Kids Taking Fever Meds Wrongly Risk Liver and Brain Damage
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2014/10/27 14:13
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Uho Health Network October 27, 2014 Reporter Tan Yongyong / Comprehensive Report
When a child has a high fever, parents become as frantic as ants on a hot pan. Some parents even indiscriminately give their children fever-reducing medication without considering the cause of the fever, solely focused on bringing the temperature down.
In fact, a fever refers to a core body temperature of ≥38°C. The inflammatory response caused by illness raises body temperature, serving as a symptom that signals health issues. However, some parents resort to incorrect methods to reduce their child's fever. Improper fever management can sometimes mask symptoms, affecting diagnosis. Overdosing on medication may lead to drug poisoning or side effects. Therefore, the Changhua County Health Bureau provides the following four principles for using fever-reducing medication in children:
**4 Tips for Correctly Using Fever-Reducing Medication**
1) **Consult a doctor first when fever occurs** / For infants under 6 months old, never use fever-reducing medication without medical advice.
2) **Use fever-reducing medication as prescribed by a doctor** / Never adjust the dosage on your own just because the fever hasn't subsided, as this may lead to overdose.
3) **Choosing the right medication** / There is no significant difference in effectiveness or duration between oral medication and suppositories. However, if a child already has diarrhea, avoid using suppositories to prevent intestinal irritation. Additionally, children and adolescents under 18 should not use aspirin or other salicylate-based fever reducers, as they may harm the liver and brain.
4) **Seek immediate medical attention if the following symptoms occur** / Seizures, persistent vomiting, lethargy, or a high fever lasting more than three days.
The Health Bureau also reminds parents that fever-reducing medication does not solve all problems—identifying the underlying cause of the fever is key. Therefore, parents should pay attention to accompanying symptoms when their child has a fever, as this information can assist doctors in diagnosis and treatment.
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