MYTH #1: Fevers cause brain damage

This is perhaps the most commonly held fever myth, and one that I have to discuss almost every night in the ER with worried parents. Fevers that are due to infection, even those reaching heights of 105°F, will not cause brain damage. It is true that aches and pains can accompany high fevers, and the fever can even produce some nonsensical or babbling behavior, but high fevers will not permanently injure your child. (Brain damage will occur in body temperatures over 108° F, which only results from environmental conditions—a child left in a closed car in hot weather, for example).

MYTH #2: Fever seizures are harmful

There is nothing quite so frightening as to observe your precious child seizing in front of you. Fortunately, fever seizures rarely last more than a few minutes and do no permanent harm. Thankfully, children who have had febrile seizures are not at increased risk for learning disabilities, developmental delays, or epilepsy.

MYTH #3: All fevers need to be treated

Fever does not have to be treated. Why? Because treating the fever will not help combat the underlying disease process. However, because fevers above 102° F can sometimes cause discomfort, it is reasonable to treat these fevers with acetaminophen or ibuprofen liquid.

A few words of caution: It is not necessary to soak or sponge your child with cold-water baths—this only reduces the fever for a few minutes. And never use rubbing alcohol to cool your feverish child. Alcohol is toxic to infants, and will be absorbed through the skin.

MYTH #4: Without treatment, fevers will just keep getting higher

Our brains have a wonderful internal thermostat that will stop a fever from getting higher than 105-106° F—whether you treat the fever or not.

MYTH #5: With treatment, fevers should return to normal

Aggressive fever treatment may not always work. Or it may only lower the fever a degree or two. Or may only keep the temperature down for an hour or two. Knowing this, be careful not to get frustrated and over-treat a feverish child, risking an overdose. Remember: the fever is not the real problem.

MYTH #6: The higher the fever, the more dangerous the illness

This can be a dangerous myth. A child can be quite ill, with a serious infection like pneumonia or meningitis, and yet have a low grade fever or no fever at all. Conversely, benign viral infections, that do no harm, can cause high fevers that are unresponsive to fever-lowering medicines.

How your child appears (does he look sick?) is far more important than how high his fever may be.

MYTH #7: Any temperature higher than 98.6 is considered a fever

A normal person’s temperature changes throughout the day. Furthermore, the range of “normal” temperatures can vary several degrees. Most pediatricians define a fever as any rectal temperature above 100.5°F.

In summary, fever is simply a warning sign that an infection may be present. Think of it like a subtle grinding sound that suddenly appears from your car’s engine. Upon hearing such a noise, would you wrap your engine in soundproofing material and start wearing earplugs, so that you could no longer hear the grinding? Or would you have a mechanic investigate its source? Likewise, relax about the heat, while you begin a search for the flame. 

Steven Sainsbury lives in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and is the father of eight in a blended family, including three surviving quads, now 21 years old. He’s been writing medical articles for TWINS since 1986, and has worked as a full-time emergency physician since 1985.

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According to the Center for Disease Control, there are 5 important steps every mother can take to reduce the chance of delivering an infant with a birth defect. Here are there top 5:

#1: Take Folic Acid Supplements Throughout your pregnancy

If you are pregnant, having a high enough amount of folate in your blood (blood folate concentration) is important to help to prevent a neural tube defect in your developing baby.

#2: Manage pre-existing health conditions before and during your pregnancy

Pre-existing conditions like diabetes and obesity have been attributed with higher rates of birth defects. Getting control of them before becoming pregnancy can be an important way to achieve a health pregnancy.

#3: Know your family history

Knowing the health history for both yourself and your partner is key. If either of you have a family health history of a birth defect, developmental disability, newborn screening disorder, or genetic disease, your baby might be more likely to have one of these conditions as well. This can be very important information to share with your health provider.

#4: Tell your doctor about every medication you take

Taking some medications during pregnancy can increase your babies chance of having a neural tube defect. This is why it is important talk to your doctor before starting or stopping any medications before and during your pregnancy.

#5: Don’t let your body temperature creep up too high

Many women don’t realize that high fevers or high body temperature during pregnancy can increase the chance of birth defects. You can protect your developing babies by protecting yourself from infections, managing fevers, and keeping your core body temperature normal.

These are just a few of the things the CDC recommends. If you are concerned about the possibility of a birth defect talk to your doctor about the risk factors and how to avoid them.

The post January is Birth Defects Prevention Month appeared first on TWINS Magazine.