Don’t Panic | Life’s Rich Tapestry | Looking after Yourself | Nursing a Sick Child | Dealing with Fevers | Convalescence | Childhood Illnesses | Homeopathic Remedies | Help for Itchy Spots | Help for Sore Eyes | Seek Help If … | Dosage for Homeopathic Remedies
Don’t Panic | Life’s Rich Tapestry | Looking after Yourself | Nursing a Sick Child | Dealing with Fevers | Convalescence | Childhood Illnesses | Homeopathic Remedies | Help for Itchy Spots | Help for Sore Eyes | Seek Help If … | Dosage for Homeopathic Remedies | Homeopathic Kit | Recommended Reading
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Your child has just been diagnosed as having Chicken Pox or even German Measles or Mumps (they are still around in spite of vaccinations) and your doctor has prescribed Tylenol (acetaminophen) for the fever. This may be their first real illness apart from the odd minor cough or cold and you don’t know how you are going to cope. Illness can be scary, especially for new parents. There is a fear of not being in control, of not knowing what is happening, of something bad happening and of it costing time and/or money or both. These fears are doubled when our children, especially our new babies, are sick. The vulnerability of a small, sick child really pulls at our heart strings and makes you want to do something to take the pain away.
Don’t panic!
Childhood illnesses are not all bad. Homeopaths believe that these illnesses give the immune system an opportunity to develop strength and resistance, especially to inherited weaknesses. Children who have successfully come through a childhood illness are seen to be stronger afterwards and often have a growth spurt, either physically and/or mentally and emotionally. My son, Daniel, grew a whole inch in the month after he had measles, and his school remarked on how much better he was doing with his class work!
I remember a patient (I shall call Susan) who called me late one evening in a terrible state. Her one year old son (David) had chicken pox. He also had a runny nose, a cough and a fever. This was his first illness and his first fever. Susan was awash with fear and panic. She hadn’t wanted to bother me as David had seemed to be coping quite well but in the last few hours his fever had risen (to 101°F), he hadn’t eaten his dinner and he seemed unwell in himself.
Susan needed some basic information about childhood illnesses and fevers and a big dollop of reassurance. I explained that 101°F was a fairly low grade fever and that it was perfectly normal for a fever to rise in the evening, and for a feverish child to go off his food. It was then that she started to cry and said “But his skin is a funny color, it isn’t normal. It is sort of bluish, I am frightened that there is something terribly wrong.” I found out that she had taken all his clothes off and had a fan on him. In the middle of a British winter! I asked Susan to put her hand on his body and tell me what temperature his skin was. When she said it felt cold to the touch I realized that this baby had become chilled and needed wrapping up. I explained how some people become cold with a fever and hate to be uncovered.
She was desperate to give her baby something to make him well, like Tylenol for the fever, cough medicine, pain killers or at least a homeopathic medicine to cure him, so he could go to his child-minder the next day.
David was dealing with his illness really well, his rash wasn’t bothering him much, he was sleeping a lot more than usual (Susan was so relieved to hear that this was both normal and healthy) and he was drinking a lot of fluids and producing plenty of wet diapers.
I asked Susan whether she could take time off work the following day. She could. I then asked how she and her husband felt about having her son sleep with them. They felt fine about that. So then I reminded her that the single most important thing her child needed was Tender Loving Care from the most important people in his life, his mother and father. She and her husband could tuck him in bed with them if he was wakeful, as children often sleep better snuggled up to a parent. I suggested that we wait until the morning to see what his body could do to heal itself, before thinking about prescribing. I warned her that his fever could go up in the night and for her not to worry as long as it stayed under 104°F. I told her to take his clothes off only if he felt hot and sweaty, and to offer water every time he woke. Susan was relieved but cautious. I told her to talk to David, to reassure him about what was happening (as this would also help her as well!) and to validate his ability to heal himself.
Susan rang in the morning with triumph in her voice. They had all had a rough night, David’s fever had gone up to 103°F around midnight and he had slept restlessly for the first part of the night. But after about 2am they slept for an uninterrupted four hour stretch and David had woken with a big smile on his face and a temperature that was below normal. He had eaten a good breakfast and apart from a little cough, he was fine and playing happily. I suggested they take it easy for a day or two and have some fun at home, and not to worry if the fever rose again in the evening. I said to bring him in if the cough persisted, so that I could give him a homeopathic remedy.
Susan felt so proud of herself and her son. It was enormously empowering for her to have been instrumental in her son’s healing, and to witness his ability to heal himself. This mother now has a skill for life for dealing with illness in her family.
It is important to put this story in perspective. There are times when our children are sick when they do need urgent medical attention. There have been times in my practice when I have responded immediately to a call from a parent whose child was much more seriously ill than little David. But I do believe it is important that we (health care professionals) know when to step in and when to step back. I believe that parents know instinctively when something is really wrong with their children, and when they need urgent medical help.
