I believe that they [doctors] are motivated by a simple desire to make you, the parent, believe they have done something to help your child. In addition, they are exhibiting their compulsion to intervene whenever they are provided the opportunity and their reluctance to admit that there are diseases that they can't effectively treat.
Apart from terminal illness, did any doctor ever tell a patient, ''There's nothing I can do"?
Dr. Robert Mendelsohn
Reading Mendelsohn on the topic of Fever1, I’m reminded of Kendrick on the value of “doing nothing”.
Don’t just do something, stand there!
What I saw happening with COVID19 is a pattern that repeats in medicine over and over again:
We have a serious illness – panic
Something must be done – grab the pitchforks, run about screaming
An influential person, or organisation, grabs the initiative – ‘‘experts’ move in.’
I/We know what to do, you must follow me/us – simple idea + soothing paternalism
Frightened people latch onto their ideas – two legs good, four legs bad
A path is chosen – along the side of a cliff
Momentum builds – the unstoppable charge of the light brigade
Those who object to the path taken are crushed – 1984
Fast forward a few decades… ‘Oh, it seems that the thing we always do as standard medical practice… Turns out it does more harm than good.’ See under: removal of toxic colon, the radical mastectomy, strict bed rest following a heart attack, cutting teeth, use of radium water, plombage, mercury for syphilis, pre-frontal lobotomy etc.
The impulse to do something during the GMC, and the impulse to do something during a child’s fever are one and the same. One is retail while the other is wholesale.
I can’t help but comment, before moving on, about how aware Kendrick is of medical corruption, except when it comes to childhood vaccination. Anyway, he will eventually get there…
I’ve had a first principles intuition about fever for a long time. If the body wants to raise my temperature, it must be for a good reason, so why do I think it’s a problem and why should I intervene and “do” something about it. It always felt unnatural to me to relate to it as “bad”.
So, I was more than pleasantly surprised when I saw Mendelson had dedicated a chapter to it.
I’m so glad I discovered Mendelsohn (thank you Amelia) and I plan on continuing to promote his work and mental models towards health.
Fear is the problem. Fear is what got us into the mess of the last three years. Their ability to dial up our fear at will, and to weaponize our compassion (for our kids, our grandparents etc.) against us, is something we need to constantly challenge and resist.
If I am not easily scared, then I am not easily taken advantage of.
If we want to unplug from the medical system, that means we need to improve our understanding of body and health, and we have to improve our understanding of the right tools at our disposal. All of this will lead to the required increase in courage and chutzpah to politely say “no” to the white coats.
Courage is a muscle that needs to be exercised to me maintained. Use it or lose it.
With thanks to Dr Eric Berg in the masthead video.
In memory of, and with thanks to, Dr. Robert Mendelsohn.
Please buy and share his books.
How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor: Mendelsohn MD, Robert
Fever: Your Body's Defense against Disease
Do you worry when your child has a fever and reach for the telephone to let your doctor know right away? Many parents do, because medical professionals-doctors and nurses-have led them to believe that all fevers are dangerous. Doctors have also reinforced the mistaken notion that the height of a child's temperature is a measure of how sick he is. That's why fever is the symptom that produces about 30 percent of the patients a pediatrician sees.
When you telephone your pediatrician to tell him your child is sick his first question, almost invariably, is "Have you taken his temperature?" Whether you tell him 101 or 104, he'll probably tell you to give the kid an aspirin and bring him to the office. This ritual is almost universal among pediatricians. I suspect that some of them perform it by rote and would offer the same advice if you told him your child's temperature was 110! What troubles me is that they ask the wrong question and give the wrong advice. The very fact that fever is their first concern implies that there is something implicitly dangerous about fever itself. Then, when they prescribe aspirin, you are led to the inevitable conclusion that it is necessary and desirable to treat your child with drugs to bring the fever down.
This charade continues when you take your child to the doctor's office. In most practices the first thing the nurse does is to take his temperature and write it on his chart. There's nothing wrong with that. An elevated temperature does offer a diagnostic clue that can be important in the context of everything else the doctor learns during his subsequent examination. The problem is that the presence of fever is too often given more importance than that. When the doctor finally arrives in the examining room he is apt to look at the chart, assume an ex pression of benign concern, and say gravely, "Hmmm, 102 degrees. Well, now, we'd better do something about that!"
