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Fever is generally beneficial but can be harmful in critically ill children. Pediatric critical care nurses must recognize fever
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care medicine
- Physiology of fever
Background:
- Fever is often viewed as a protective response.
- However, its role changes in critically ill pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the detrimental effects of fever in pediatric critical care.
- To emphasize the need for aggressive fever management in this population.
Main Methods:
- Review of the physiological impact of fever.
- Clinical considerations in pediatric critical care settings.
Main Results:
- Fever poses significant risks to compromised children in critical care.
- The febrile response requires careful monitoring and intervention.
Conclusions:
- Fever is considered an 'enemy' in pediatric critical care.
- Aggressive management of fever is crucial for improving outcomes in critically ill children.
Abstract:
Today fever is being viewed more as a friend rather than an enemy. While this may be true in the normal pediatric setting, fever cannot be considered a friend in the pediatric critical care unit. It is here that fever becomes an enemy. The pediatric critical care nurse must understand the febrile response and recognize the potential detrimental effects of fever in the already compromised child. Fever will be more aggressively managed in the critically ill child.