Parent's fever phobia: a new look at an old problem

Background. Fever phobia — excessive anxiety among parents about fever in children — is a relevant problem in both global and Russian pediatrics. In Russia, up to 80–90 % of families have concerns about fever, the danger of febrile seizures, and even death of a child, which often leads to excessive use of antipyretics, sometimes contrary to clinical recommendations. The phenomenon is typical not only for parents but also for doctors, of whom 65 % of pediatricians consider temperature an independent risk factor and recommend reducing it by all available means.
Objective. This study aimed to assess the attitudes of mothers toward childhood fever and the specifics of providing care when it occurs at the outpatient stage.
Materials and methods. An anonymous survey was conducted between 2022 and 2024 among 54 mothers with children aged 1–15 years who were observed in polyclinics and private medical centers in Yaroslavl. The questionnaire included questions about the frequency of temperature measurements, the criteria for prescribing antipyretics, preferences for medications and their forms, intervals between doses, the presence of allergies, sources of information, the physical treatments used, and the fears associated with fever. The average age of the children was 3.49 years.
Results. Most mothers (40.7 %) measured their child's temperature 3–5 times a day, reflecting a high level of anxiety. Of the respondents, 7.4 % measured their child's temperature 1–2 times a day, while some mothers measured their child’s temperature up to 10–12 times a day, which can lead to measurements every 40 minutes, increasing stress for both the child and the parents. More than 90 % of children with acute respiratory infections receive antipyretics, and in 72 % of cases, antipyretics are administered even when the temperature is below 38°C.
Conclusions. Fever phobia is widespread among parents and is accompanied by high anxiety, frequent temperature measurements, and excessive antipyretic use. Therefore, additional educational measures should be implemented for both parents and healthcare professionals.

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