[e-drug] Management of fever in children in an outpatient setting (4)

["Joel Lexchin" <joel.lexchin@utoronto.ca>]

E-DRUG: Management of fever in children in an outpatient setting (4)
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A high fever per se does not lead to febrile seizures. In those children
susceptible to febrile seizures it is the rate of rise in the temperature.
Therefore, the first indication of a fever might be a seizure in this group
of children. Treating the fever does not prevent seizures. Furthermore,
unless the child is very uncomfortable with the fever there is no indication for treating it. With some common conditions that cause a fever like otitis media giving paracetamol or ibuprofen makes the child feel better but that is most likely because of the analgesic effect from the medication rather than from its antipyretic effect.

Joel Lexchin
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Joel Lexchin MD
121 Walmer Rd.
Toronto ON
Canada M5R 2X8
Tel: 416-964-7186
Fax: 416-736-5227
E mail: joel.lexchin@utoronto.ca