It’s the middle of the night, and a child in your care just spiked a fever. What should you do? If your first thought is to reach for fever-reducing medicines, like Tylenol or Motrin, you certainly aren’t alone, but a new study from C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Michigan warns that some parents and caregivers may be turning to these medicines too quickly.
Parents are split on when to offer fever-reducers
A newly released survey of more than 1,300 parents shows that while two-thirds of parents say they’re confident in their ability to know when their child needs to take medication, they vary widely when it comes to deciding the right time to administer fever meds. According to their responses:
- 35% offer medicine below 100.4° Fahrenheit (F).
- 50% offer medicine between 100.4° F and 101.9° F.
- 15% offer medicine at 102.0° F or higher.
This means 1 in 3 parents routinely give their kids medicine for a low-grade fever, which is defined as a fever below 100.4° F. The only problem, Mott researchers say, is that low-grade fevers don’t usually need to be medicated.
Why should you wait to use fever-reducing medicines?
According to the report, a fever is a signal that the body is fighting an infection. Allowing the body to run a low-grade fever below 100.4° F can actually be helpful to kids because “at increased temperatures our immune cells are more effective at destroying the viruses and bacteria that cause infection.”
“Often, parents worry about their child having a fever and want to do all they can to reduce their temperature. However, they may not be aware that in general the main reason to treat a fever is just to keep their child comfortable,” says Dr. Susan Woolford, a pediatrician and the Mott poll co-director, in a press release.
The exception to letting kids run a low-grade fever comes if you have an infant. In babies younger than 12 weeks, fever can be a sign of a serious infection and a pediatrician should be contacted immediately. Similarly, infants 4 months and older should be seen by a physician if they have a fever accompanied by lethargy, fussiness or fewer wet diapers. But, for older kids, a low-grade fever isn’t necessarily cause for alarm.
So, what should you do if a child has a fever?
The experts at Mott Children’s Hospital and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend treating low-grade fevers in kids older than 6 months using non-medicated methods like:
- Ensuring the child drinks plenty of fluids.
- Dressing the child in light clothing.
- Keeping the room cool.
- Encouraging rest.
If the fever goes above 100.4° F, acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be used. For best practices, Mott Children’s Hospital suggests keeping a timed log of the child’s temperature readings and when the medicine was given.
As with all child health concerns, it’s a good idea to check with your child’s pediatrician first to ensure proper dosing and to determine the best treatment.
