Thank you for your article! It is sad that it took until 2015 for anyone to look into it; fever working to stimulate the immune system is not news. How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor, a book written in 1987 by Dr Robert Mendelsohn, MD was where I first heard about the benefit of a fever. In it, he shared that they were taught in medical school that fevers are beneficial.
In my German culture, my mother would bring out the fat fluffy featherbeds and tuck us under them to break the fever. (i.e. raise the body temperature) The room would get darkened and we would get served hot mint tea with honey. And of course sleep was part of the healing. I never got fever reducing drugs.
In our culture ( soviets) it was always the attitude of leaving the fever alone, let it run its course, bundle up in bed and sleep it off. And that’s what I followed with my kids as well. The only time I gave ibuprofen is when the oldest was running a 40 C fewer. Wet cloth on forehead arms and legs, baths tend to control it.
a visiting cousin could not reduce her babies fever. took the child to hospital where they plied the poor baby with tylenol. didn’t work. i ran a tepid bath with a half cup of epsoms salts. urged the mama to sit in the tub with the baby and VOILA! half an hour later fever abated. child stopped crying and mama relieved.
My husband had a very high fever during covid - by far his worst symptom. I saw it go to 104- he says he saw 105. I didn’t give him anything knowing the benefit of fever, but I’ve felt like I it let it go on too long and have felt badly since then. How high is too high ?
My father was an M.D., general practice. He always encouraged fevers, with some guidelines, throughout his practice, which began in 1953. He graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine; makes me wonder if there was simply less uniformity in opinion during that time? They knew of the benefits, though not with the precision of reasons we have today, even back then.
Thank you for your article! It is sad that it took until 2015 for anyone to look into it; fever working to stimulate the immune system is not news. How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor, a book written in 1987 by Dr Robert Mendelsohn, MD was where I first heard about the benefit of a fever. In it, he shared that they were taught in medical school that fevers are beneficial.
In my German culture, my mother would bring out the fat fluffy featherbeds and tuck us under them to break the fever. (i.e. raise the body temperature) The room would get darkened and we would get served hot mint tea with honey. And of course sleep was part of the healing. I never got fever reducing drugs.
In our culture ( soviets) it was always the attitude of leaving the fever alone, let it run its course, bundle up in bed and sleep it off. And that’s what I followed with my kids as well. The only time I gave ibuprofen is when the oldest was running a 40 C fewer. Wet cloth on forehead arms and legs, baths tend to control it.
a visiting cousin could not reduce her babies fever. took the child to hospital where they plied the poor baby with tylenol. didn’t work. i ran a tepid bath with a half cup of epsoms salts. urged the mama to sit in the tub with the baby and VOILA! half an hour later fever abated. child stopped crying and mama relieved.
My husband had a very high fever during covid - by far his worst symptom. I saw it go to 104- he says he saw 105. I didn’t give him anything knowing the benefit of fever, but I’ve felt like I it let it go on too long and have felt badly since then. How high is too high ?
Hello Jennifer,
My father was an M.D., general practice. He always encouraged fevers, with some guidelines, throughout his practice, which began in 1953. He graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine; makes me wonder if there was simply less uniformity in opinion during that time? They knew of the benefits, though not with the precision of reasons we have today, even back then.
We are appreciating the newsletters.
Thanks so much,
Catherine