CURRENT VIEWS OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ABOUT FEVER MAY BE THE CAUSES OF FEVER PHOBIA

Abstract

Fever is an extremely common symptom in children and the most common reason for visiting a pediatrician. There are many studies in the world literature indicating that physicians and parents have too many misconceptions and conflicting results regarding fever. This is due to the methodological limitations of the available studies in the field of fever, some disagreements in terminology, orientation towards patient comfort when making treatment decisions and the lack of a holistic approach to body reactions. In this study, we sought to identify the knowledge, attitudes and misconceptions of primary care physicians regarding fever in children. This cross-sectional study was conducted in June-July 2024 with the participation of physicians and nurses of children's clinics (n=209). Physicians, with oral consent, independently completed the proposed questionnaire. In the study, a third of respondents had conflicting answers regarding whether fever should be considered a normal reaction to illness or pathological. All pediatricians recommend reducing the temperature, and only 13.4% - if the child feels unwell. The overwhelming majority believes that fighting fever is not harmful to the body, although 72.2% note that prescribing antipyretics can mask more serious problems. It is positive that 58.8% of doctors recommend reducing the temperature above 39-39.5 ° C in accordance with modern recommendations; a smaller number of respondents (13.9%) associate fever with a bacterial infection. There are misconceptions among health workers regarding fever after vaccination, during teething, the need for physical cooling measures, mandatory watering, and indications for seeking medical care. All health workers have fears regarding the consequences of pyrexia, especially regarding convulsions, loss of consciousness, protein denaturation, and dehydration. On the one hand, this demonstrates alertness and encourages a diagnostic search. On the other hand, it increases temperature phobia. As a result, the instructions and definitions given to parents regarding fever treatment are often contradictory and incomplete. Most health care providers recognize the lack of knowledge in this area. By focusing on fever treatment, we give parents the impression that fever is harmful and antipyretics are beneficial. Are there long-term consequences of such a daily struggle when the primary goal is to maintain health?