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May 8, 2008 8:00 pm US/Eastern
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Doctors Warn Against Overtreating Fevers
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
Fever is a common occurrence in children, and so is the tendency among parents to overtreat the problem.
Healthwatch reporter Kellye Lynn reports although fever strikes fear in many parents, it's not an illness and is actually the body's way of fighting infection.
A recent study reveals a common mistake. Parents are going too far when it comes to fighting fever.
When a child is uncomfortable, so is the parent. A temperature over 100.3 evokes a universal response.
"If your kid's sick, you just want to fix it right away," said Michele Nelson.
But are parents doing too much to fix the problem? Johns Hopkins pediatrician Michael Crocetti's research says yes.
"Fever phobias persist among many groups of parents," said Crocetti.
Interviews with nearly 500 parents from various backgrounds show Hispanic parents have the highest fever phobia, concerned that fever could lead to brain damage or death.
"You will not have brain damage or death from a fever, and rarely will your temperature go up above 106," said Crocetti.
The study also found blacks were twice as likely as whites or Hispanics to give their child ibuprofen more often than recommended.
"If you're giving it too often, it can be dangerous. For Tylenol, it can cause liver problems. With ibuprofen, you can have stomach related issues and kidney related issues if given too often," said Crocetti.
When it comes to taking a child's temperature, Dr. Crocetti recommends using a digital thermometer. For those under the age of five, place it in the rectum for the most accurate reading. For children five and over, place the thermometer under the tongue.
Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are effective at bringing down a fever, but when medication doesn't work, parents like Michele know it's time to call a doctor.
"You always hear stories about kids having a fever and they're in the hospital a couple of days, so it just makes you worry," said Michele.
If your child has a fever, resist the urge to place him or her in a cold bath. Doing so can make the fever worse by causing shivering which raises the core body temperature.
Parents should also avoid rubbing alcohol on a child's body to lower a fever. Alcohol can be absorbed into the body and be toxic.
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