UM's Keane said she worries that marketing by drugmakers sends parents to the medicine cabinet too quickly. A particular gripe: a television commercial showing a mother feeling a warm forehead and saying, "You call the doctor, I'll get the Tylenol."
She complains that mothers give more fever medication than they should - even exceeding the rule of five doses in 24 hours.
There are long-standing questions about treating a fever with medication at all. Some doctors believe it can prolong the underlying infection.
Keane cited a study conducted 20 years ago by Dr. Timothy Doran, now head of pediatrics at Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Towson. Doran and his colleagues examined the duration of chickenpox with and without acetaminophen.
"If you didn't give any fever medicine," Keane said, "your chickenpox went away sooner."
stephanie.desmon@baltsun.com
Treating your child's fever
Remember that normal temperature ranges from 99 degrees to 100.3 degrees.
Treat the behavior, not the number on the thermometer. If the child's temperature is above 102 but he feels fine, wait it out. If he doesn't feel well, give medication.
Symptoms more worrisome than fever alone include dehydration (fewer than three wet diapers in 24 hours), fever lasting more than five days and a baby who doesn't wake up to feed.
Acetaminophen should only be given every four to six hours, with no more than five doses in 24 hours.
Never give aspirin to a child.
[ Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine]
