will take it, and often, until a sweat results. This tea will help to ease a fever. We have these herbs available at the centre.
Infusions
Infusions are medicinal-strength teas. More herb material is steeped longer in slightly more water than is usual for a tea.
To prepare: Place 25g of chopped, dried herb or 50g of chopped, fresh herb in a large saucepan. Fill the with 1lt boiling water. Put a lid on the saucepan and let the mixture steep from a half-hour to 8 hours, depending on desired strength and the part of the plant used.
To use: Generally, dosage of an infusion ranges from 1/4 to 1 cup, two to four times daily. Sometimes an infusion is sipped throughout the day.
I use herbal infusions for my kids often. As they don’t drink juice or cordials, I often give them elderberry infusions during winter. If your child is experiencing a fever on and off for a couple of days you may like to make a herbal infusion with the herbs mentioned above.
When to See Your Doctor
- All babies under one-month old with fever should be seen by a doctor immediately! This can be a medical emergency!
- Babies under three months old with a high fever (see above) should be seen by a doctor.
- Any kids who are not taking fluids, not urinating a normal amount compared to usual, or are just not “acting right” should be seen by the doctor.
- Any kids with fever along with stiff neck or neck, persistent vomiting, or severe headache should be seen by the doctor.
- If your child has severe ear pain or severe belly pain.
- If your child is lethargic — that is, he just isn’t really waking up fully, seems weak, or just seems sort of limp, is just lying there, and doesn’t really make eye contact.
- Fevers that stay high for more than 3-5 days.If you feel worried that your child has a serious illness, take your child to the doctor: Remember, trust your momma intuition (and better safe than sorry)!