What Does It Look like Using No Antibiotics and No Fever Reducers

I think it's prudent to give antibiotics AND fever reducers if the illness(es) warrant it. I just don't understand why someone wouldn't.

As far as easing symptoms, cool mist, propping the head of the bed/crib, pushing liquids and rest.

The body creates a fever to ramp up the immune system. The higher temperature both makes the body less hospitable to bacteria *and* helps the immune system work better. Suppressing the fever can make the illness last longer and make the child more uncomfortable in the long run.

Read your child. If they are curled up under blankets and shivering, the body needs to be hotter, not colder. Don't medicate or do anything else to bring down the fever. In a normal infection, the fever will cycle up and down naturally. My kids will have a fever that goes *very* high (104 or higher), stays there for 30 minutes, then comes down quickly. This is normal, healthy, and safe (and a MD confirmed this). Encourage your child to drink frequently and make sure they get plenty of sleep. Offer food, but don't push it if they're not hungry. Eliminate sugar, if possible. They will be fine in a day or two.

If your child is sprawled out, sweating, and complaining of feeling hot, it's a different story. That fever needs to come down. If cool cloths can't get your child to comfort fairly quickly (15-30 minutes), some type of fever-reducer is absolutely appropriate.

Also, all of this applies only to illness-induced fever. Any increase in temperature over 99 degrees that is caused by an external force (ie: heat illness) is very serious. Don't mess around with heat illnesses, they can cause serious damage even at relatively low temperatures.

If a child is sleeping more, low-energy, pale, vomiting, whiny, clingy, demanding, and complaining, this is all pretty normal reaction to illness. Give them lots of sleep and lots of snuggles. Read books together and play board games. Talk about how their body is doing what it needs to do to make them healthy again. Talk about how proud you are that their strong body is getting rid of the bad germs so they can feel good again.

Be aware of the power of placebos. My eldest often complained of tummy pain. I made her tummy tea. I mentally called it magic tea, because she never actually drank it. We made the tea. It steeped for 15 minutes, like most medicinal teas require. While it was steeping, she fell asleep. In the morning, she felt fine and I would throw out the cold tea. All she really needed was the ritual and attention. I have had some good experiences with homeopathic medicine, and I do believe there is some medicinal worth to them. However, I have also observed that the process of sitting down, helping the child explain their symptoms precisely, selecting a remedy, and taking it seems to have an inherent medicinal effect. Kids like the process of "here, take this, it will help you feel better".

In the case of ear infections, the current standard of care in medicine is currently called watchful waiting. Do a web search for "ear infection watchful waiting" and look at the research yourself.

If someone in your house is prone to strep throat, it might be worth it to have the quick tests on hand. You can order them online. If the test says negative, proceed with home treatment. If the test says positive, get to the doctor for antibiotics.

Know and pay attention to any more serious symptoms. If your child hasn't urinated in more than 6 hours or their skin is losing elasticity, get help. If your child is unable to swallow, absolutely get help. If your child is having trouble breathing, call 911. If your child is in hysterics with pain, do whatever you need to to relieve pain. If your child's mental awareness is changing, get help immediately.

Most significantly, pay attention to your gut. If your reaction to your child's illness is pity and sorrow that your child is feeling bad, all is probably well. If you are *afraid*, get help. Obviously, modify this if you routinely panic over illness and/or have recently been watching horror movies about epidemics! But under normal circumstances, if you look at your sick child and your gut twists with fear, pay attention. Fight with the doctors if you must, but pay attention. If you are inexplicably terrified of your child's cold, it probably isn't just a cold.

Hope this helps.

Good luck, and thanks for asking the question.

My oldest is 3 1/2 & my youngest is 14 months. Neither have been on an antibiotic, ever. BUT, they have been tested at the dr for a bacterial infection and have never had one--always been viral. I do not immediately give fever reducers because it prevents the body from healing. Infections die at high body temps. However, I have given them before because they were completely miserable & couldn't sleep. I rarely take them to dr anymore because I can tell if they need to go or if they'll get over it. I guess we've been lucky & the years of breastfeeding have worked well for them! :)
EDIT: I do feel most doctors overprescribe. Remember, they DO get $$ for prescribing drugs! Overprescribing antibiotics has lead us to being antibiotic resistant which is horrible for everyone. It would take an EXTREMELY high fever to cause brain damage or death. All I'm saying is just wait a few days instead of pumping kids full of medicine at the first sign of infection. My kids get over illnesses FAST!