A good doctor, likewise, knows when to step in and when to step back. In Europe the old-fashioned family practitioner was taught to listen to his (or her) patients. This practice is being revived by the complementary medical practitioner.
Life’s Rich Tapestry
The bottom line is that illness is part of life’s rich tapestry, and that includes childhood illnesses. Tampering with nature is not always successful; older children and young adults who were vaccinated as children are contracting these childhood illnesses and are getting severe attacks; the older we are when we contract a childhood illness, the more severe it is likely to be. Young men who get mumps have an added risk of infertility because the testes can be affected. This is what happens when you mess with nature rather than work with her!
It isn’t unreasonable to expose your child to a friend’s or neighbor’s child who has a childhood illness; I encouraged small sickly children to dribble all over my son in the hope that he would get whatever they had. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t!
Looking after Yourself!
If you are a working parent you will need to prepare yourself for the fact that your children will fall ill from time to time, especially after they start nursery or school, and will need looking after, either by you or by someone who cares. It is worthwhile planning ahead for if or when your child is ill, planning strategies for coping. If you aren’t prepared it is easy to feel harassed and resentful when they do fall ill. The more children you have, the more prepared you will need to be as they can fall ill one after the other instead of conveniently all at once!
Engage the help of neighbors, friends or family to look after your child so that you can rest or get out to recharge your batteries. Make sure you eat well and get some exercise, even if it is running up and down the stairs! Negotiate carefully with your partner so that both of you get some time off, take it in turns to do night duty or split the night into two so that you can both get a good chunk of sleep.
Looking after a sick child is draining, especially if your child is very ill and/or demanding. Now is not the time to worry about whether your house is neat and tidy. Ditch the housework and spend your time off doing something enjoyable or restful or both! Take a nap, have a long, hot bath or get out to recharge your batteries. Take a walk, meet with a friend, do some shopping. Make sure your own cup is full(ish) so that you can give to your child and still have some left over for yourself.
In Europe where I come from, most working adults are allocated a certain amount of annual sick leave (for themselves, and increasingly for their children). In the US the pace is faster, there is no time to have an accident or get sick. The God of Productivity is breathing down everyone’s neck most of the time. This puts a terrible pressure on parents and their children.
There is a new age myth that illness is a bad thing, that only people with attitude problems get sick! The pressure that people are putting on themselves to be well all the time, often because they cannot afford to take time off, is stressful and needs questioning. This pressure is being projected onto our children, a pressure for parents to get it right, to do a perfect job, to have children who are always well and happy. I believe this is unrealistic and untenable. Many parents and children are taking medication in order to get back to work or school as fast as they possibly can, and this can create a different set of long term health problems which can take proportionately longer to deal with than taking time to look after the original illness.This desire to be a perfect parent can really get in the way when our children are sick. It is unreasonable to expect them to be well and happy all the time!
Nursing a Sick Child
It is becoming increasingly common to give sick children medication and to encourage them to carry on a normal life. This is wrong. Our bodies need to slow down and rest as much as possible to encourage our inner healer to get to work. The healing activities of the body actually speed up when we sleep. The repair, renewal and growth of the cells of our bodies works faster when we are resting. It isn’t an old wive’s tale! That is why it is so important to get extra rest and sleep when we are unwell, as this will aid the body’s natural ability to get better.
Think back to your own childhood. How did your parents care for you when you were sick? Was it a pleasure, a time when everything slowed down, a time of extra cuddles, stories in bed and special, soothing drinks? If so, you have a rich store of memories to draw on to help you with your own children when they are ill. If you were unlucky, if illness was an inconvenience or if you were dealt with harshly as a child when unwell, then you may want to think carefully so as not to inadvertently repeat your parent’s mistakes.
The art of nursing a sick child through an illness, especially a childhood illness, needs resurrecting. Sick children deserve special treatment and reassurance if they are frightened; comforting if they are in pain; distracting from an itchy rash; sponging down if they are too hot. It’s a time for nurturing and special healing rituals. Many parents love this time when their children are willing and eager to ‘lean into them’.
Encourage bed rest for a sick child. Make up a bed on the sitting room couch in the daytime so that your child doesn’t feel shut off from family life. Keep excitement levels down and encourage quiet activities such as reading, drawing, playing board games, watching a little television (too much is over-stimulating) and listening to music and stories. Don’t over-stimulate sick children by taking them out or by having a lot of visitors.
Make sure your child get lots of extra sleep (with early nights and daytime naps). Lie down with your child whilst he or she sleeps if necessary. Some babies, when sick, will only sleep well if their mother’s body is close to theirs. Use this time to catch up on some sleep or reading. Let your child sleep with you at night if he or she wants to.
Small children who develop a fever, especially infants under six months old, must be watched carefully because they are vulnerable to becoming quickly dehydrated.
Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids, preferably water, herb teas or diluted fruit juice (not squash or fizzy drinks, as sugar is a stimulant), either warm or cold as desired. Don’t give acidic drinks (orange or lemon juice) to a child with mumps as they will hurt the sore salivary glands. Children who are reluctant to drink will often suck on a wet sponge or flannel, especially if the water is warm, or try an ice cube or frozen fruit juice. If you are breastfeeding a sick baby, continue to nurse as often as your baby asks. The breast is especially comforting at a time like this.
Don’t encourage sick children to eat, especially if they don’t want to. Fasting encourages the body in its process of healing. Give children who are hungry small, light, nutritious meals such as fruit or vegetable purees, soups and oatmeal.
Talk reassuringly to your child about what is happening. The sound of your voice is comforting to them and to you! Explain clearly (even to a baby) what is wrong and say how long the illness is likely to go on for.
Children can become more demanding and regress temporarily, sucking things, wetting the bed, and so on; sometimes before the symptoms of the illness (rashes, swollen glands etc.) appear. Be patient with them, these symptoms will pass once they are on the road to recovery.
Dealing with Fevers
A fever is a helpful and necessary part of the process of healing in a childhood illness, in any illness for that matter. During a fever the healing reactions of the body are speeded up; the heart beats faster, carrying the blood more quickly to all the organs; respiration is quicker, increasing oxygen intake: and perspiration increases, helping the body to cool down naturally. A high temperature generally indicates that the body’s defense mechanism is fighting an infection and temperature variations indicate how it is coping. Attempts to suppress or control a fever artificially with Tylenol, or even with homeopathic remedies, are likely to confuse the body’s natural efforts to heal itself. A fever is often the first symptom that your child is ill. It is best to wait for other symptoms to develop before giving a homeopathic remedy.
Each person has their own pattern of falling ill and will experience different fever symptoms. One person may feel hot with a high fever, may feel chilly and shiver. Another may be irritable, intolerant of any disturbance and need to be kept warm, whilst another may feel achey and restless, may moan and complain. One person may sweat profusely, be thirsty and slightly delirious; another may want company or prefer to be alone. Each person with a fever may need a different homeopathic remedy depending on their emotional state and general symptoms.
The average normal temperature in a healthy human is said to be 98.4°F (37°C), but this can vary quite markedly. Most people, adults and children, can run a fever of up to 104°F (40°C) for several days with no danger. It is normal for healthy infants and children to throw high fevers 103°F (39.5°C) and over with an infection. A temperature of 105°F(40.5°C) is a serious cause for concern, but it is only when it passes above 106°F (41.0°C) that there is a risk to life. Delirium and tantrums in children sometimes accompany high fevers and, although these are distressing, they are not dangerous.
Fevers usually peak towards night-time and drop by the following morning, so that a temperature of 104°F (40°C) registered in the evening may recur on subsequent evenings. A drop in temperature in the morning does not mean that the fever is past its peak. It can rise and fall several times over several days before finally returning to normal.
A child whose temperature soars may look and feel very ill, therefore giving more cause for concern, but is usually ill for a shorter time and recovers sooner than one whose temperature is lower. My friend Maggi’s youngest boy always falls ill in a sudden and dramatic fashion. With the mumps his temperature soared to 105°F within a matter of hours and he was in a lot of pain from swollen glands. We gave him Jaborandi for a day to alleviate the pain, he slept and drank a lot and was over his mumps in two days with no further assistance from us! His older sister was unwell for several days (but not feverish) before her mumps appeared! And then her temperature never rose above 100°F. She was ill for a week altogether and needed Pulsatilla to help her during the acute phase of the illness and Phosphoric acid during the convalescent stage to help her get her vitality back .
Sponge down with tepid water if the fever goes above 103°F/104°F (40°C) and your child feels hot and sweaty. Expose and sponge one limb at a time until it feels cool to the touch. Dry and replace it under the covers before going on to the next limb. This will help the temperature to drop by 1-2°F (up to 1°C) and can be repeated as often as necessary. Sponging the face and forehead alone can also give relief. Or you can immerse a feverish but not desperately ill child in the bath from time to time to bring down a fever. In any case keep a hot, feverish child cool, and a chilly feverish child (one who feels cold to the touch and shivers) warm.
Never give a child aspirin or dispirin during or after a childhood illness as this can cause serious complications. Use Tylenol in an emergency, where the temperature rises above 104°F (40°C) or if your child is in pain with say, the mumps, and you don’t have a homeopathic remedy immediately to hand and sponging down hasn’t kept the temperature down.
Convalescence
Once the acute symptoms are over it is important to take things easy until your child has fully recovered her strength and vitality. Especially after one of the more serious childhood illnesses i.e. whooping cough or measles, it is not uncommon for complications, such as a cough or an earache, to develop just when you thought everything was back to normal. Do keep your child at home until she is eating and sleeping normally.
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Miranda Castro
