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Understanding Discomfort in Order to Appropriately Treat Fever

Author

Listed:
  • Mattia Doria

    (Family paediatrician, Italian Federation of Paediatric (FIMP), 00100 Roma, Italy)

  • Domenico Careddu

    (Family paediatrician, Italian Federation of Paediatric (FIMP), 00100 Roma, Italy)

  • Flavia Ceschin

    (Family paediatrician, Italian Federation of Paediatric (FIMP), 00100 Roma, Italy)

  • Maria Libranti

    (Family paediatrician, Italian Federation of Paediatric (FIMP), 00100 Roma, Italy)

  • Monica Pierattelli

    (Family paediatrician, Italian Federation of Paediatric (FIMP), 00100 Roma, Italy)

  • Valentina Perelli

    (Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Stella Maris, Calambrone, 56128 Pisa, Italy)

  • Claudia Laterza

    (Sanitanova S.r.l., 70100 Bari, Italy)

  • Annarita Chieti

    (Sanitanova S.r.l., 70100 Bari, Italy)

  • Elena Chiappini

    (Ospedale Pediatrico Universitario Meyer, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute—Università degli Studi di Firenze, Strutture Organizzative Dipartimentali (SOD) Malattie Infettive, 50139 Firenze, Italy)

Abstract

Although national and international guidelines on the management of childhood and adolescent fever are available, some inadequate practices persist, both from parents and healthcare professionals. The main goal of bringing children’s temperature back to normal can lead to the choice of inappropriate drugs or non-necessary combination/alternation of antipyretic treatments. This behavior has been described in the last 35 years with the concept of fever-phobia, caused also by the dissemination of unscientific information and social media. It is therefore increasingly important that pediatricians continue to provide adequate information to parents in order to assess the onset of signs of a possible condition of the child’s discomfort rather than focusing only on temperature. In fact, there is no clear and unambiguous definition of discomfort in literature. Clarifying the extent of the feverish child’s discomfort and the tools that could be used to evaluate it would therefore help recommend that antipyretic treatment is appropriate only if fever is associated with discomfort.

Suggested Citation

  • Mattia Doria & Domenico Careddu & Flavia Ceschin & Maria Libranti & Monica Pierattelli & Valentina Perelli & Claudia Laterza & Annarita Chieti & Elena Chiappini, 2019. "Understanding Discomfort in Order to Appropriately Treat Fever," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-9, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:22:p:4487-:d:286837
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Genny Raffaeli & Annalisa Orenti & Monia Gambino & Walter Peves Rios & Samantha Bosis & Sonia Bianchini & Claudia Tagliabue & Susanna Esposito, 2016. "Fever and Pain Management in Childhood: Healthcare Providers’ and Parents’ Adherence to Current Recommendations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-16, May.
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