usefulness of fever // was: Re: Raised body temperature - Why?

November 2, 2008

many people (including me) believe

> it is counter-productive to try to reduce fever.

>

I read an article a long time ago that indicated one study found that

taking pain/fever meds caused it to take longer to get well, something

like a day or two longer for the common cold. My understanding is

that pain meds speed healing only when the pain is completely

unbearable. Then taking the edge off helps you heal faster. But if

the pain is only moderate, pain meds slow healing. My view of it is

that it interferes with the body's internal communications: If you

don't know where it hurts, how can send in the troops to deal with it?

I used to do lots of hot baths to induce a false fever. I have a

fairly detailed description of that here:

I have done hot baths with my kids when they were little. Some

thoughts on doing this with a kid: It is extremely important that the

child feel empowered to get out of the water if they feel intolerably

hot. I would wrap them in a big blanket, everything but their head,

and carry them to the couch and have them watch a tv show or tape.

Our general rule was to try to make it to 15 minutes, but no more than

30. For me, I would wrap up completely, covering my head and

everything. I didn't feel that would be safe with a kid. I was

concerned about cutting off air supply and I was concerned about

over-heating them. Since up to 50% of the heat you give off comes

from the top of your head, leaving their head uncovered was a good

fail-safe for us and it made sure they could breathe. Salt, fluids,

and electrolytes (like a banana or orange juice) BEFORE the bath makes

this both more effective and more tolerable. You have to be hydrated

to fuel a fever. I sometimes get fevers these days right after eating

something like watermelon because it gives me the electrolytes and

fluids I need.

Michele

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