That's nonsense-misleading nonsense-because the presence of fever, by itself, does not mean that he must or should do anything at all. Unless there are additional symptoms such as extreme listlessness, abnormal behavior, respiratory difficulty, and others that could indicate the presence of serious diseases such as diphtheria and meningitis, your doctor should tell you there is nothing to worry about and send you and your child home.
It is not surprising, in view of this misleading preoccupation of doctors with fever, that the vast majority of parents questioned in surveys fear it greatly and that their degree of concern increases with each degree of temperature registered on the thermometer. Rarely is this concern justified. You'll be spared a lot of parental anguish, and your child will avoid needless and potentially harmful tests, X-rays, and medication, if you keep in mind some basic facts about fever. These are truths that every doctor should know, that many seem to ignore, and that most of them won't tell you.
Fact No. 1: A temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37.0 Celsius) is not the "normal" temperature for everyone.
That's what most of us have been told all of our lives, but it simply isn't true. The 98.6--degree standard for body temperature is merely a statistical average, and "normal" for most people is either higher or lower than that. This is particularly true of children. Their "normal" temperatures, measured in carefully controlled studies, ranged from a low of 96.6 degrees (35.9 Celsius) to a high of 99.4 (37.4 Celsius). Very few of these healthy children registered temperatures of precisely 98.6 degrees.
Your child's temperature may also fluctuate significantly throughout the day. You can expect his temperature to be about a degree higher in the late afternoon than it is in the early morning. Thus, an elevated reading taken at dinnertime may be a perfectly normal reading that occurs at that hour almost every day.
Fact No. 2: Your child's temperature may rise for a variety of reasons that do not signify illness.
Children's temperatures may be elevated while they are digesting a heavy meal. They may increase because of ovulation in pubertal teenagers. Sometimes they are a side effect of medications prescribed by your doctor antihistamines and others.
Fact No. 3: The fevers you should be concerned about usually stem from an obvious cause.
Most of the fevers that spell serious trouble are the result of poisoning, or exposure to toxic substances in the environment, and to causes that lead to "heat stroke." You've probably witnessed the latter in person or on TV-the soldier collapsing on the parade ground, or the marathon runner falling by the wayside, because of excessive physical exertion in the hot sun. Temperatures of 107 degrees (41.6 Celsius) or above, resulting from these causes, can result in lasting bodily harm, as can those that occur when someone becomes overheated from spending too much time in a sauna or Jacuzzi.
If you suspect that your child has swallowed a poisonous substance, call the poison center immediately. If you can't reach a poison center, don't wait to see if there are adverse reactions. Rush him to a hospital emergency room right away and, if possible, take the poison container with you. That will help determine the appropriate antidote. Most of the time the swallowed substance will be relatively innocuous, but you'll be glad you sought help promptly on the occasion when it isn't.
Immediate treatment is also essential if your child collapses and lapses into unconsciousness-even briefly -after strenuous activity in the hot sun or overexposure in a sauna or a Jacuzzi. Don't just call your doctor. Take the child to a hospital emergency room at once. These external influences are potentially dangerous because they may overwhelm the bodily defenses that normally prevent temperatures from soaring to dangerous levels.
Temperature elevations caused by events of this sort are very rare, of course. They can be identified by your knowledge of the circumstances and the associated symptoms such as loss of consciousness that leave no doubt that your child is in real trouble.
Fact No. 4: Temperature readings will vary depending on how they are taken.
Rectal temperatures in older children are usually about a degree higher than those taken orally, and axillary (underarm) temperatures may be about a degree lower. However, in babies rectal temperatures usually vary only slightly from oral or axillary temperatures. Consequently, an axillary reading is quite adequate to determine the temperature of an infant, and the use of a rectal thermometer is unnecessary. Avoid using one and spare your child the hazard of a rectal perforation-a rare accident that sometimes occurs when a rectal thermometer is inserted. I mention this risk only because rectal perforations are fatal in about half the instances in which they occur. That's why I advise parents not to take rectal temperatures. There's no need to do it, so why risk damaging your child?
Finally, don't assume that you can determine the height of fever by placing your hand on your child's chest or forehead. It has been demonstrated that skilled health professionals can't do that with any degree of reliability, and neither can parents.
