Fever Management Practices in Pediatric Populations
Summary
Fever in children represents a common physiological response to infection, yet its management remains an area of considerable variation across clinical and community settings. Current practice emphasises accurate assessment of body temperature, understanding of fever as a protective host response and judicious use of interventions to alleviate discomfort rather than suppress fever per se. Guidelines recommend antipyretic therapy for distress or when temperature exceeds defined thresholds, typically 38.5 °C, alongside non-pharmacological measures such as adequate hydration, light clothing and tepid sponging. Despite clear recommendations, “pyrexia phobia” persists among caregivers and some clinicians, leading to overuse of antipyretics, alternating drug regimens and unnecessary health-care consultations. Emerging digital monitoring tools and validated educational scales aim to empower parents and standardise self-management, while professional training addresses persistent misconceptions. Globally, fever management practices reflect a balance between reducing discomfort, preventing complications such as febrile seizures and avoiding overtreatment that may mask underlying illness.
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Fever Management Practices in Pediatric Populations publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in fever management practices in pediatric populations across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Antipyretic: A drug that reduces fever, commonly paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Febrile seizure: A convulsive event triggered by elevated body temperature, typically in young children.
Thermoregulation: The physiological processes by which the body maintains its core temperature.
Pyrexia phobia: An exaggerated fear of fever among caregivers leading to overtreatment.
References
- Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the febrile convulsion knowledge scale for parents/caregivers: translation and validation study. BMC Nursing (2024).
- Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward over-the-counter antipyretics among fever patients: a cross-sectional study in the context of a policy change KAP of OTC antipyretics. Frontiers in Public Health (2023).
- The Effect of Prophylactic Antipyretic Administration on Post-Vaccination Adverse Reactions and Antibody Response in Children: A Systematic Review. PLOS ONE (2014).
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