by Aimee Keenan-Greene

A new report in the American Academy of Pediatrics puts fighting fevers in the hot seat.

"Fever is not the primary illness but rather  a physiologic mechanism that has beneficial effects in fighting infection. There is no evidence that fever itself worsens the course of an illness or that it causes long-term neurologic complications.", says the clinical report.

The AAP wants parents to understanding what a  fever means to their child.  Alone, a moderate fever is not known to endanger a generally healthy child. 

The real goal of antipyretic therapy, using fever reducing medications, is not simply to normalize body temperature but to improve the overall comfort and well-being of the child.

The report says: "There is no substantial difference in the safety and effectiveness of acetaminophen and ibuprofen in the care of a generally healthy child with fever. There is evidence that combining these 2 products is more effective than the use of a single agent alone; however, there are concerns that combined treatment may be more complicated and contribute to the unsafe use of these drugs. Pediatricians should also promote patient safety by advocating for simplified formulations, dosing instructions, and dosing devices."

The AAP says pediatricians should minimize fever phobia for the family, and emphasize antipyretic use does not prevent febrile seizures. Parents should be instructed to focus on monitoring for signs and symptoms of serious illness, and improving the child's comfort by maintaining hydration.

KidsHealth.org reminds parents fever medication will only temporarily bring a temperature down, it won't return it to normal -- and it won't treat the underlying reason for the fever. Always check with your doctor before treating any child.