Fact No. 5: In advising against the treatment of fever, per se, I make an exception of newborn babies.
Newborn babies may suffer from infections related· to obstetrical intervention during the delivery process, pre-natal or hereditary conditions, or events that occur shortly after birth. They may develop scalp abscesses as a result of fetal monitoring prior to delivery or aspiration pneumonia from amniotic fluid forced into the lungs because of overmedication of the mother during labor. They may contact an infection from circumcision per formed by the obstetrician before they left the hospital. Finally, they may develop infections from the legion of germs that abound in the hospital itself. (That's one of the reasons all of my grandchildren have been born at home!) Prudence demands that you take your newborn baby to the doctor if he runs a fever of any level during the first few months of life.
Fact No. 6: If your baby has a fever, don't overlook overdressing as a possible cause.
Parents, particularly those who are caring for their first child are often overly concerned about keeping the baby warm. They bundle the child up in layer upon layer of clothing and blankets, forgetting that babies are incapable of casting off excess clothing and blankets if the heat becomes oppressive. An elevated temperature may result. If your baby already has a temperature, perhaps accompanied by chills, and you respond by wrapping him tightly in heavy blankets, you will simply force his temperature to rise even more. A simple rule to follow, which I suggest to my patients, is to dress your baby in as many layers of clothing as you find comfortable for yourself.
Fact No. 7: Most fevers are caused by viral and bacterial infections that the body's own defense mechanisms will overcome without medical help.
The common cold and influenza are the most common sources of elevated body temperatures in children of all ages. They can generate fevers that range all the way up to 105 degrees (40.5 Celsius), but even at that level they are not a legitimate cause for alarm. The only potential risk is dehydration, which may result from accompanying conditions such as excessive perspiration, rapid respiration, coughing, runny nose, vomiting, and diarrhea. YOU" can help avert the threat of dehydration by making sure that your child receives plenty of fluids. A good rule of thumb is to try to get the patient to drink eight ounces of fluid every hour, preferably liquids that have some nutritional value. However, that's a lot of fluid, and it doesn't make any difference what kind it is, so give your child fruit juice, soda, tea, or anything else he's willing to take.
Remember, fluoride doesn’t help. Do what you can to get fluoride out of your drinking water.
In most cases you will be able to identify a fever as the product of a viral or bacterial infection, because the accompanying symptoms are those that are typical of these ailments-a mild cough, a stuffy or runny nose, watery eyes, etc. There is no need to call the doctor or to give any form of medication if no other symptoms are present, because there is nothing he or you can prescribe that will cure a viral infection or dispose of a bacterial infection any more effectively than the body's own defenses will. Medications given to relieve discomfort may interfere with the body's efforts to cure itself, for reasons that I'll explore more fully in a later chapter. Antibiotics may shorten the course of a bacterial infection, but the risks outweigh the benefit.
Fact No. 8: There is no consistent relationship between the height of a child's temperature and the severity of a disease.
There is a common misconception that the height of body temperature is an indication of the severity of an illness, but no consensus exists among parents or even among doctors about what "high" is. I've found among my patients an astonishing range of beliefs on this matter and also about the level a fever must reach before it is "too high." Research has shown that more than half of all parents consider a fever "high" at levels between 100 and 102, and almost all believe it is "high" if it reaches 103 degrees. These parents are also convinced that the height of a fever indicates how sick their child is.
This is emphatically not the case. Knowing the precise level of your child's fever will tell you nothing about how sick he is if the fever is produced by a viral or bacterial infection. Once you have determined that your child has a fever caused by infection, it is useless to hover over him, taking his temperature every hour or so, to determine how high it goes. There is nothing to be gained by measuring its climb, and doing so will probably magnify your fears and upset the child.
Some common, nonthreatening diseases such as roseola (one-day measles) produce extremely high temperatures in some children, while other more serious diseases may not produce any temperature elevation at all. Unless your child's fever is accompanied by additional symptoms, such as vomiting or respiratory difficulties, it need not be a cause of concern, even if it reaches 105.
