© 2004 Racquel Morris

Every parent starts to worry when her child starts to run a fever. It is very important to understand what a fever is and what it does before reaching for the Acetaminophen. A fever is a natural immune response your body uses to fight bacteria, viruses and infection. If you do not run a fever or use medication to suppress the fever the more resistant the bacteria will be and will extend the time and degree to which you are ill. Fevers allow your body to produce more white blood cells and antibodies helping you to kill off the germs invading your body.

Dr. Ivey’s letter repeats the simplistic misconceptions about infectious diseases and vaccinations so often heard today. She implies that without vaccinations we are helpless against hostile microbial “predators” bent on destroying us. This is a 19th century world view. The old metaphor of unrelenting warfare against a nature “…red in tooth and claw” is very compelling and creates an eager market for vaccinations, as well as for antibiotics, antibacterial products and pesticides, but it is nevertheless a false metaphor. The balanced community is a far truer picture of life on Earth, and that includes the teeming microbial life co-existing on and in each of our bodies, and our children's bodies.