Parental response, recognition and management about fever in children

Kim, Eugene; Hur, Jae Kyun

Abstract

PURPOSE
Fever, the most common presenting symptom in pediatric clinics, has been believed to be a dangerous symptom by many parents. Proper recognition about fever will relieve unnecessary anxiety of parents and help them understand the course of the disease. Our objectives of this study were to investigate current parental recognition about fever and to compare these results with those described in 1992.
METHODS
Between May and July 2006, we questioned caregivers who visited the pediatric outpatient clinic in St.Paul hospital. The questionnaire consisted of 19 items asking about recognition, attitude and management of fever.
RESULTS
A total of 136 caregivers were interviewed. Compared with 10 years ago, there were no significant improvements in misconception about fever. Many caregivers (61%) had wrong information about a definition and the way to measure body temperature. There were still high concerns about febrile convulsion and brain damage from fever. Caregivers started treatment at the body temperature which actually needed no therapy.
CONCLUSION
Parents were not aware that fever is just one of physiologic responses and has benefits, which led to unnecessary anxiety and treatment. This misconception has not been changed over the years. Pediatrician should inform parents that fever itself is not harmful and only rational reason for use of antipyretics is to relieve a discomfort of a febrile child. An educational interventions offered by pediatricians will be helpful for parents to have right attitude and understandings toward fever.