2011-03-15

A Reminder that Fever is Harmless

A Reminder that Fever is Harmless

Advanced Pediatrics was very pleased to be contacted by a reporter from Suite 101.com to discuss the recent American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) campaign to remind families that fever is not a harmful symptom.

Suite 101.com is rated as one of the top 10 blog spots and receives 28 million hits a month, so we were especially pleased that we could get our message out to over 300 million people a year.

Here is our interview, we hope you find it informative and helpful.


Our key points are:
  • Fever remains a fearsome symptom for two key reasons:
  1. For most of human history, infections were the number one cause of death in childhood, causing as many as one in four children to pass.
  2. Even today, fever makes everyone feel terrible.
  • Fever today should no longer create fear for two key reasons:
  1. In the US and the rest of the developed world, death from infection is now very, very rare in childhood.  Fever no longer indicates a likely hazard.
  2. Fever, although uncomforrable, is not dangerous.  Everyone gets fevers, everyone.  With almost no exceptions, fever itself causes no actual harm.
  • More important to be concerned about than fever are signs of serious infection:  Stiff neck, trouble getting air in and out of the chest, severe pain, worrisome rashes.



Dr. Arthur Lavin

*Disclaimer* The comments contained in this electronic source of information do not constitute and are not designed to imply that they constitute any form of individual medical advice. The information provided is purely for informational purposes only and not relevant to any person's particular medical condition or situation. If you have any medical concerns about yourself or your family please contact your physician immediately. In order to provide our patients the best uninfluenced information that science has to offer,we do not accept samples of drugs, advertising tchotchkes, money, food, or any item from outside vendors.

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