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Does fever phobia cross borders? The case of Japan
Author(s) -
Sakai Rie,
Okumura Akihisa,
Marui Eiji,
Niijima Shinichi,
Shimizu Toshiaki
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.2011.03449.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anxiety , psychiatry , fever of unknown origin , pediatrics , family medicine
Background: Undue parental fear of fever in children was termed “fever phobia” by Schmitt following a survey in the USA in 1980. In 2000, Crocetti et al . conducted the same survey and concluded that fever phobia existed even 20 years later. In this study, we explore differences in fever phobia between these two US populations and a Japanese sample, and determine whether parents of a single child or those whose child was previously hospitalized or had a febrile seizure report greater anxiety about fever. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to parents of children who visited a pediatric outpatient clinic in Juntendo University Nerima Hospital between 19 and 30 November 2007. Results: Data was obtained from 211 parents who agreed to participate in the study. Compared with much smaller proportions reported in the two previous studies, 62% of caregivers considered a temperature below 37.8°C to be a fever, although less than half of parents reported that they were “very worried” about fever. Over 90% identified doctors and nurses as their primary information source. In contrast to 7% of parents in the US studies, almost no parents reported that temperatures could rise to or above 43.3°C if fever was left untreated; however, 63% of parents stated that they would visit a hospital. Conclusions: Fever phobia exists on both sides of the border, and while caregivers in Japan appear to have a more accurate understanding of fever, they are more likely to rely on health‐care professionals to manage the condition.