More important in determining whether a fever is the result of a mild infection like the common cold, or a more serious one such as meningitis, is the overall appearance, behavior, and attitude of your child. These are all factors that you can judge more accurately and skill fully than your doctor, because you are the leading authority on the appearance and behavior of your child. If he is listless or confused, or displays other disturbingly abnormal behavior, a call to your doctor may be war ranted if the symptoms persist for a day or two. How ever, if he's active and playing and behaving normally, you needn't fear that his ailment is a matter of serious concern.
Every now and then I see an article in one of the pediatric journals about ''fever phobia." That's a term used by doctors to describe the "unreasonable" fear that some parents have of fever. This is typical of the "blame the victim" attitude that prevails in my profession. Doctors don't make mistakes; when they occur they are always the patient's fault. As far as I'm concerned, "fever phobia" is a disease of pediatricians, not parents, and to the extent that parents are victimized by it, doc tors are at fault.
Fact No. 9: Untreated fevers caused by viral and bacterial infections do not rise inexorably and will not exceed 105 degrees.
Doctors do a great disservice to you and your child when they prescribe drugs to reduce his fever. The effect of this advice is to validate the common fear of many parents that their child's temperature will continue to rise unless measures are taken to control it and bring it down. They don't tell you that reducing his temperature will do nothing to make the patient well or that our bodies have a built-in mechanism, not fully explained, that will prevent an infection-induced temperature from reaching 106 degrees.
Only in the case of heatstroke, poisoning, or other externally caused fevers is this bodily mechanism overwhelmed and inoperative. It is in those cases that temperatures reach and exceed 106 degrees. Doctors know this, but most of them behave as though they didn't. I believe that they are motivated by a simple desire to make you, the parent, believe they have done something to help your child. In addition, they are exhibiting their compulsion to intervene whenever they are provided the opportunity and their reluctance to admit that there are diseases that they can't effectively treat.
Apart from terminal illness, did any doctor ever tell a patient, ''There's nothing I can do"?
Fact No. 10: Measures to reduce temperature, such as drugs or sponging, are worse than unnecessary; they are actually counterproductive.
If your child contracts an infection, the fever that accompanies it is a blessing, not a curse. It occurs because of the spontaneous release of pyrogens that cause the body temperature to rise. This is a natural defense mechanism that our bodies employ to fight disease. The presence of fever tells you that the repair mechanisms of the body have gone into high gear.
The process works like this: When an infection develops, your child's body responds by manufacturing additional white blood cells, called leucocytes. They destroy bacteria and viruses and remove damaged tissue and irritating materials from the body. The activity of the white cells is also increased, and they move more rapidly to the site of the infection. This part of the process, called leucotaxis, is stimulated by the release of the pyrogens that raise body temperature. Hence the fever. A rising body temperature simply indicates that the process of healing is speeding up. It is something to rejoice over, not fear.
But that isn't all that's happening. Iron, which many germs need in order to thrive, is being removed from the blood and stored in the liver. This reduces the rate at which the bacteria multiply. The action of interferon, a disease-fighting substance produced naturally in the body, also becomes more effective.
Artificially induced fevers have been used in laboratory experiments with animals to demonstrate this process. Elevated temperatures decrease the death rate among animals infected with disease, but if their body temperatures are lowered, more of them die. Artificially induced temperatures have actually been used for many years to treat diseases in humans that do not normally produce fevers themselves.
If your child has a fever resulting from infection, resist the temptation to use drugs or sponging to bring it down. Let the fever run its course. If parental sympathy impels you to do something to relieve your child's dis comfort, sponge him off with tepid water or give him one tablet of acetaminophen of the strength recommended for his age. Do nothing beyond that unless the fever persists for more than three days, or other symptoms develop, or your child looks and acts really sick. In that event, see your doctor.
I want to emphasize that, while reducing his fever may make your child more comfortable, you may inter fere with the natural healing process if you do it. My only reason for discussing methods of temperature reduction is the probability that some parents won't be able to resist doing it. If you are going to do it, sponging is preferable to drugs because of the risks associated with aspirin and acetaminophen. Despite the frequency of their use, these are far from innocuous drugs. Aspirin probably poisons more children every year than any other toxic substance. It is a form of salicylic acid, which is also the basis for an anticoagulant used in a commercial rat poisons that causes rats to die of internal hemorrhage.
