MSGID: 1:317/3 63f448eb   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    One in three parents may unnecessarily give children fever-reducing   
   medicine    
    Some parents may reach for medication too quickly when children feel   
   warm, new national poll suggests.    
      
     Date:   
         February 20, 2023   
     Source:   
         Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan   
     Summary:   
         Some parents may not be properly measuring or responding to elevated   
         temperatures in children, a new national poll suggests.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   For many children, winter season comes with regular exposure to   
   circulating viruses at school or daycare. And a warm forehead is often   
   one of the first clear signs a child has caught a bug.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   But some parents may not be properly measuring or responding to elevated   
   temperatures in children, a new national poll suggests.   
      
   While most parents recognize that a low-grade fever helps a child's body   
   fight off infection, one in three would give fever-reducing medication   
   for spiked temperatures below 100.4 -- which isn't recommended --   
   according to the C.S.   
      
   Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health at University   
   of Michigan Health.   
      
   Half of parents would also use medicine if the fever was between 100.4   
   and 101.9 degrees, and a quarter of parents would likely give another   
   dose to prevent the fever from returning.   
      
   "Often parents worry about their child having a fever and want to do   
   all they can to reduce their temperature. However, they may not be aware   
   that in general the main reason to treat a fever is just to keep their   
   child comfortable," said Mott Poll co-director and Mott pediatrician   
   Susan Woolford, M.D.   
      
   "Some parents may immediately rush to give their kids medicine but   
   it's often better to let the fever runs its course. Lowering a child's   
   temperature doesn't typically help cure their illness any faster. In   
   fact, a low-grade fever helps fight off the infection. There's also the   
   risk of giving too much medication when it's not needed, which can have   
   side effects."  The report is based on 1,376 responses from parents of   
   children ages 12 and under polled between August and September 2022.   
      
   Two in three parents polled say they're very confident they know whether   
   their child needs medication to reduce a fever. But just over half are   
   sure they understand how temperature readings can change according to   
   the method used.   
      
   The method used to take a child's temperature matters and can affect   
   the accuracy of the measurement, Woolford notes. Parents polled most   
   commonly take their child's temperature by forehead scan or mouth while   
   less than a sixth use ear, underarm or rectal methods.   
      
   Remote thermometers at the forehead or inside the ear canal can be   
   accurate if used correctly. But forehead readings may be inaccurate,   
   Woolford says, if the scanner is held too far away or if the child's   
   forehead is sweaty. With ear thermometers, which aren't recommended for   
   newborns, earwax can also interfere with the reading.   
      
   For infants and young children, rectal temperatures are most   
   accurate. Once children are able to hold a thermometer in their closed   
   mouth, oral temperatures also are accurate while armpit temperatures   
   are the least accurate method.   
      
   "Contact thermometers use electronic heat sensors to record body   
   temperature but temperatures may fluctuate depending on how it's   
   measured," Woolford said.   
      
   "Regardless of the device used, it's important that parents review   
   the directions to ensure the method is appropriate for the child's age   
   and that the device is placed correctly when measuring temperature."   
   Three in four parents say they take their child's temperature as soon as   
   they notice a possible problem, while a little less than a fourth wait   
   to see if the problem continues or worsens before taking the temperature.   
      
   Two-thirds of parents also prefer to try methods like a cool washcloth   
   before using fever-reducing medication. Most parents also say they   
   always or usually record the time of each dose and re-take their child's   
   temperature before giving another dose.   
      
   "A quarter of parents would give their child more medicine to prevent   
   a fever from returning even though it doesn't help them get better,"   
   Woolford said. "If a child is otherwise doing well, parents may consider   
   monitoring them and using alternative interventions to help keep them   
   comfortable."  However, if a newborn or infant less than three months   
   old has a fever, they should immediately see a health professional,   
   Woolford adds.   
      
   She shares more tips on how to handle fevers in kids: Fevers can help   
   fight infections A fever can be beneficial, and there are several   
   reasons to let a low-grade fever run its course in older children --   
   mainly because it's working as a weapon to kill the virus or bacteria   
   causing sickness, Woolford says.   
      
   Evidence shows that fevers are part of the immune response to prevent   
   viruses and bacteria from replicating and also produce more white blood   
   cells and antibodies.   
      
   Fever-reducing medications also mask symptoms.   
      
   "Medications used to lower temperatures also treat pain, but pain is   
   often a sign that helps to locate the source of an infection," Woolford   
   said. "By masking pain, fever-reducing medication may delay a diagnosis   
   being made and delay receiving treatment if needed."  She adds that   
   parents may also be tempted to take kids in public when they noticeably   
   seem better after medicine when in fact they're still highly contagious   
   and may infect others.   
      
   If you do use medicine, be careful about not overmedicating When parents   
   choose to give fever-reducing medication, it's helpful to keep a log   
   of temperature readings and when medicine was given. This will provide   
   an accurate record in the event that the child's fever continues for an   
   extended period of time.   
      
   Parents of young children in particular should also avoid using   
   combination cold medications along with fever-reducing medications due   
   to the risk of over dosage.   
      
   "As we know, all medications can have side effects and we really don't   
   want children to get too much medication when it's not necessary,"   
   Woolford said.   
      
   When communicating with the child's provider to help determine the best   
   recommendations about treatment, it's helpful for parents to share the   
   timeline of the child's fever, doses of fever-reducing medication, other   
   symptoms and how the child is acting compared to their "usual" behavior.   
      
   Try alternatives to relieving child's discomfort Parents may consider   
   other interventions to relieve discomfort and aid in more restful sleep   
   instead of medicine, Woolford says.   
      
   Such approaches could include keeping their room cool and not letting them   
   overexert themselves, as well as ensuring the child is in light clothing   
   and encouraging them to stay well hydrated with fluids or popsicles.   
      
   Be aware of signs to call the doctor For infants and newborns three months   
   and younger, any sign of a fever should prompt a call to the provider.   
      
   For children 4-12 months, parents should consult with a doctor if a   
   fever is accompanied by signs such as decreased activity, increased   
   fussiness, or decreased urine output. Parents should also call if their   
   child has signs of pain or if they are not acting themselves even when   
   their temperature comes down.   
      
   Fevers that reach 104 degrees or fevers that remain for an extended period   
   (more than 24 hours for children under two, or more than three days for   
   children ages two and older) should prompt contact with the provider.   
      
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Health_&_Medicine   
                   # Children's_Health # Attention_Deficit_Disorder #   
                   Pain_Control # Ebola # Allergy # Dengue_Fever # Viruses   
                   # Infant's_Health   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Heat_shock_protein o Child_abuse o Mercury_(element) o   
             Rickets o Incident_Command_System o Growth_hormone_treatment   
             o Rotavirus o Hypertension   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by   
   Michigan_Medicine_-_University_of_Michigan. Original written by Beata   
   Mostafavi. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
      
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230220121918.htm   
      
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