Milk and Fever

[kistigirl84]

So I've always heard that when an infant/newborn is running a fever, formula or milk only makes it worse. Is this true? I've searched the internet and I've gotten so many different answers. Just curious.

[klone, MSN, RN]

No, it's not. If an infant has a fever, and they're not fed/given fluid, they will become dehydrated. Breastmilk is the BEST thing for an infant with a fever/illness.

Are you a nurse?

[amoLucia]

Old wives' tale?

[Thanksforthedonuts, BSN, RN]

Hm... I have 4 kids and never heard this. I've always fed on demand.

[JKL33]

A simple Google search regarding this topic returns results that either represent abject ignorance or else refute the claim. What have you learned about a fever that might suggest milk would make it worse?

This article isn't scholarly and it isn't particularly interesting except for the bit about the old tale:

Maxims typically date back many years, but feed a cold, starve a fever” may beat them all. This saying has been traced to a 1574 dictionary by John Withals, which noted that fasting is a great remedy of fever.” The belief is that eating food may help the body generate warmth during a cold” and that avoiding food may help it cool down when overheated.

But recent medical science says the old saw is wrong. It should be feed a cold, feed a fever.”

Not letting febrile infants/children drink whatever it is they are willing to drink/used to drinking is just flat-out dangerous (the folks who regularly fill bottles with Mtn Dew notwithstanding...)

When necessary, I've discussed this with (more likely sort of "old school") physicians who like to regularly recommend Pedialyte for nursing infants when they are sick. Not a good idea as they are likely to reject it and it's simply not nearly as good for them as what they're already used to drinking anyway! There's simply no need to make things complicated. Hydration is *the* key in at-home care of nearly all run-of-the-mill childhood viral illnesses.

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

I've heard this too. I was told it had to do with the milk curdling, inducing vomiting.

It made sense at the time, but I realize now how silly that is.

[JKL33]

I've heard this too. I was told it had to do with the milk curdling, inducing vomiting.

It made sense at the time, but I realize now how silly that is.

I've heard that too...apparently it curdles and causes vomiting at 99°F (which is a fever, you know), but not 98.6°F...

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

So I've always heard that when an infant/newborn is running a fever, formula or milk only makes it worse. Is this true? I've searched the internet and I've gotten so many different answers. Just curious.

I've been a pediatric nurse for 10 years and have never heard anything like this before. So do people who believe this think you should starve the baby? Newborns should not drink anything other than breast milk or formula.

[MunoRN, RN]

I've heard this too. I was told it had to do with the milk curdling, inducing vomiting.

It made sense at the time, but I realize now how silly that is.

Milk normally curdles in the stomach, infants release rennin which causes the milk to curdle, which is the beginning of the digestion and absorption process.

Cheese making basically copies what occurs in the stomach, we add rennin to milk which causes it curdle, forming curds and whey.

[MunoRN, RN]

It's normal, healthy bodily response in many illnesses to avoid foods that contain higher amounts of lipids and proteins, such as breastmilk, since digesting lipids and proteins requires a relatively large portion of the body's overall metabolism and requires more organ involvement than just water with electrolytes. If an infant is able to tolerate adequate milk intake then great, but often they're not in which case there's a clear benefit to adequate fluid and electrolyte intake from things like pedialyte.

[JKL33]

If an infant is able to tolerate adequate milk intake then great, but often they're not in which case there's a clear benefit to adequate fluid and electrolyte intake from things like pedialyte.

Absolutely. But that would be completely different than taking them off something they are ingesting without undue difficulty due to a wive's tale/legend.

[klone, MSN, RN]

I cannot think of a situation where breastmilk is not preferable to Pedialyte. It is living tissue that actually gives antibodies to help fight the illness. It has electrolytes in the perfect balance of what the infant needs, and it doesn't contain artificial sugars, flavors or colors. If the infant/child has a GI illness that is causing frequent vomiting, then the best thing to do is give it in very small (drops or teaspoonfuls), very frequent amounts (every 5-15 minutes if necessary).