ABILITY OF MOTHERS TO SUBJECTIVELY ASSESS THE PRESENCE OF FEVER IN THEIR CHILDREN

The ability of mothers to subjectively determine the presence or absence of fever in their children when compared with simultaneous temperature determination obtained by thermometer was assessed. Mothers who said their children were febrile were correct 52.3% of the time; those who said their children were afebrile were correct 93.9% of the time. The sensitivity was 73.9% and specificity was 85.6%. Of children aged 2 years or younger with temperatures of 38.9.degree. C or higher, 90% were correctly identified as febrile. Administration of antipyretics to both febrile and afebrile children was greater among those whose temperature was determined at home by thermometer than among those whose temperature was determined by subjective criteria. Maternal subjective fever assessment criteria apparently are useful as a screening method to rule out the presence of fever at all ages and that mothers can identify high fevers in most young children without the use of a thermometer.