My son had pneumonia a few weeks ago, and when he started to run a fever, he said, “I hate fevers. I always have scary dreams.”
My son is a tad dramatic, especially when he’s sick (anyone ever heard of the “man cold”?). So, when he mentioned the dreams, I figured this was just my son creating new symptoms that didn’t really exist.
Despite doubting him, I decided to Google it, and I was surprised to find that this is a very real condition. “Fever dreams” are what can happen when someone is running a high fever and can cause somewhat delirious dreams. These fever-stoked reveries are often scary, bizarre, or unnerving as well as very vivid, and can be quite common, especially in kids who have cold or flu.
If you or your child is prone to fever dreams, there are a few things you can do to try to stave them off. Firstly, make sure everyone is getting enough rest and sleep and is also staying hydrated. You want the bedroom temperature to be comfortable and conducive to good sleep. You can also take over-the-counter fever reducing medications.
So, the next time your child is sick and complaining of a symptom that doesn’t seem common or usual, don’t disregard it. Look into it. You never know when what they’re feeling is totally legitimate.
A full-time work-from-home mom, Jennifer Cox (our “Supermom in Training”) loves dabbling in healthy cooking, craft projects, family outings, and more, sharing with Suburban readers everything she knows about being an (almost) superhero mommy.
