Three researchers from MacMaster University in Ontario (Canada) have developed a mathematical model to calculate how the increase in the amount of virus emitted by a single person who takes anti-thermal agents during a flu process, could increase the total number of cases.
This is a theoretical study that tries to refute a popular belief based on the fact that the less fever the less risk to others. However, one of the warnings of family doctors and pediatricians, is precisely reduce overconfidence, and stay home until the infection remitsAnd, in fact, in practice, we should not take the children back to school until they were at least 24 hours without fever.
Because of course, we have already seen here that fever is our ally, remember, since it is the body's response to an external microorganism, which is intended to be destroyed by increasing the temperature
Professors Ben Bolker, David Earn and Paul Andrews, have published their study in Proceedins of the Royal Society B. They point out that fever can actually help reduce the amount of virus in a sick person's body, and the possibility of transmitting the disease to other people. Therefore, taking medications that reduce fever can increase the transmission of viruses or bacteria.
It is clear that nobody likes to feel bad, it is also that for adults it is not easy to keep a bed when we are sick (although a flu can make it very difficult to lead a normal life). But the case while we get used to taking antithetics or anti-flu compounds, we do the same with our children, although we don't really end up with the disease.
These researchers have gathered information from many sources, and then developed their mathematical model. The conclusion is that suppressing fever increases the number of annual cases by approximately five percent, corresponding to more than 1,000 additional flu deaths during a typical year in North America.
This study was supported by institutions such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research
Perhaps in this issue we reach a level of acceptance similar to what happens with antibiotics, with respect to which the population is already realizing (little by little, yes) that taking them when they are not needed causes bacteria Become resistant.
Cases and Cases
In the assessment of a child with fever Many factors come into play, it is not so easy for many parents to think that fever helps, and in addition, in some occasions it will be essential to consult the doctor:
Fever in a baby of less than 3 months: Although it may still be a banal cause, at this young age babies do not focus infections as an older baby does. There is also a greater risk of sepsis by having a "more immature" immune system (to put it in some way).
Bad general state: A child who, even when the temperature drops, is still very down, apathetic or with inconsolable crying. Bad skin color (paleness).
Appearance in the skin of purple or violet spots, or petechiae (red spots on the skin, which when pressed do not "bleach").
Seizures
Vomiting or severe diarrhea.
Difficulty breathing.
I do not want to end this entry without recalling these recommendations on fever (coinciding with the article linked above) of the Spanish Association of Primary Care Pediatrics. And the reminder that there are no studies that prove that the combined administration of ibuprofen and paracetamol is better than giving a single anti-thermal, practice that - in addition - can cause undesirable side effects.
