Cold and Flu Archives

High fevers in children - WHAT TO DO

Hi all,

I e-mailed Walt in a panic yesterday because my little one developed a high fever (got as high as 105.3). I wanted to share his reply so those of you with young children could benefit during this year's cold/flu season:

Walt wrote: "I never try to keep fever below 102 since for every degree elevation up to 102 the immunity increases by about 10%. After 102, it starts to go down for every degree. However, if I saw the temp going up rapidly, I might start at 101 since it takes medications a while to be effective. Actually, room temperature sponges, while sitting in a tepid tub of water, is the healthiest and most effective tool and has none of the risks attendant to any medication (Reye's, etc.). More work and bother than just taking a pill; which is why docs don't talk about it and why most parents don't know about it... Alcohol sponging should never be done and icepacks or cold sponging is not nearly as effective (besides being terribly uncomfortable and stressful to the child. I would not really worry until fever got as high as 106 UNLESS the child was known to be susceptible to convulsions (then 104)."

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