It's an ordinary, well-worn topic, yet I feel every day that I should talk about it, because many people think about it in many different ways and the official position has also changed a lot in the past period. And today we won't go to the cellular level again, there won't be a word about ribosomes, mitochondria, pyrogens and interleukins.
It is an interesting symptom from several points of view, because it is a symptom, not a disease. It's almost the only symptom that doesn't just sound bad. Vomiting, diarrhea, or coughing can really be just silly. We can't think of anything good about pain, wherever it is. These symptoms indicate trouble, badness, or illness. But the fever? The fever is special. Fever can be good. Moreover, it is also very good if it is connected to the most beautiful emotion or desire. In most languages, the word fever is also a common synonym for love, excitement, and excitement. But when I say that it's a feverish preparation, everyone still thinks of good and beautiful things. And, of course, it can be useful in the case of illness, most ailments heal faster at a high body temperature.
In any case, it is not nearly as dangerous in itself as it is feared.
Okay, it's true, there is indeed a frighteningly high body temperature. A fever of around 40 degrees is terrifying in itself, especially if our child is also speaking the wrong way... Well, as a father, even I would despair. But we now know that fever only causes serious problems in the rarest of cases. The problem is usually caused by viruses, bacteria or an underlying disease that causes fever. In the case of febrile convulsions, there are also many scientific theories that the convulsions may not be caused by fever, but by some kind of virus that also affects the nervous system, in addition to some kind of hereditary factors.
It was important to state this because it makes it easier to accept the latest antipyretic recommendations. The new, globally accepted recommendation is almost NOT to lower the fever at all. This in itself sounds quite strict, which is why I would try to refine the positions with my own medical perspective.
Perhaps the most important thing is that the goal is not to reduce the number shown on the thermometer! It is much more important to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms caused by fever. If our little one has a fever, often even 39 doesn't tickle him. Sometimes, however, even a minor fever can defeat the child. As in adults, children can also have headaches and limb pains in addition to fever, in addition to general depression. What does that mean? If our child is fussy and shows pain in addition to a fever, drugs called antipyretics, but which actually also act on fever, pain and inflammation, can help. Isn't it like this, for example? Flamborin, Nurofen or Algoflex.
And then it's good to know that when the fever rises, the hands are cold, the child is fussing, the cold is shaking, and it's cold. We can experience this until our body reaches the temperature set on the brain "thermostat". Just like with home heating: our boiler works until it is 22 degrees in the apartment. If we open the window at this time, it heats up even more, burns more and more gas, and consumes much more. That is, while the fever rises, covering up, cooling, cooling baths, or priznic can be unnecessary and even burdensome. This only worsens the situation, or at least the child's mood. Chills and shivering are very stressful for the already lethargic and weak patient.
When the skin turns red and the limbs are warmer, the "heating" has probably stopped. In such cases, we can only improve the well-being of our child with pleasant cooling. At this stage, it's good to cover up, splash around in water a few degrees colder, but a drastic cooling bath or priznic is absolutely not recommended.
Well, if someone can accept the above, then it is no longer a question whether potatoes, beets, or any fruit or vegetable put on the ankle will bring down the fever or not. :)
