When a child’s temperature begins to rise, worried parents often spring into action, marshaling cool washcloths and pain relievers, making frantic calls to the doctor or even visiting an emergency room.

Today comes the answer to a question that I answer regularly in my practice.  ”What do I do about a fever in my child?”  From the start, I explain the GOOD benefits of fever. Good fevers…YES!  Fever is a way of heating the body up to make the enzymes inside work faster and the immune system stronger. Remember, I am a Chiropractor so I believe we heal ourselves from above down, inside out! The body is a self-healing organism and is way smarter than me.  Well, this week the American Academy of Pediatrics (MDs pediatric organization) is trying to get this message out to parents.

The report, aimed at calming what it calls “fever phobia,” also says there is NO EVIDENCE that lowering a fever will help a child get well faster, or that leaving a fever untreated could cause seizures, brain damage or death, as some caregivers fear.

American Academy of Pediatrics issues advice on managing fever in children. A fever in a child can be worrying to parents, and is one of the most common reasons parents seek a pediatrician’s care. To help pediatricians educate parents and families about fever and “fever phobia,” the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a clinical report, “Fever and Antipyretic Use in Children,” published in the March 2011 print issue of Pediatrics (published online Feb. 28).

Fever is a physiological mechanism that has beneficial effects in fighting infection. Although many parents administer antipyretics (medications to reduce a fever) such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to a child to reduce a fever, the report emphasizes that the primary goal should be to help the child feel more comfortable, rather than to maintain a “normal” temperature. Parents should focus on the general well-being of the child, his/her activity, observing the child for signs of serious illness and maintaining appropriate fluid intake.

Fever is a way of heating the body up to make the enzymes inside work faster and the immune system stronger.

Parents should not wake up a sleeping child to administer a fever-reducer. Antipyretics must be stored safely to avoid accidental ingestions. Parents should be aware that the correct dosage is based on the child’s weight, and that an accurate measuring device should always be used. While there is some evidence that combination therapy (alternating doses of ibuprofen and acetaminophen) may be more effective at lowering body temperature, questions remain about whether it is safe and whether it helps children feel more comfortable. Combination therapy also increases the risk of inaccurate dosing.

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