Fever Literacy and Fever Phobia. (March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wallenstein, Matthew B.; Schroeder, Alan R.; Hole, Michael K.; Ryan, Christina; Fijalkowski, Natalia; Alvarez, Elysia; Carmichael, Suzan L.
• Is Part Of: Clinical pediatrics. Volume 52:Number 3(2013)
• Page Start: 254
• Page End: 259
• Publication Date: 2013-03
• Subjects: fever -- fever phobia -- fever literacy -- fever definition -- fever illiteracy -- health literacy -- antipyretic -- fever knowledge -- parental knowledge; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1177/0009922812472252
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-9228

Abstract

Objective . To identify the percentage of parents who define the threshold for fever between 38.0°C and 38.3°C, which has not been reported previously, and to describe parental attitudes toward fever and antipyretic use. Study Design . Thirteen-question survey study of caregivers. Results . Overall, 81% of participants defined the threshold for fever as <38.0°C, 0% correctly defined fever between 38.0°C and 38.3°C, and 19% defined fever as >38.3°C. Twenty percent of children brought to clinic for a chief complaint of fever were never truly febrile. Ninety-three percent of participants believed that high fever can cause brain damage. For a comfortable-appearing child with fever, 89% of caregivers reported that they would give antipyretics and 86% would schedule a clinic visit. Conclusion . Our finding that 0% of parents correctly defined fever is both surprising and unsettling, and it should inform future discussions of fever between parents and clinicians.