Furthermore, the problem of the febrile child is one of the most frequently encountered in clinical pediatrics, accounting for as many as 20 percent of pediatric emergency department visits. The problem of determining an appropriate clinical and laboratory evaluation of febrile children, however, remains a major challenge to the pediatrician and emergency room physician. It is difficult to pinpoint the lowest temperature elevation that is definitely abnormal for all children under all circumstances. Factors such as excessive clothing, physical activity, hot weather, digestion of food, and ovulation can all raise temperature in the absence of disease.
Physicians have a role in educating parents about fever phobia.
Fever seldom is harmful. It does cause an individual to feel uncomfortable. On the other hand fever does many positive things, such as interfering with viral replication and increasing leukocyte chemotaxis. The main task facing the physician is to make a diagnosis and to treat the underlying disease causing the fever. The evaluation and clinical decision-making process begins with a good history and complete physical examination.