Fever in a child…Is it all bad? Should we, always be treating the fever?
ardly Nothing else worries a mother, more than her child’s fever spikes.
Question 1
Is there any physiological need of fever. Is there any positive impact of having fever
in human, when we are fighting against an infection?
Yes. Fever has a positive impact on health of both children and adults, when they face
the challenge posed by different kinds of infections.
Evidence is accumulating on this regard..
We are only opposing the positive effects of fever on our system that is trying to help
us, by giving fever controlling medications
Fever is part of the body’s natural response to infection. It is therefore reasonable to
assume that there must be some benefit to it
In evolutionary terms, ” fever ” the human’s response would have given a fighting chance
of survival. In more biological terms, there is evidence that some microorganisms are
adversely affected by temperatures above 37°C and some host response mechanisms perform
better at higher body temperatures.
Question 2
We doctors meticulously prescribe paracetamol and advice the parents to give it …after
vaccination…
Is it the right thing to do?
It has been shown in studies that if we use paracetamol to control fever, then the
desired effect of producing the antibody levels ( the chemicals that fights against
infective agents) decreases. Meaning that we could be potentially decreasing the
effectiveness of vaccines.
Question 3
Fever is beneficial and it is a trivial issue in most minor illnesses such as coughs and
colds. But how about the effects of paracetamol in sick children and adults in intensive
care?
It has been shown that treating fever even in sick children and adults are not very
beneficial.
But It is true that very high body temperatures can disrupt cellular metabolism and
cause organ damage. Temperatures above 41.5°C is called hyperthermia, and temperatures
this high can cause significant morbidity including brain damage and hence it is
important to bring down such high temperatures pretty quickly.
Question 4
Does reducing the fever with medicine, help avoiding fever related fits in children
There is no evidence to suggest that it helps to reduce the chanes of febrile fits (
fever related fits)
Question 5
Paracetamol use isn’t very useful..It it so … should we be using paracetamol just
because it is so safe… ?is it really safe?
Evidence is accumulating on this regard that it is not a wonder drug of safety if it is
used on long term basis
Question 6
Then…What is the only purpose of giving paracetamol in children and adults?
The purpose of using antipyretics (fever medications) is to alleviate the discomfort of
a child, not for fever per se
If your child has fever but he or she is running around, then you do not need to give
them any medications just to control the fever…Same thing is applicable to you grown
ups…
Fever…It is hot, but chill out and don’t take any medications.…
(Paediatricians like me would be interested in what causes the fever, rather than the
fever per se..There is always exceptions… Fever in an infant below 6 months of age,
needs thorough evaluation)
