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Show Citizen, Press, Review Wed., Oct. 19, 1988 Page 20 Hospital tells methods for treatment of fever Autumn brings not only falling leaves, but falling outdoor temperatures tem-peratures as well-and the beginning begin-ning of the cold and flu season. As cold weather approaches, American Ameri-can Fork Hospital cautions parents to think twice about the way they treat a common symptom of children's illness-fever. When a child shows signs of a fever, a parent's first reaction is often to give the child medication to bring the fever down. But, according accord-ing to American Fork Hospital pediatricians and pediatric nurses, this is often the wrong response. Fever Phobia "'Fever Phobia' is epidemic in Utah County," says American Fork Hospital pediatrician Dr. Gordon B. Glade. "Fever Phobia is the common misconception that an elevated temperature is extremely harmful to a person and that it causes brain damage." According to Dr. Glade, fever is actually a warning sign that something some-thing is wrong-and fever may actually ac-tually help our bodies. What is fever? Dr. Glade, along with Pediatrician Pediatri-cian David Nuttall.M.D.; Assistant Administrator of Nursing Sue Fleming, R.N.; and Pediatric Nursing Nurs-ing Supervisor Karen Brown, R.N., utilized the latest medical information informa-tion available in compiling American Ameri-can Fork Hospital's official pediatric pediat-ric policy for treating children's fever. According to this policy, fever is generally caused by an infection or toxin, and is a sign that the body is fighting infection-fever is a natu- J lyjiiu - One month later on August 6 Port was absent when a mob of drunken Missourians tried to prevent pre-vent Mormons from voting at Gal-latiyv Gal-latiyv Otherwise timid John Butler picked up an oak stick and begun swatting heads like they were flies until the Mormons followed him up the steps and into the tavern to vote. When the furious Missourians Missouri-ans returned with their guns, the Mormons were gone. Two days later Port joined 150 armed Mormons who surrounded justice of the peace Adam Black demanding he sign a statement not to take sides against the Mormons - in the conflict. As a result charges were filed against the Mormons who presented pre-sented the demands. Missourians from 11 counties gathered to help arrest the Mormons. A few days later a band of armed Mormons intercepted a wagon load of arm s being shipped to the mob in Daviess County. In early September Septem-ber Governor Boggs responded by declaring a state of insurrection in Davies and Caldwell counties, or-deringthe or-deringthe state militia to march on the Mormons and crush the rebellion. rebel-lion. On October 2 the Mormon community com-munity of De Witt was under siege. On October 12 the Saints retreated to Far West while Joseph and his men frantically tried to establish a defense at Adam Ondi-Aman. But they were too late. The militia burned homes and stampeded livestock, live-stock, leaving a trail of flogged Mormons lashed to trees. Two Mormons were ridden out of town on a cannon. The mob boasted they would drive the Mormons from Caldwell County to Hell. The Mormons struck back at Gallatin, Millport and Grindstone Fork. When Lyman Wight, David Patten and Seymour Branson rode into Far West with several wagon loads of plunder they had obtained before setting Gallatin on fire, most Saints cheered the victory. Others, including Thomas Marsh and Orson Hyde of the council of twelve apostles, felt plundering was not consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ. These men took their families and belongings and left Far West. Two methodist ministers, Samuel Bogart and Cornellius Gilliam, Gil-liam, began gathering the mob at Crooked River for an assault on Far West where it was reported the preachers had Mormon hostages in their camp. Mormon volunteers followed David Patton to Crooked River to rescue the prisoners and stop the mob. It was reported John D. Lee, Parley P. Pratt and Porter Rockwell were riding with Patton. The Mormons routed the enemy into a full retreat, killing one Mis-sourian. Mis-sourian. However, three Mormons were killed in the skirmish, including includ-ing their leader David Patton who received a bullet through the hip which penetrated the bladder. It was a long, painful death. Though victorious, the Mormons were discouraged. They were not as invincible as they thought they would be. The exaggerated report reaching reach-ing Governor Boggs indicated the entire mob had been wiped out by the Mormons. The Governor ordered or-dered an additional 2,000 militiamen militia-men against the Mormons who found themselves gathering at Far West for a last stand. (To be continued) ral reaction by the body to defend itself when infected by unhealthy bacteria or virus. Fever develops when the brain instructs the muscles to work harder to produce heat; the blood vessels near the skin constrict to help