| Dr.Havinga |
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FeverHere we look at fever and the treatment of fever in children,
caused by viral infections found in the temperate climate of Great
Britain. (This advice does not necessarily apply to tropical or
sub-tropical infections). It
is impressive to realise that we constantly maintain a body temperature
of 37 degrees Celsius, but even more impressive that we can produce the
great heat of a fever. Fever The
body of the newly born baby is completely built up from substances
delivered through the mother. From the moment of birth, with the first
breath of oxygen, the baby will start to break down and reorganise
these motherly substances. Through the breathing process and feeding,
the baby starts to rearrange and transform his or her little body to
correspond to its own individuality. During a fever, a dramatic
transformation is taking place in the body. The body needs the fever in
order to leap hurdles in this process of maturing. We could say that,
on the one hand we come into the world with inherited substances and
forces, linking us with our past; but on the other hand we go through a
process of personal development, drawing us into the future. Fever can
be seen as an episode where these two opposing streams rub against one
another, hence the heat!
We need to support the febrile process so that a new beneficial balance can come about. To support a fever, you need to be confident, but often when the child has a fever, parents are greatly concerned. A common misunderstanding is that fevers can get too high and as a result a child may die of a fever.
As
for the concern that the fever and body temperature might rise too
high, you can be reassured by knowing that a fever can not go beyond a
certain plateau phase. In previous centuries this fact was not
understood, and when people died from meningitis, for example, it was
claimed they had died of a fever. That is also why there are rhymes
warning against fever and ending in predictions of death! You
cannot die of a fever, but you may possibly die of an illness
underlying the fever, such as meningitis or malaria. Any serious
underlying illness like meningitis, malaria or pneumonia needs to be
excluded, of course. A test to exclude meningitis is to sit the child Sometimes
these meningitis bacteria run around in the bloodstream and do not
cause a pain in the neck or headache. In a typical case, this infection
can show up as small bruises. So you need to look for a rash as well
— it usually looks little bruises which do not fade when the
spots are pressed. Meningitis can develop in a matter of hours. Therefore, in general, in case of a fever and you are worried it is best to contact your doctor for advice. When the fever lasts longer than 2 days, go and see your doctor to have the child checked for other illnesses, like chest or urinary tract/ ‘waterworks’ infections. When in doubt, always ring the doctor!
(partial chapter; what follows in the book References:
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is largely a childhood condition. Children seem to have the ability to
produce fevers easily and can tolerate them better than adults. (High
fevers are less common in adults and are more often a symptom of a
serious illness.) Fevers should be viewed with reverence, particularly
when we consider that this heat originates from the Sun! As discussed
in the chapter on potentized remedies, plants bind the warmth of the
Sun into their substance. When humans absorb food, this warmth is
released into our bodies when it is broken down by oxygen, like the
heat from a burning log fire. The following is an attempt to restore a
sense of reverence for fever. 
upright with his or her legs stretched out on the bed, and ask the
child to look at their belly button (or keep a toy there to try and
make the child look down without forcing). In meningitis this is likely
to cause distress because this stretches the meninges. These are the
sheath of the brain, enveloping the brain and spinal cord right down to
the tailbone. When this sheath of the brain is inflamed, (i.e. in
meningitis), this ‘neck-down’ position can cause a pain in
the head and/or neck. (Mind you, flu will cause a pain in the neck area
when the person looks down but this pain comes from the neck muscles
rather than from the meninges.) A headache, lethargy, and being
irritated by light can be indicators of meningitis. 
