Fevers in Children

Physician points out fever in kids is positive evidence of an active immune system.
In the New York Times (1/11, D5) "18 and Under" column, Perri Klass, MD, discusses how some parents are downright phobic about fevers in their children. "Fever does not harm the brain or the body, though it does increase the need for fluids. And even untreated, fevers rarely rise higher than 104 or 105 degrees," Klass reassures her readers. "In general, in older children who do not look very distressed, fever is positive evidence of an active immune system, revved up and helping an array of immunological processes work more effectively." Meanwhile, Dr. Barton D. Schmitt, who in 1980 authored an article about parental fever phobia, pointed out that physicians too may be just as concerned about a child's fever as parents and may be contributing to the problem of parental misconceptions about children's fevers.