retain the heat, and the result is a temperature too high for many harmful bacteria or viruses to survive. sur-vive. Fever is rarely harmful because the body normally regulates its temperature to protect itself against any permanent damage. Fever does not cause brain damage unless the temperature is 108 F. What is a "normar temperature? tempera-ture? American Fork Hospital's pediatric pedi-atric policy emphasizes that normal nor-mal temperatures vary according to many factors including the environment, envi-ronment, the time of day, clothing, activity, and the kinds of food eaten. According to Dr. Glade, an active ac-tive child may normally have a temperature of up to 100 F in the late afternoon. Temperature can also vary ac cording to the way it is taken. Normal temperatures are: Axillary (under the arm) .... 96 to 98.4 F Oral 97 to 99.4 F Rectal 99 to 100.4 F Dr. Glade cautions that the plastic strips which are often used to measure temperature are inaccurate inac-curate up to 50 percent of the time. ' How fever is helpful Dr. Glade says th at when a child has a fever, he usually slows down, his activity pace. This is very bene-" ficial to helping the child get better, i In addition, fever has been shown to reduce the production of certain germs and enhance the body's ability abil-ity to fight certain infections. Certain Cer-tain antibiotics also work better when the body temperature is elevated. ele-vated. "If our first response to an elevated ele-vated temperature is to give medication medi-cation to decrease the temperature, tempera-ture, we may actually be prolonging prolong-ing a child's illness," says Dr. Glade. When to treat a fever. American Fork Hospital's pedi atric policy emphasizes that the treatment of fever should not be based solely on the number on the thermometer. If the child looks and acts comfortable, com-fortable, he is probably not seri-"ously seri-"ously ill. Generally, medication should not be given to reduce fever unless the child is unduly uncom-. uncom-. fortable andor not willingly drinking drink-ing fluids. Dr. Glade especially recommends recom-mends treating fever if a child experiences seizures. "Seven percent per-cent of all children will have a seizure sei-zure with fever sometime in their life," he says. "Seizures are a very frightening experience for anyone taking care of a child. If that has happened to your child I would agree with vigorous treatment of the fever." How to treat a fever. The hospital's pediatric policy points to several important things a parent can do reduce a fever other than giving medication. The first thing to do when treating treat-ing a fever is to give the child a lot of fluid. "With a temperature, a child looses a lot of fluid by evapo ration," says Dr. Glade. "Fluids will help to maintain good hydration hydra-tion and lower the temperature." Dressing the child in light clothing cloth-ing and covers is another important impor-tant step in treating fever. "It is counterproductive to be pushing aspirin and medications when a child is in two sets of flannel pajamas paja-mas and wrapped in three blankets," blan-kets," Dr. Glade explains. The room the child is in should also be kept fairly cool. However, do not chill the child so that he shivers. shiv-ers. When a child shivers the muscles work harder to produce heat, increasing the child's temperature. tem-perature. A third treatment option is bathing the child in tepid (lukewarm) (luke-warm) water for 45 minutes. Dr. Glade cautions that a small amount of water is all that is required. re-quired. Temperature is lowered mainly by evaporative losses as water is poured over the child. No alcohol should be used. No ice water should be used. Dr. Glade emphasizes that this method is extremely challenging-sick challenging-sick children hate to be splashed on. UTAH'S LOWEST FOOD PRICES ! r';.. f A , , Tfeo , ft i;::-T':TATEr.OAD Utah bhi. 5R,8TOR . Treating with medication. When appropriate, medications maybe used to reduce the fever and relieve pain. Aspirin, acetaminophen, acetamino-phen, and ibuprofen all reduce fever. According to Dr. Glade, Acetaminophen Acetam-inophen is the most common medication medi-cation used. The dosage should be based on the child's weight rather than age. The dosage is about 5 mg. of acetaminophen per pound of body weight. Dr. Glade discourages the use of aspirin if a child has a documented influenza or chicken pox since there is some suggestion that the child may be at higher risk for Reye's syndrome. According to Dr. Glade, there is no benefit to alternating medications medica-tions every two hours. "If you have a child who has sei zures and you vigorously wan t to lower the temperature, you can probably get just as much effect by giving the aspirin and the acetaminophen acetam-inophen together," he says. Dr. Glade says that Ibuprofen has not yet been made into a useful preparation for children under the age of 12. xr. n wm nil ff$4a m tero as If &n iw urn m. m ggig gm wo. |