Display options
Cite
Habbick BF. Fever in Children: Should it be Treated?. Can Fam Physician. 1988;34:1161-4
Habbick, B. F. (1988). Fever in Children: Should it be Treated?. Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 341161-4.
Habbick, B F. "Fever in Children: Should it be Treated?." Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien vol. 34 (1988): 1161-4.
Habbick BF. Fever in Children: Should it be Treated?. Can Fam Physician. 1988 May;34:1161-4. PMID: 21253180; PMCID: PMC2219083.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Can Fam Physician. 1988 May;34:1161-4.

Fever in Children: Should it be Treated?.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien

B F Habbick

PMID: 21253180 PMCID: PMC2219083

Abstract

Fever, which is the regulation of body temperature at an elevated level, must be differentiated from hyperthermia. The pathogenesis of fever involves exogenous pyrogens acting on macrophages/monocytes to produce the endogenous pyrogen, interleukin-1, which acts on the thermoregulatory centre and also has important effects on the body's immune responses to infection. Fever by itself is rarely harmful, and there is no evidence that febrile seizures produce long-term sequelae. On the other hand, fever may be part of the body's innate protection against infection. The main reason for treating a fever in a child is to relieve discomfort. Acetaminophen should be the drug of first choice in treatment, and sponging, if used at all, should be employed only after acetaminophen has been given first. Education of parents about fever management can be helpful.

References

  1. Pediatrics. 1987 Sep;80(3):315-8 - PubMed
  2. J Infect Dis. 1984 Mar;149(3):339-48 - PubMed
  3. Infect Immun. 1977 Jun;16(3):947-54 - PubMed
  4. Pediatrics. 1984 May;73(5):600-5 - PubMed
  5. J Infect Dis. 1970 Jan;121(1):81-6 - PubMed
  6. Arch Intern Med. 1981 Feb 23;141(3 Spec No):286-92 - PubMed
  7. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 1986 Jun;25(6):311-3 - PubMed
  8. Am J Med. 1983 Nov 14;75(5A):38-46 - PubMed
  9. Arch Intern Med. 1979 Nov;139(11):1225-8 - PubMed
  10. J Exp Med. 1983 Apr 1;157(4):1229-38 - PubMed
  11. J Pediatr. 1980 Jul;97(1):16-21 - PubMed
  12. Science. 1975 Apr 11;188(4184):166-8 - PubMed
  13. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1981 Aug;23(4):462-4 - PubMed
  14. JAMA. 1987 Apr 10;257(14):1905-11 - PubMed
  15. Am J Dis Child. 1975 Jun;129(6):693-6 - PubMed
  16. Pediatrics. 1975 Apr;55(4):468-73 - PubMed
  17. Am J Dis Child. 1980 Feb;134(2):176-81 - PubMed
  18. Pediatr Infect Dis. 1986 Nov-Dec;5(6):730-4 - PubMed
  19. J Immunol. 1978 Aug;121(2):691-4 - PubMed
  20. Pediatrics. 1980 Nov;66(5):720-4 - PubMed
  21. Can Med Assoc J. 1985 Mar 15;132(6):641-2 - PubMed
  22. Pediatrics. 1969 Feb;43(2):290-3 - PubMed
  23. Am J Med. 1983 Nov 14;75(5A):121-6 - PubMed
  24. Pediatrics. 1986 Jan;77(1):93-8 - PubMed
  25. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1980 Aug;27(3):593-602 - PubMed
  26. Nature. 1978 Aug 3;274(5670):508-10 - PubMed
  27. Pediatrics. 1977 Mar;59(3):378-85 - PubMed
  28. Infect Immun. 1977 Dec;18(3):673-9 - PubMed
  29. N Engl J Med. 1983 Apr 21;308(16):958-69 - PubMed
  30. Pediatr Emerg Care. 1987 Mar;3(1):10-2 - PubMed
  31. Hosp Pract (Off Ed). 1985 Nov 30;20(11A):49-53 - PubMed
  32. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1987 Aug;6(8):721-5 - PubMed
  33. Pediatr Res. 1969 Jul;3(4):298-304 - PubMed
  34. Am J Dis Child. 1976 Aug;130(8):849-51 - PubMed
  35. Arch Neurol. 1978 Jan;35(1):17-21 - PubMed

Publication Types