If you’ve been reading my blogs and emails for a while, you’ve probably read some of my tips for preventing common winter illnesses. While prevention is always the best medicine, we still get sick sometimes and that’s ok! Let’s talk about how we can treat the flu and other viruses like the common cold, pneumonia, and RSV.
Are Fevers Ok When Trying to Treat the Flu and other Common Illnesses?
Allowing your child to run a fever stimulates their immune response and increases the performance of germ-fighting cells.1 Plus, the higher temperature creates an unfavorable environment for the virus, which means having a fever can actually help your child recover faster!
Here are some general guidelines for what qualifies as a fever:
- Rectal, ear, or temporal artery temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher
- Oral temperature of 100 F (37.8 C) or higher
- Axillary (under the arm) temperature of 99 F (37.2 C) or higher
Additionally, did you know that by suppressing a fever we usually end up shedding the virus for a longer period of time and therefore increase the probability of transmission to others around us.2
Crazy, right?
However, sometimes it is appropriate to give your child fever-reducing medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen–for example, if your child has a history of febrile seizures, it is important to treat fevers proactively.
Always be sure to check in with your pediatrician to weigh the pros and cons plus get proper dosing instructions for fever-reducing medications.
An alternative to OTC acetaminophen and ibuprofen is our HKHM PureZyme (or HKHM ProZyme, which can be thought of as “extra strength”). Both of these supplements provide a well managed inflammatory response without leaving the body needing repair.
Other At Home Remedies to Treat the Flu and Colds
1.) Wet Sock Technique
This is an old European remedy for symptomatic relief of cough and nasal congestion. Yes, it involves freezing socks before bed, but it’s worth a shot–promise! You can learn more about how to do this technique here.
(NOTE: I would reserve the wet sock method for kids at least one year and older.)
2.) Nasal Spray
You can generally use saline nasal spray3 for kids 3 years and older.
For kids 4+ years old specifically, I recommend the XLear Nasal Spray, which contains saline, xylitol, and grapefruit seed extract and helps prevent viruses from adhering to the wall of the nasal mucosa. For babies, try the Frida Baby Nasal Aspirator, the “SnotSucker,” to suction your child’s nose.
3.) Hydration
Offer your child water frequently, and do not worry about food if they don’t want to eat. To increase water intake, add an electrolyte replenisher such as Ultima (for kids 1 year and older).
If your child (or children) consistently get the flu, I recommend checking out this blog post, “What You Need to Know about Preventing and Treating the Flu,” for more in-depth guidance and information on the the flu specifically.
Getting sick is never fun, but by utilizing the techniques and tips above, you can help your child feel good again in no time!
References:
- Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). First aid for fever. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved November 27, 2024, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-fever/basics/art-20056685.
- Earn David J. D., Andrews Paul W. and Bolker Benjamin M. 2014. Population-level effects of suppressing fever. Proc. R. Soc. B. 281: 20132570. http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.2570.
- Farrell NF, Klatt-Cromwell C, Schneider JS. Benefits and Safety of Nasal Saline Irrigations in a Pandemic—Washing COVID-19 Away. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;146(9):787–788. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2020.1622.
