Fever - Friend or Foe?
Do you have fever phobia? If so, you are not alone. Fevers are one of the top reasons for doctor's office visits and many a parent has spent an anxious night monitoring their sick child for any spike in temperature. But fear not! A fever is actually a sign that the immune system is functioning well and fighting infection. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics has finally gotten on board and agreed with what naturopathic doctors have been saying for years: Fever, however, is not the primary illness but is a physiologic mechanism that has beneficial effects in fighting infection. There is no evidence that fever itself worsens the course of an illness or that it causes long-term neurologic complications. Thus, the primary goal of treating the febrile child should be to improve the child's overall comfort rather than focus on the normalization of body temperature.
A fever stimulates the activity of the immune system, encourages white blood cell activity and can kill off certain bacteria and viruses. What's not to love?
Confused about what to do with your feverish child? Consider the following guidelines:
1. Treat the child, not the number - A child who is happily playing with a 103 degree fever is probably fine, while the lethargic and miserable child with a 101 degree fever might need some intervention.
2. Consider some home remedies - lukewarm (not cold!) baths or compresses, homeopathic remedies or herbal tea can work wonders to make a child (or adult) comfortable without suppressing the immune system.
3. Use fever-reducing medications sparingly - If the above recommendations are not enough to comfort the child or if the parent or health care professional is uncomfortable with the severity of the fever, consider using a fever-reducing medication. My recommendation is to start with a weight appropriate dose of Ibuprofen. Only if Ibuprofen is not tolerated, should Acetaminophen be used. Acetaminophen use may be linked to an increase risk of asthma and can be damaging to the liver.
Fevers in an infant (under 6 months), lasting longer then 5 days, over 104 degrees or accompanied by concerning symptoms need to be evaluated by a heath care practitioner. Also, trust you gut, if you are worried - seek help. Mama, and papa, know best.
Please join me in my crusade to help end fever phobia!
Dr C
Happy, Healthy Halloween!
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays! Most families feel the same way but fear the inevitable bags of corn-syrup laden confections and subsequent post-candy meltdowns. However, it is possible to enjoy the holiday while minimizing the damage to teeth, tummies and mom's last nerve.
- Trade in the bag of candy for a special treat. After allowing kids to pick out 10-20 pieces of their favorite candy, trade out the candy for a more tangible treat. Sort of like the tooth fairy, the Halloween Candy Fairy (or the Great Pumpkin, or whatever you want to name your new candy-craving creature) comes in the night and trades in the bags of candy for a cool basket of goodies. New books, art supplies, holiday-themed pajamas or gift certificates to movies or a favorite restaurant are all good options.
- Host a Halloween feast. There is nothing worse then a bunch of sugar on an empty stomach. Prior to trick or treating, have family and friends come over for a warming, Autumn meal. Serve hearty, protein-rich dishes with fun and spooky themes. Check out blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2011/10/healthy-halloween/ for recipes. A pre-treat meal will cut down on sugar induced highs and lows.
- Choose the lesser evil. Look to minimize artificial colors and flavors. Choose real sugar over corn syrup (or heaven forbid atificial sweeteners). Dark chocolate is always a good bet. Homemade snacks made with real ingredients are an even better way to celebrate the holiday season. Check out this fabulous recipe for raw caramel and apples (www.nourishingmeals.com/2010/09/raw-caramel-dip-for-apples.html) or maple carmel corn (http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2010/12/maple-caramel-corn.html)!
Don't forget to relax and have fun. Most kiddos can handle a few days of junk. Do some damage control, offer healthy options and enjoy. Have a happy, healthy, Halloween!
Dr C
PS For parents and other folks that get to carried away with holiday treats check out my nutritional cleanse program offered in partnership with Root Yoga (www.rootyogacenter.com/nutrition/)!
A spoonful of sugar ...
Hopefully, most of you have been spared from the nasty spring viruses that have been circulating Denver. For those of you the haven't been so lucky I wanted to share a safe and effective home remedy for coughing - honey! A study comparing 2 teaspoons of honey to children's cough syrups containing dextromethorphan found honey to be more effective. This is great news considering dextromethorphan can cause life-threatening side effects in kids under 4.
Consider using local honey and you might gain some additional protection against seasonal allergies.
I have tried this remedy on myself, my partner and my new puppy and it was effective for everyone :)
In Health,
Dr. Caitlin
Eating tips for picky toddlers
Do you have a picky toddler? You are not alone! Check out my latest article for the Denver Examiner on Eating Tips for Picky Toddlers. Enjoy!
Dr. Caitlin
Nutritional Deficit Disorder
I am currently reading Dr. William Sears newest offering, The NDD Book. NDD stands for Nutrient Deficit Disorder and Dr. Sears believes that it is a contributing factor to many of the "D disorders," from ADHD to GERD to diabetes, that are becoming alarmingly prevalent in kids. This is my favorite quote so far: "You put junk food into a child's brain, you get back junk behavior, junk learning, and junk mood. It's as simple as that!"
Now, we know it isn't always as simple as that. But, almost always, what we eat matters. Most medical conditions are a complex blend of genetics and environment. Often times, we emphasize the genes, which we can't change, over the environment, which we can.
However, change is easier said then done. The culture of food in the United States is totally deranged. Much of what constitutes "food" now would be totally unrecognizable to our great-grandparents.
So it becomes the responsibility of families to create a culture of real food and pass that legacy down to their children.
So where do we start? As my patients know, I frequently recommend two cookbooks - Whole Life Nutrition and Feeding the Whole Family. Both of these books are not only full of family - friendly recipes, but they provide a basic groundwork for whole foods cooking. Many of us don't know how to cook whole grains, use dried beans or make tasty vegetable dishes. No worries, because these cookbooks provide simple instructions that will have you cruising the bulk aisle and perusing new produce in no time.
Get cooking!
Dr. Caitlin