I often don't give fever reducers if my kids have a run of the mill fever (obviously not from a bad infection) because it actually helps them rest. Once they start to feel better on Tylenol or something, they might be up running around and not even want to sit still. So the fever (which is the body's defense system) helps them rest and I concentrate on soothing them however I can. Cool cloth on the head feels nice, chicken soup, or whatever.

With an ear infection, I give ibuprofin for the anti-inflammatory effect because they are so painful. And they haven't done antibiotics every time, as I have a ped doctor who will only prescribe them for the worst cases. My brother has used only holistic remedies for ear infections, herb-based ear drops and such, and none of his daughters have suffered any hearing loss.

Maybe I'm a bad mommy but I don't even check my child's temperature, ever. I think we've checked it about 5 times total since she was born. I go by how she feels to the touch, how she's acting (more tired than usual? Irritable? Lethargic?), how she looks (Eyes sunken and dull? Pale or pink skin?), and now that she's old enough to communicate well, what she tells me. If she is clearly uncomfortable because of her body temperature I will either give a tepid bath, sponge her down with a cool cloth, blow a fan on her while she naps, or give motrin. I don't ever give tylenol, personal preference. I do check in with the pedi's office to notify them of her symptoms, and if they want to see her I bring her in. I give lots of TLC. I call in sick to work. I nap with my child and sleep with her at night until she's better. I make tea for her and have her sip on it throughout the day along with lemon water and plain water. We don't do a lot of juice when she's sick unless she is resistant to taking fluids.

If you suspect your child has Strep you should definitely get him/her tested and give antibiotics. Strep throat can cause problems elsewhere, like the heart. It's best not to fool around with that. As and adult I have cured my own strep throat with herbal medicine but I'm an adult, able to make that call, knowing the risks and benefits, and the only reason I did it is because I'm allergic to every antibiotic known to man. Your child cannot make that call, and I don't think it's fair to withhold anti's knowing that it can cause further (potentially serious) problems, not to mention a great deal of pain. Please give your child antibiotics if he/she has a positive strep test.

As far as kids being miserable, well, that's what it's like to be sick. It sucks. I don't think kids benefit from being shielded from the mild uncomfortable feelings that go along with having a fever and being ill. In all honesty it probably stops them in their tracks long enough to get the rest they need to recover. If my kid is having a really tough time I will, like I said, give motrin and perhaps even benedryl, depending on the situation.

My rule of thumb is if the fever is under 102 and my child is not totally miserable. I hold off on giving fever reducers, as new studies have said the higher body temperature helps the body fight the infection. I will usually dose them at bedtime for a more comfortable night's sleep. But I play it by ear.

Three days of fever over 101.3 warrants a visit to the doctor. Five days of fever under 101.3 warrants a visit to the doctor. Occasionally if my son comes home from school sick w/a fever and sore throat and the school nurse says strep is going around like crazy...we go for a strep test.

Antibiotics are only needed for a bacterial infection...that would be strep, ear infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, MRSA or e-coli...otherwise there is no need for one if it just a virus.

Dehydration is usually only going to happen with vomiting and/or diarrhea...then it is look up on Dr. Sear's website the signs of slight, moderate and severe dehydration and act accordingly.

When in doubt I go www.askdrsears.com

He hasn't let me down yet.

I like to give tylenol or motrin and benadryl at night so that they can get a good rest. I think the rest does more for them than the medicine, but I know how difficult it is to get a good night's sleep when I'm sick. That's just what I do.

I am not opposed to fever reducers, but only give based on the behavior of the child. If they have a temp of 101 but are eating well, resting well, and in general not acting miserable I try to let it run its course. If their condition seems to worsen, can't keep food down for more than a day, no break in fever for a couple days, etc. then we would see the doctor. But that is VERY rare for us. I can count on one hand the number of times my 4 kids combined have needed antibiotics. I feel very fortunate that my kids are so healthy. I never deny them medicine if they need it ( the older ones can ask for it now if they feel they need it) but I use it sparingly. The one OTC med I never use (for myself or my kids) is decongestants/cold meds. I have never felt they helped and often have annoying side effects. We try to utilize other comfort measures like humidifiers, neti pot, popcicles, cuddling, etc.

