Childhood fever, when should parents be concerned

 Childhood fever, when should parents be concerned

Expert says that parents suffer from feverphobia, when they despair and confuse the warning sign

that the condition represents with a disease.

One of the most common complaints among parents in pediatric consultations, fever is the only reason for children to visit clinics in 20% to 30% of cases.

“For this feeling of anxiety and insecurity that parents go through when they see their children with a fever, there is even a specific term, feverphobia, which is not just the result of a rational view”, he says. 

Is the fear of fever justified if we think that it can “hide” the real problem? Or is that not correct?

Fever is a physiological response of the organism to physical, chemical or biological aggression. When we accelerate the engine of our car, it heats up due to the intense work. Our organism too, in the face of an aggression it reacts, dilating the blood vessels, to bring more blood to the attacked place, increasing the production of antibodies and white blood cells, aiming to defend, hinder or even inhibit the multiplication of the aggressors such as viruses or bacteria. 

Fever is not a disease, it is a defense reaction of the organism, it is an alarm or a sign that we are suffering an “aggression”.

Is there an age or condition where the sudden increase in temperature really means cause for immediate concern?

The younger the age, the greater the concerns about fever, due to the immaturity of the infant's immune system. International protocols recommend maximum attention to fever in infants younger than 3 months of age.

In times of fake news, what are the most popular myths that people keep propagating and that reach emergency rooms?

These assertions are myths: “fever is a sign of serious illness!”; “We need to give antibiotics to treat

the fever!”; "If you don't fight the fever, the child may have a seizure and/or become mentally

retarded".

It is a myth that the antibiotic fights the fever. It only kills bacteria, not viruses; it has no antipyretic

action, therefore, it will be useful in only 10% of cases of fever, those caused by bacteria.

Does the speed of temperature rise foreshadow the severity of the problem?

Not necessarily, the vast majority of fevers that start suddenly and rapidly increase are caused by

viruses and not bacteria.

How should a mother or father behave in the onset of a fever? 

 What is the rational way to deal with it?

See the situations that require parents to seek care:

• Infants under 3 months of age with temperatures above 38 degrees C or below

• 35.5 degrees C;

• When, even after normalizing the temperature, the child remains irritable, with

• persistent crying or very “loose”, soft, apathetic, with little reaction, not wanting to

• breastfeed;

•  When the fever is accompanied by persistent symptoms such as headache, skin

• with reddish spots, difficulty in bending the neck, vomiting that does not cease,

• extreme irritability or drowsiness, significant difficulty in breathing, or a decline in

• general condition. 

What is a febrile seizure?

Febrile seizures usually occur between 6 months and 6 years of age, are benign, leave no sequelae and do not require preventive medication. It has a lot to do with the sudden rise, or fall, in temperature; it can happen with 37.5 or 39º, it's not the number itself, but the predisposition. It is more common if there are family members who have had the same condition as children.see more