Aspirin2 can produce a variety of side effects in children and adults, not the least of which is intestinal bleeding. It also has been associated with Reye's syndrome when given to children with influenza or chicken pox. This is an often fatal disease of children primarily affecting the brain and liver. That's one reason so many doctors have switched to prescribing acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc.). That doesn't really solve the problem, because evidence is emerging that large doses of this drug may be toxic to the liver and kidneys. It is also worth noting that babies born to mothers who take aspirin near the end of labor or during delivery some times are victims of cephalhematoma, a condition in which fluid-filled bumps appear on the scalp.
If you can't resist sponging your child to bring down his fever, use tepid water, not cold water or alcohol. The reduction of fever by sponging is caused by evaporation, not by the temperature of the water. There is no added benefit in sponging your child with water that is uncomfortably cold. Don't use alcohol, because it is no more effective than tepid water, and the fumes released on evaporation may be toxic to a small child.
Fact No. 11: Fevers produced by viral or bacterial infections will not cause brain damage or permanent physical harm.
The fear of fevers in the higher ranges stems primarily from the widespread belief that permanent physical or brain damage may result if you permit your child's fever to get "too high." If that were true, it would justify any level of panic a parent might display, and because many parents believe it is true, it often does.
If you have harbored this fear, put aside everything you have been led to believe about fever by your doctor, your parents, your grandparents, your spouse, or even the friendly medical expert who lives next door and offers her advice over your morning cup of coffee. Even grandmothers are not always right! Your child's cold, influenza, or any other infection will not produce a fever that exceeds 106 degrees, and below that level the fever will not cause any lasting harm.
Because your child's bodily defenses won't allow infections to produce fevers of 106 degrees, you need not live in fear of mental or physical damage when his temperature begins to rise. I doubt that many pediatricians, including those who have practiced for decades, have seen more than one or two cases of fever above 106 degrees during their entire careers. Those they did see were the result of causes other than infection, such as poisoning or heatstroke. I have treated tens of thousands of children, and I've seen only one case of fever higher than 106. That's not surprising, because it is estimated that 95 percent of childhood fevers don't even reach 105.
Fact No.12: High fevers do not cause convulsions. They result when the temperature rises at an extremely rapid rate.
Many parents are fearful of fevers because they have witnessed a convulsive seizure and believe that their child may experience one if his temperature is allowed to rise "too high." I empathize with those who have this concern, for a child in the throes of a convulsion is a frightening spectacle. If you have seen one occur, you may find it hard to believe that this condition is rarely serious. It is also relatively uncommon; it is estimated that only 4 percent of children with high fever experience fever-related convulsions. There is no evidence that those who do have them suffer any serious aftereffects as a result. One study of 1,706 children who had suffered febrile convulsions failed to disclose a single death or motor defect. There is also no convincing evidence that febrile seizures in childhood increase susceptibility to epilepsy later in life.
More to the point, however, is the fact that treatment to prevent febrile convulsions is almost always given too late to do any good. Medication and sponging are a use-less exercise because, by the time you become aware that your child has a temperature, the probability is that any resulting convulsion would already have occurred. That's because the convulsion is not related to the height of your child's temperature but to how rapidly the temperature rose to whatever level it reached. By the time you become aware of the child's temperature, the probability is that this rapid rise has already occurred, and unless the child has already convulsed, the danger period has passed.
The possibility of febrile convulsions is limited primarily to children under five years of age, and even those children who experience them prior to that age rarely have them after the age of five. When a child experiences a convulsion, many doctors will prescribe long-term therapy with phenobarbital or other anticonvulsants to prevent a recurrence of seizures when another fever occurs.
If your doctor suggests this treatment for your child, I urge you to question him about the risks of long-term anticonvulsant therapy. Also ask him about the behavioral changes it may produce in your child. There is no consensus among doctors on the long-term management of febrile seizures. The drugs commonly used can cause liver damage, and animal studies suggest that they may have a negative impact on the development of the brain. One authority on the subject has argued that "Some patients may be better off leading a more normal life between occasional seizures than they would if they lived seizure-free in a perpetual state of drug-induced drowsiness and confusion…"
I was trained to prescribe phenobarbital for children who had febrile convulsions, in order to prevent recurrences. The same treatment strategy is still being taught to students in medical school I began to develop doubts about this procedure when I saw that some patients had repeat convulsions even when they were taking phenobarbital. That obviously raised a question about whether those who were taking phenobarbital and were seizure free were - benefiting from the drug or would have escaped another convulsion even if they hadn't used it. My doubts were enhanced when some mothers began to report that phenobarbital overstimulated their children instead of quieting them or quieted them so much that normally active, outgoing kids became, by comparison, semizombies. Because convulsions are so infrequent, and cause no lasting damage, I no longer prescribe this therapy for the children who are entrusted to my care.
