It’s the middle of the night and your baby is screaming at the top of its lungs. The diaper is dry. The feeding attempts are useless. Only one thing seems off: your bundle of joy is burning up.
You quickly rush your child to the hospital and upon arrival; you become one of thousands sitting in an emergency room on any given day or night solely because of a fever.
Recent studies from the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that “fever phobia,” first described more than 20 years ago by pediatrician Dr. Barton Schmitt, is still in full effect when it comes to parents and how they react to their child’s natural way of fighting off infection.
“Fever phobia continues to exist,” said the study conducted in conjunction with the National Institute of Health. “The prevalence appears to differ by ethnicity, making it important for physicians to use every patient encounter for culturally sensitive fever education.”
The study found that of all races, in America, those of Hispanic descent are more likely to fall victim to fever phobia. Parents with a young child or “fewer years of education” were among other contributing factors.
Parents in the most recent study reflected the same concerns as caregivers two decades ago when it came to fevers, citing major fears of seizures and brain damage. But doctors say those outcomes normal don’t happen below temperatures of 107 degrees Fahrenheit.
“One, fever is the body fighting off an infection—a normal response, not something to be feared. It will not “melt” or “fry” the child’s brain,” said Dr. Tyeese Gaines, New Jersey emergency medicine physician and journalist for The Grio.
“Two, a fever is a temperature of 100.4 and above. Anything below that number is not considered a fever, not even a low-grade fever,” he added.
Gaines reminded parents that the best type of temperature-taking method for adults and children is a reading from the rectum.
According to the Mayo Clinic, trying to reduce a low-grade fever can actually cause the illness to last longer, or hide the real reason that the symptoms of a fever are showing up in the first place.
A normal temperature is anything between 97 and 98 degrees Fahrenheit.
Children should never be given Aspirin to reduce a fever, or any type of ailment, as it could lead to Reye’s Syndrome. Overmedication with Tylenol and other fever-reducing medications is a common theme among concerned parents.
Home remedies to reduce fever include lukewarm baths and dressing in light fabrics. Hydration is key and doctors recommend Pedialite for children to replenish electrolytes and fluids lost.
