'Tis The Season For Fever Phobia
(CBS4) - With the holiday season upon us, it's a time for family, friends … and fevers.
It seems like the majority of patients that I've seen lately has been hotter than the surface of the sun. Lots of germs out there, and lots of anxiety over the high temperatures these bugs are triggering.
I recently had a father run into the exam room with a 4-year-old who was running a temp, and I thought it was the dad who was going to have the meltdown.
There is just something about fever that makes many of us freak out. And a recent poll by the CDC confirms that there are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there about what fever is, why we get them, and what we should do about them. As an example, 91 percent of parents polled believe fevers should always be treated since they can cause brain damage. But that's just not so.
Let's take a look at some fiery facts on body temperature:
- Normal body temperature is not necessarily 98.6. Everyone runs a tad higher or lower, with 98.6 being an fairly arbitrary average.
- It's not an official fever until the numbers hit 100.4
- Body temperature almost always goes up at night because of changes in body chemistry and hormone levels (something to keep in mind when you're sweating over steadily rising numbers at bedtime.)
- Fever is actually thought to be a good thing in most cases -- especially since it helps mobilize the body's defenses against infection. That said, you don't always want to bring a fever down. The main reason (in most cases) is to provide your child comfort -- meaning Treat The Child, Not The Numbers!
- And fever itself does not cause brain damage. It can hit some pretty sky high levels without short circuiting brain cells -- it's really the infection that's causing such high numbers that worry us.
- Finally, any fever in an infant, say 2-3 months old, always warrants a call to the pediatrician. Always.
Now, some other tips:
- Ignore the "feed a fever, starve a cold"( or is the "starve a fever, feed a cold?") The proper line of thinking is let your child eat, drink, and be active as much as they wish, even with a fever. BUT it is vital to make sure your child is taking in fluids! If they have a temp, but are running around playing, it's probably okay to let them keep playing -- they don't need to be put to bed.
- What's the best fever reducer to use? Your choice. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are both good products -- you don't need to alternate the two -- and make sure you follow directions on dosing. More is not better and in fact, can be dangerous.
- You've heard the phrase "let sleeping dogs lie?" The same goes for sleeping children. It's really not necessary to wake a child who is sleeping comfortably in order to give medicine for fever.
- Most importantly, how your child is acting may be the best gauge of your child's health. Meaning, if your child has a fever but looks and acts well, relax. But a sick looking child without fever is a worry, and should be checked. Fever is not always the best indicator of how bad an illness is.
- Once again, treat the child---not the numbers.
- And obviously each fever, each illness, each child is different -- if you just aren't sure, give us a call. After all, those of us doctors with children worried just like you when our kids got fevers back when they were growing up. You're not alone in the battle of fiery foreheads--we've been there, and it's not fun.
Dr. Dave Hnida is CBS4's Medical Editor. He blogs about the latest studies and trends in the health world. Read his latest blog entries, check out his bio or follow him on Twitter @drdavehnida