If your child suffers a febrile convulsion and your pediatrician prescribes long-term anticonvulsant therapy, you will have to determine whether you want to accept it. I know it may be difficult for you to question the treatments prescribed by your pediatrician and that when you do you may get a brusque and unresponsive reply. If this is what happens when you question your pediatrician about a medication, there's not much point in arguing with him. Accept the prescription and then get a second opinion from another doctor before you decide whether to have it filled.
If your son or daughter does experience a fever induced convulsion, try not to panic. That's advice that is far easier for me to give than it may be for you to follow, because the sight of your child in the midst of a convulsion may be so unnerving. Calm yourself by remembering that the convulsions are not life-threatening and will not result in physical damage and then take a few simple steps to protect your child from injury.
First, place the child on his side so that he will not choke on his own saliva. Next, keep him from striking his head against any hard or sharp object while he is thrashing about. Make sure that he does not have a breathing obstruction during the seizure and place some soft but firm object such as a folded leather glove or billfold (not your finger) between his teeth to keep him from biting his tongue. Then, for your own peace of mind, call your doctor and tell him what happened.
Most seizures last no more than a few minutes. If one is prolonged, call your doctor and ask for his advice. You may expect the child to sleep after the seizure has passed, but even if he doesn't, don't give him anything to eat or drink for an hour or so. He may be so drowsy that he aspirates the food and chokes on it.
DR. MENDELSOHN'S QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO FEVER
Fevers are a common symptom in children and are not an indication of serious illness unless associated with major changes in appearance and behavior or other major symptoms such as respiratory difficulty or loss of consciousness. The height of fever is not a measure of the severity of an illness. Infection-induced fevers will not reach levels that can cause permanent damage to your child. Fevers do not usually require medical attention, except as recommended below. They are the body's natural defense against infection and should be allowed to run their course without medication or other treatment intended to bring them down.
If your child is less than two months of age, and his temperature exceeds 100 degrees, call your doctor. The fever may be the symptom of an infection that is prenatal in origin or related to the delivery of the baby. Fevers in newborn infants are so uncommon that simple prudence and your peace of mind make a visit to the doc tor worthwhile, even though it may prove to be unnecessary.
For older children it is unnecessary to call the doctor unless the fever fails to abate within three days or is accompanied by other major symptoms such as vomiting, respiratory dis tress, persistent cough lasting several days, and other major symptoms not normally associated with the common cold. Also see your doctor if your child displays continued listlessness, irritability, inattentiveness, or otherwise acts and looks seriously ill.
Call your doctor, regardless of the temperature level, if your child is experiencing difficulty in breathing, is vomiting repeatedly, or has a fever that is accompanied by twitching or other strange movements, or you are concerned about any other alarming element of the child's behavior or appearance.
If your child experiences. chills along with his fever, don't try to counteract it by piling on more blankets. This will simply cause the temperature to increase more rapidly, and the chills are not to be feared, because they are a normal bodily response. The chills do not mean that the child is cold but are part of the mechanism through which the body adjusts to a higher temperature level.
Encourage your feverish child to rest, but don't make too big a production of it. There is no medical need to confine him to bed or even to keep him indoors if the weather is reasonably decent. The fresh air and moderate activity may improve his disposition and make him easier to live with, and it won't make him any sicker. You should try to discourage him from engaging in intense competitive sports, however.
If you have reason to believe that the fever is the result of a cause other than infection, such as heatstroke or poisoning, take your child to a hospital emergency room at once. If there is no emergency room in your area, seek medical attention wherever it is available.
