Fever is one of the typical signs of an active immune system.

When the body is attacked by external pathogens such as a virus or bacteria, the immune system reacts by secreting fluids and white blood cells from the blood vessels into the mucous membranes of the skin and the respiratory and digestive systems through which these pathogens attack the body.

These body fluids cause the typical congested look and feeling of the first phase of children´s diseases- the "shiny eyed" look any experienced mother knows and dreads...

This secretion of fluids is an important phase in the body´s defense against disease. The fluids engulf the pathogens in the exterior layers of the body and prevent the infection of the inner organs.

The second phase of defense is the action of the white blood cells which, on the one hand, attack the pathogens and, on the other, secrete pyrogens into the blood stream. These pyrogens affect the hypothalamus gland in the brain to gradually raise the temperature of the body from 37 to 40 degrees centigrade.

This rise of temperature, or fever, enables the massive release of new white blood cells from the bone marrow into the blood stream, thus strengthening the body´s response to disease.

This explains the importance of fever to the immune process and is the main reason not to take action against fever during disease.

On the other hand, sometimes the body has trouble regulating this process and body temperature rises above 40 degrees. This is dangerous to different tissues in the body, especially the brain, and causes such symptoms as apathy, lethargy, and in extreme cases-convulsions.

 Care should be taken especially in small children whose brain and immune system are not yet fully developed.

For this reason it is important to reduce the fever if your child displays apathy or body temperature is over 39.5 degrees.

How to reduce fever

The different drugs used to reduce fever affect the hypothalamus and prevent the rise of heat in the body. They have absolutely no effect on the pathogenic factors and, actually weaken the body´s defenses thus prolonging disease.

The best way to reduce body heat during illness is, first of all, not to overheat the house and to dress the child in light clothes only. If body temperature rises above 39.5 degrees- bathe the child in lukewarm water or wet the skin with a damp cloth. In extreme cases- dip a cloth in alcohol and apply to the skin. This causes rapid heat loss so beware!

In this fashion you can guard your child from high fever and still allow the body to take the best action against disease.