Your child has a fever! At this time, many parents are anxious and immediately put their child on medication or go to the hospital. Here’s a look at what misconceptions are often made about children with fevers. Myth #1: A child feeling hot means he has a fever. Fact: There are many reasons why children feel hot. Playing hard, crying, and just coming out of a warm blanket or being outdoors on a hot day can make the body hot. However, in these cases, the child’s skin temperature returns to normal within 10-20 minutes. When the above causes are ruled out, if your child still feels hot or uncomfortable, there is an 80% chance that he or she has a real fever. The following are the criteria for fever when taking body temperature: Anal, ear or temporal artery: 38°C and above; Oral: 37.8°C and above; Axillary: 37.2°C and above. Myth 2: Fever is harmful to the body. Fact: Fever activates the body’s immune system, which is one of the body’s protective mechanisms. An ordinary fever (37.8-40°C) can help sick children fight off infections in their bodies and is usually good for the body. Myth 3: Fever can burn the brain (fever over 40°C is dangerous). Fact: Fever combined with infection does not cause damage to the brain. It is only when the body temperature is higher than 42°C that fever can cause damage to the brain. And the body temperature can only get that high when the body is at extreme ambient temperatures. (For example, keeping a child in a closed car on a hot day) Myth #4: Children are prone to convulsions due to fever. Fact: Fever convulsions occur in only 4% of children. Most febrile convulsions are characterized by sudden loss of consciousness, eye rolls, stiffening of facial muscles, spasms or convulsions. Experts point out that even without medication, most children’s convulsions may resolve within a short period of time, so it is best for parents not to move their children at will and to pay attention to keeping the child’s head on its side to prevent choking from accidental aspiration. Myth 5: Fever convulsions are harmful. Fact: Although febrile convulsions may seem scary, they usually stop within 5 minutes and do not cause permanent damage to the body. It also does not put children at greater risk. However, there may be a tendency to have a recurrence at the next fever. If a convulsion lasts more than 5 minutes, it should be treated immediately at a hospital.