OBJECTIVE: To identify the percentage of parents who define the threshold for fever between 38.0°C and 38.3°C, which has not been reported previously, and to describe parental attitudes toward fever and antipyretic use. STUDY DESIGN: Thirteen-question survey study of caregivers. RESULTS: Overall, 81% of participants defined the threshold for fever as <38.0°C, 0% correctly defined fever between 38.0°C and 38.3°C, and 19% defined fever as >38.3°C. Twenty percent of children brought to clinic for a chief complaint of fever were never truly febrile. Ninety-three percent of participants believed that high fever can cause brain damage. For a comfortable-appearing child with fever, 89% of caregivers reported that they would give antipyretics and 86% would schedule a clinic visit. CONCLUSION: Our finding that 0% of parents correctly defined fever is both surprising and unsettling, and it should inform future discussions of fever between parents and clinicians.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the percentage of parents who define the threshold for fever between 38.0°C and 38.3°C, which has not been reported previously, and to describe parental attitudes toward fever and antipyretic use. STUDY DESIGN: Thirteen-question survey study of caregivers. RESULTS: Overall, 81% of participants defined the threshold for fever as <38.0°C, 0% correctly defined fever between 38.0°C and 38.3°C, and 19% defined fever as >38.3°C. Twenty percent of children brought to clinic for a chief complaint of fever were never truly febrile. Ninety-three percent of participants believed that high fever can cause brain damage. For a comfortable-appearing child with fever, 89% of caregivers reported that they would give antipyretics and 86% would schedule a clinic visit. CONCLUSION: Our finding that 0% of parents correctly defined fever is both surprising and unsettling, and it should inform future discussions of fever between parents and clinicians.
Authors: Madhulika Eluri; Henry A Spiller; Marcel J Casavant; Thitphalak Chounthirath; Kristen A Conner; Gary A Smith Journal: Pain Med Date: 2018-12-01 Impact factor: 3.750
Authors: Meghan May; David C Brousseau; David A Nelson; Kathryn E Flynn; Michael S Wolf; Bryn Lepley; Andrea K Morrison Journal: Acad Pediatr Date: 2017-06-16 Impact factor: 3.107