CNN: 1 in 3 parents give fever-reducing medicine when it may not be needed, new poll says
February 22, 2023
Susan J. Woolford, MD, MPH, of CHEAR was recently quoted by CNN.
“When parents note that their child’s temperature might be a bit elevated, I think that sometimes they’re concerned about the fever itself,” said Dr. Susan Woolford, Mott pediatrician and Mott Poll codirector. “Maybe it’s not entirely clear to parents that the fever itself is not the concern, it is what might be causing the fever. So we don’t actually have to try to get rid of a fever, because the fever is just a sign that something else is happening.”
“The goal is to try to keep the child comfortable,” Woolford said. “To make sure they’re wearing light clothing, keep the room you know, cool, not cold, but comfortably cool and then to make sure that they stay well-hydrated.”