Fever in Childhood

1. Define what fever is and is not, relative to temperature range.

2. List potential alarming or harmful consequences of fever.

3. Describe instruction given to parents for taking their child's temperature.

4. Outline a brief historical phone interview which might be used to triage the severity or urgency for professional medical care of a child with fever.

5. Explain how and why the age of a child modifies the approach of physicians in the evaluation and management of children with fever.

6. Describe how the change in pathogenesis of bacteremia has altered our approach to the febrile child.

7. Provide instructions to parents of children regarding the treatment of a fever, especially proper use of antipyretic agents vs. other remedies, such as sponging.

8. Define and explain ways in which a physician may counter "fever phobia" in parents.

Source:

Family Medicine:  Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Chapter 50, Pages 306-312

Essentials of Family Medicine, Chapter 14, Pages 215-226

"Evaluation and Management of Infants and Young Children with Fever , Michael Luszcak, LTC, MC USA, Darnell Army Community Hospital, Fort Hood, TX, American Family Physician, October 1, 2001 

“Evaluating Fever of Unidentifiable Source in Young Children”

Denise K. Sur, M.D. and Elise L. Bukont, D.O., University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, American Family Physician, June 15, 2007