Ignore the old wives' tale ..Feed a cold and starve a fever." Nourishment is an-important part of recovery from any illness. Tu the extent. your child will tolerate it, you should feed both colds and fevers. Both conditions bum up the body's supply of protein, fats, and carbohydrates, and they should be replaced. If the child won't eat, give him fluids such as fruit juice that have some caloric value. And don't forget, you don't have to be Jewish to benefit from chicken soup!3
Fevers and the other symptoms commonly as sociated with it may cause your child to lose a significant volume of fluids. This could lead to dehydration, but you can help avert it by making sure that be drinks plenty of fluids. Fruit juices are fine, but if be resists them, almost any other fluid will do. The trick is to try to get him to consume eight ounces an hour.
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Fever
Fever is a complex physiological response to infection or inflammation that's primarily controlled by the hypothalamus, a part of your brain that acts as the body's thermostat.
Here's a general overview of how it works:
Initiation: When your body encounters an infectious agent such as a bacteria, virus, or toxin, immune cells like macrophages recognize these foreign substances. In response, these cells produce signaling molecules called cytokines. Certain cytokines, like interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), act as endogenous pyrogens – substances that can induce fever.
Signal Transmission: These endogenous pyrogens travel to the hypothalamus in the brain. They interact with the hypothalamus and stimulate the production of prostaglandins, particularly prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).
Temperature Increase: PGE2 binds to specific receptors in the hypothalamus, leading to a shift in the body's thermoregulatory set point. Instead of maintaining the normal body temperature, the hypothalamus now aims for a higher temperature, triggering mechanisms to increase heat production and conserve heat in the body.
Heat Generation and Conservation: To increase body temperature, the body may induce shivering, which generates heat through muscle contraction. The body also reduces heat loss by constricting blood vessels in the skin (which gives the characteristic pale appearance during fever) and by inducing behaviors like seeking warmth, curling up, or putting on more clothes.
Resolution: Once the infection or inflammation resolves, the levels of cytokines decrease, and the hypothalamus readjusts the body's set point back to normal. This triggers heat loss mechanisms like sweating and increased blood flow to the skin (leading to the characteristic flushed appearance), which help to cool the body down.
Aspirin is not typically recommended for use in children, especially those under the age of 16, except under a doctor's supervision for specific conditions. This is due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can cause liver and brain damage.
Aspirin side effects
When aspirin is given to children, the potential side effects are generally similar to those in adults. They can include:
Gastrointestinal issues: Stomach pain, heartburn, or nausea could occur.
Bleeding: Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding due to its blood-thinning properties.
Allergic reactions: These could include skin rashes, hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing.
However, the most significant risk is Reye's syndrome, which can occur if aspirin is given to children or teenagers with viral infections like the flu or chickenpox. Reye's syndrome can cause symptoms like persistent vomiting, confusion or altered behavior, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
Chicken Soup
Chicken soup has been used as a remedy for illnesses like the common cold for centuries, it offers several health benefits:
Hydration: Chicken soup is primarily made up of water, which is helpful in maintaining hydration, especially when you're ill and may not feel like drinking water.
Nutrition: Chicken soup is often made with a variety of vegetables (like carrots, celery, and onions) that provide vitamins and minerals. Chicken itself is a good source of protein, which is important for healing and recovery.
Nasal Congestion Relief: The hot steam from the soup can help clear up nasal congestion. This is similar to the effect of a hot shower or a steamy cup of tea.
Soothes Sore Throat: The warm liquid can soothe a sore or scratchy throat, making it easier to eat and drink.
May reduce inflammation: Some research suggests that chicken soup may have mild anti-inflammatory effects which could potentially help reduce symptoms of illnesses like the common cold.
Comfort: There's also the psychological benefit. Many people associate chicken soup with care and comfort, which can in itself have a positive effect on your mood and wellbeing when you're not feeling well.
Chicken, one of the primary ingredients in chicken soup, is a good source of zinc. However, the amount of zinc you get from chicken soup can vary based on the recipe and the amount of chicken in the soup. As a reference, a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of chicken breast contains about 0.7 mg of zinc.
Zinc is an essential mineral that plays a key role in many biological functions, including immune function, protein synthesis, DNA synthesis, and cell division. While chicken soup can contribute to your daily intake of zinc, it's also important to eat a variety of foods to meet your nutritional needs.
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