Fever phobia appears to be a universal finding. This is supported by the findings of Athamneh and colleagues in their study, “Parents’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs of Childhood Fever Management in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study”. The origins of fever phobia likely can be found in the common association of fever and life-threatening illness prior to modern medical advances, but healthcare professionals who care for children must accept partial blame. Overly aggressive management of fever and inaccurate medical information feed into a vicious cycle where patients of more anxious caregivers tend to receive unnecessary interventions. Fever phobia, regardless of where a patient and their family live, leads to increased risk.
Clay Jones, MD is a pediatric hospitalist at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, MA. He received his medical degree from LSUHSC in New Orleans, LA and trained in pediatrics at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. His focus is on critical thinking as it applies to the practice of medicine and is a passionate promoter of science-based medicine.
Jones, Clay T.
"A Commentary on "Parents’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs of Childhood Fever Management in Jordan": The Role of Healthcare Professionals in Caregiver Fever Phobia,"
Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk: Vol. 5
, Article 14.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/childrenatrisk/vol5/iss1/14
A Response To:
Parents' Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs of Childhood Fever Management in Jordan: a Cross-Sectional Study by Liqa Athamneh, Marwa El-Mughrabi, Mohmmad Athamneh, E James Essien, and Susan Abughosh.