Parents Urged To Chill on Fever Fears

Parents probably worry too much about kids’ fevers, a new report suggests. Fevers help the body fight infection. Usually children’s fevers are caused by viruses, the report notes. In most cases, they will go away without treatment and will not do any damage, it says. The American Academy of Pediatrics released the report. It says that temperatures under 100.4 are not considered fevers. Parents can treat fevers with over-the-counter medicines. The main purpose is to make the child feel better. The report says parents should pay attention to more than just temperature to give hints of how sick the child is. They should notice how the child acts and whether he or she eats and drinks normally. The journal Pediatrics published the report. The Associated Press wrote about it February 28.