According to a new C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll, 1 in 3 parents would give their children medicine for a low-grade fever, which is below 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius, and 1 in 2 parents would for a medium-grade fever up to 101.9 F or 38.83 C.
The Mott Poll was conducted with 1,376 parents of young children under the age of 12, and the responses were collected between August and September of 2022. 84% of parents will retake their child’s temperature before giving a second dose, but 26% of parents will give another dose, even if there is no fever present, in an attempt to prevent the fever from coming back. That may keep your child comfortable, but might also hide what is causing the fever by masking the pain and other symptoms. These medications are treatments, not preventative.
The poll found that two-thirds of parents initially try alternate methods to reduce fevers, such as using a cool washcloth. Some 65% of parents had reported on keeping a record of the time they gave each dose, something all parents should do, according to the poll, so they don’t risk overdosing if a second dose is needed.
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