I personally don't take antibiotics but only because I know my limit. I know when I need to take them. A child cannot monitor their symptoms like that so I do give my kids antibiotics when they have an infection. Then I do my best to minimize the effects of the side effects.

Not sure what you are talking about with extras in fever reducers. Surely you are not buying into the latest round of we must say this cause are lawyers say so. Most a very safe it is just some people are using way too much and now we all get warned. They set the limit low enough to stay off litigation.

I do know 3 effective non-medical ways to bring a fever down. But if my child is in pain different story - I will give Motrin and a decongestant if I think the child is uncomfortable.

Fever up to 102 is OK as long as kid is drinking fluids well.

Interesting question, I guess you got it from reading some responses to some questions.

My opinion - we do live in a world infested with some very resistant bugs and to stand by and hope that your child's body will fight it on it's own is a bit foolish and dangerous. Infections anywhere in or close to the head can turn lethal very quickly, the parent has to be very vigilant with a young child suffering from any of those.

I wait 72 hours for the fever to break... then I would go to the doctor. But, my kids have never had a fever last longer than 72 hours, so I have never had to take them in. But I also use their mood/actions to gauge how sick they are. Since I have never given them tylenol except for teething, they don't seem to uncomfortable by a fever.

When I was pregnant one of my blood tests showed that I was fighting a bacterial infection, but I had no idea, I thought it was a cold. so, your body will fight it off, it might take longer than common colds though. I probably would give my kids antibiotics if they had strep, but I haven't had to yet.

My girls are 9 and 7. We went for about 5 years without either of them taking ANY medication whatsoever (and I'm pretty sure we had the average number of colds, etc., although we never had too many ear infection which I hear can be pretty painful) Anyway, both of my kids literally refused to swallow medicine. One time I talked to a nurse about this and she very patronizingly said, "Well, you are just going to have to MAKE her swallow it!" Yeah right. I told her she should give it a try and see what happened.

So yes, I put them cold baths, gave them lots of liquids, put cold washclothes on their faces.... They still aren't big fans of medicine. Sometimes when they're really feeling cruddy they'll agree to a couple of those melt on the tongue pain relievers (great invention) But most times they suffer through whatever it is and then it's over. I think often times doctors prescribe antibiotics when they aren't even sure that's what the kid needs. I've filled several antibiotic prescriptions and then proceeded to throw them out after having red/purple/orange liquid spit all over my house!

Obviously in my opinion most of the drugs we give (and take) are not needed. Use your judgement of course, and keep an eye on your children when they're sick in case it really is something serious that needs drugs.

When my kids are sick, I give them OTC meds (Tylenol, benedryl, motrin, sudefed or whatever) to help with symptoms but I also do everything I can naturally, like echinacea, vitamin C, plenty of fluids and rest, Airborne, etc. I found that this drastically not only helped them get better faster but it also kept them from getting worse. When my son was 2 and his tubes fell out of his ears, he immediately got a double ear infection that wouldn't go away. Since I had already done all the antibiotics and surgery I opted out of them doing it again. Doctor wanted to repeat everything we tried his first 1/12 years of life. I wanted to try the natural approach and he lectured me about the dangers of it and how it can go to his brain and make him a vegetable etc. He said to give him the antibiotics and come back in two weeks and he'd assess him to see what would be next. Instead, I coned his ears with those ear candles and gave him echinacea, vitamin C, collidal silver etc. Took him back in two weeks and everything looked perfect. He was totally fine. It happened in less than a week where the other way took 18 months before he was better and the symptoms came back as soon as his tubes fell out. He's 17 now and never had that problem again. I do OTC meds though to help with the symtpoms.

It depends on the child. My eldest daughter is nearly 11 years old and she hates taking medication. She won't take anything at all unless she feels like she's dying. She won't take antibiotics unless she realizes the illness won't go away without it. She'll gag on the medications because she hates the thought of putting them into her body.

With my middle daughter, I'd rather not wait for her to reduce her own fevers because of her seizure disorder. The risk of febrile seizures is too high. She has a lot of health issues and a compromised immune system so things hit her rather hard to begin with, and we have to take a gentler approach.

With my youngest, we just take it as it goes.

We practice waiting illnesses out with all of the girls, but we don't do it at all costs. We use common sense with it.