A new clinical report prepared by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and published in Pediatrics highlights the need to educate patients and families about fever in children.
It is not a new research but an expert commentary with the aim to challenge current practice on fever management in children, ie fever reduction.
They said that fever is a physiological mechanism in fighting infection, there is no evidence that fever causes long-term neurological complications. The report emphasizes improving the child’s overall comfort rather than concentrating in normalizing the body temperature.
Paracetamol and ibuprofen are the most commonly used antipyretics, but there are adverse effects and toxicity. The report said that it is critical to administer a safe dosage of these drugs and the correct dosage is based on the child's weight. However, many parents do not understand dosing instructions resulting in potential inaccurate or overdosing.
The authors call for better information for parents and concluded that in fever management, fever reduction should not be the primary aim but parents and healthcare professionals should be more vigilant for signs of serious illnesses.
Source: Sullivan JE, Farrar HC and the Section on Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Report. Fever and Antipyretic Use in Children. Pediatrics 2011 , published online Feb 28
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