Fevers Are Your Friends!

Your kiddo is acting a bit crabby and tired, but they had a full night of rest & it’s not even close to nap time. You get closer and see their eyes look a little glassy. You touch them and you can feel the heat radiating from their skin. You break out the thermometer (that never seems to read correctly) to check their temperature and it's 101.5. You start to get a little panicked, “Oh no, it could keep climbing. I’ve gotta get this under control before it gets too high!

Having significant fear in a scenario like this is usually the result of not fully understanding how intelligently designed our bodies are. Fear not, you are more than capable of understanding this process so you can better navigate illness in your own family! Once we understand some of the most basic defense mechanisms our bodies use to heal themselves, symptoms during an illness become much less scary! 

A lot of us have been taught to actively manage our bodily processes. A lot of times this active management prolongs the healing because it interrupts the healing our bodies were already trying to do. 

• Fevers are not caused by a pathogen or germ itself.

A fever is the body’s response to a pathogen entering. As pathogens enter the body this elicits an immune response AKA the defense mechanism process. A fever is part of this process. During an immune response, the body gradually increases the internal temperature which puts stress on pathogenic cells, while boosting our immune cell's performance. By eliminating the fever we are interrupting the healing process & can actually cause the illness to get out of control by creating a “normal” internal temperature, allowing the pathogens to rapidly multiply & infect even worse. The warmer we are, the harder it is for the pathogen to live. 

• Our body regulates temperature & illness through circulation changes & the immune response- these are what we call "symptoms" which are actually just regulatory processes

The circulatory system refers to the heart and blood vessels. These blood vessels can dilate (widen) or constrict (narrow) depending on what the body needs. For example, during an illness, the body increases the temp to fight the infection, but it must keep the temp in check so that it doesn't get too high. To regulate this, the blood vessels dilate which allows for more blood flow, and the surface area of the blood vessels expands and is actually carrying the blood nearer the skin surface- this often is why someone looks red/flushed. With blood being closer to the skin surface it can dissipate heat and cool the body. Increased blood flow through widened vessels can stimulate sweat glands. As sweat evaporates it cools the body down.

During infection, the body’s immune system releases inflammatory mediators which will signal blood vessels to widen to increase blood flow. The more blood circulation/flow we have, the better our immune fighting cells can travel to infected areas- it’s like running a lifeboat down a large rushing river vs. a slow-flowing creek (that’s why some people who are very ill have low blood pressure- their blood vessels are opened wide). More blood flow also allows tissues to get more oxygen since blood cells are what carry oxygen & nutrients. These are needed to repair our damaged cells. The increased circulation also helps to remove toxins and waste quicker which prevents an overabundance AKA detox.

When the body is in a cold state, blood vessels constrict which helps hold heat in.

When cold, muscles may begin contracting which is seen as shivering- this shivering produces heat. 

• A few notes

1. Febrile seizures do not usually occur due to high temps- they are more commonly due to bringing temps down too rapidly.

1. A fever lasting up to 3 days is normal in the bodily process of fighting infections.

1. While we are ill, the body prioritizes where it will utilize the energy it has & it avoids using energy on less essential processes like digestion & absorption. A decreased appetite is your body's signal that it does not want or need food during that acute time of illness.

As always, this is just information that you can take & decide what you will or will not do with it. If it’s 2am and your child is miserable & can’t sleep because of their fever, maybe you decide to bring the fever down instead of riding it out. I have felt the need to do this as well. 

Ways to bring a temp down

1. Lukewarm bath

2. Cool compress applied to the back of the neck, head, or wrist

3. Removing extra blankets

4. Wet sock method

Preparation: Warm feet gently by soaking in warm water for 5-10 min or taking a warm bath. Dry feet. Soak a pair of thin cotton socks in COLD water (can place in freezer or in ice bath), then wring them out so damp but not dripping wet

Application: Put the wet socks on and then place a pair of wool socks over the wet ones. Go straight to bed.

Bodily Response: The cold socks stimulate the blood vessels in the feet to constrict (narrow). As the water begins to evaporate and the wool socks keep in heat, the blood vessels go from constricting (narrowing) to dilating (widening). This method stimulates circulation which can stimulate the body’s thermoregulatory and immune system.

I always try to approach symptoms with humility. Stop, remember who designed our body, trust that what it’s doing is on purpose & be humble enough to allow it to heal without micromanaging it. Go with your gut when you're questioning the need for medical care.

With love,

Elaina

Medical Disclaimer: The content on this blog is for informational purposes and is not intended as personalized medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health decisions or changes to your treatment. I am not responsible for any outcomes or issues that arise from the use of this information.