Fever in children: ideas and illusions - abstract

ABSTRACT

Fever is a common symptom in children. Yet concepts vary between physicians and parents. We interviewed 120 mothers at three participating locations (University Hospital of the West Indies, Bustamante Hospital for Children and Shortwood Medical Centre) to ascertain their concepts and practices concerning fever in their children. None of the mothers used thermometers to detect fever; the majority (85 percent) were unable to define fever in terms of temperature. Tepid sponging with alcohol and administration of antipyretics were the measures most frequently undertaken to reduce fever. There is a need to educate parents and health-care personnel about fever and its management in children, particularly to discourage the use of topical alcohol (AU)