~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This message is from PedTalk! To reply to the group, use "" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr. Bob wrote: > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > This message is from PedTalk! To reply to the group, use "" > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Dr. Nussbaum wrote: > > One of my nurses did not believe me that fever helped to fight infection. > However when her two sons caught a viral URI she gave one acetoaminophen and > the other nothing. The one who received nothing recovered faster. Not a very > large sample but it convinced her. > > Dan Nussbaum > > Aside from anecdotes and some animal studies, I'm still waiting to see > the evidence that fever is "good". Yeah, I heard that it may initiate > the complement cascade blah blah etc etc. Greed may be good, but fever? > > Bob Schwartz Point of order please: I realize that being "natural" and allowing mother nature to do her thing is rather "chic" right now; however, nature can be rather cruel at times and I thought it was our duty as pediatricians to help relieve the suffering (that includes pain and such) and to help cure illnesses of our patients. When patients seek our help, we should do everything possible to provide them with relief and care. Personally, I am rather disturbed by the "let the little children" suffer "naturally" mentality. The world has enough heroes and I don't think a child should be "heroic" during illess and such. When I have a headache, I take something and I feel better. When I have a cold, decongestants/antihistamines help me feel better. When I have a fever, I take something and I feel better. When I feel better, I am a happier person. IMHO Andrew