Fever Phobia- Supportive studies on why we should support fever rather than suppress it.

Organized Research on Fever Management in Children

1. Physician Knowledge & Practice Patterns

• Knowledge, attitudes and misconceptions of primary care physicians regarding fever in children: a cross sectional study

  
  

  Ital J Pediatr. 2012 Sep 5;38:40

• Fever management: Evidence vs current practice

  
  

  Highlights the common but unsupported practice of alternating antipyretics.

  
  

  World J Clin Pediatr. 2012 Dec;1(4):29-33

2. Comparing Antipyretic Methods

• Comparison of cold water sponging and acetaminophen in control of fever among children in Nigeria

  
  

  J Family Med Prim Care. 2013 Apr;2(2):153-8

• Paracetamol for treating fever in children

  
  

  Cochrane Review: No conclusive superiority over placebo; similar effects to physical methods.

  
  

  Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;CD003676

• Physical methods for treating fever in children

  
  

  Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;CD004264

3. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Biological Effects

• Acetaminophen decreases intracellular glutathione and modulates cytokine production

  
  

  Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2005;37(8):1727-37

• Tylenol lowers glutathione levels (body’s key antioxidant)

  
  

  PubMed Reference

4. Risks of Antipyretic Therapy in Infections

• Antipyretic therapy may increase mortality in viral infections

  
  

  NZ Med J. 2011;124(1338)

• Treatment with NSAIDs or acetaminophen increased 28-day mortality in sepsis

  
  

  PubMed 22373120

• Suppression of fever increases influenza cases and deaths in US models

  
  

  PMC3906934

• Virus shedding prolonged in animals when fever is suppressed

  
  

  PubMed 7069233

• Animal models show increased mortality from antipyretics in influenza

  
  

  Europe PMC

5. Fever in Sepsis & Critical Illness

• Control of Fever in Septic Shock: Should We Care or Intervene?

  
  

  Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2012

• Fever and antipyresis in infection

  
  

  Med J Aust. 2011;195(8)

• Should fever be reduced in septic patients?

  
  

  Escavo Clinical Review

6. General Reviews & Guidance

• A Practical Approach to the Treatment of Low-Risk Childhood Fever

  
  

  Drugs R D. 2014 Jun;14(2):45–55

• Fever: Suppress it or let it ride?

  
  

  PMC4703655

• Overuse of antipyretics despite weak evidence of benefit

  
  

  PMC4145646

7. Educational Resources

• When should I be worried? (short video, with humor and balanced advice)

  
  

  YouTube Video