4 ms·

These kind of sentiments really scare and provokes me. Telling anyone that they shouldn't alleviate kids fever and/or pain is absolutely revolting to me.

logicchains 8y ago
I didn't say that, I said it's a trade-off. Taking them reduces pain and the risk of certain complications, but increases the risk of other complications (side effects). According to https://www.consumerreports.org/prescription-drugs/too-many-meds-americas-love-affair-with-prescription-medication https://www.consumerreports.org/prescription-drugs/too-many-..., "The amount of harm stemming from inappropriate prescription medication is staggering. Almost 1.3 million people went to U.S. emergency rooms due to adverse drug effects in 2014, and about 124,000 died from those events." So even if a medicine is side effect free when used as prescribed, there are still risks if it's accidentally misused, and painkillers are not side-effect free even when used as prescribed. Thought effect: if you had the option to eliminate a kid's pain with an 0.01% chance of causing a lasting defect, would you do it? Not everybody would; different people have different time preferences.
- stolsvik 8y ago
  "...prescription medication..."
  - logicchains 8y ago
    Ah, good catch, I didn't notice that part. Here's a more relevant link, evidence for the trade-offs of OTC painkillers: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673608614452 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014067360... . Seems there's evidence of a link between use of paracetamol in early childhood and developing asthma.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
jtc331 8y ago
What if the fever is actually the body’s way of killing the infection? You’re saying it’s scary that someone would want to prioritize recovery from the root cause rather than prolonging the root cause in favor of relief of mild symptoms? That’s the more shocking belief from my perspective.
coldtea 8y ago
Is the idea that you can kill your child or severely damage it because of what you did to "alleviate their fever/pain" equally revolting to you? Or are you OK with hurting your kids, as long as they don't feel the pain? (I'm putting the questions in the same tone you put yours)
kristiandupont 8y ago
Fever is likely a mechanism that the body exercises to fight infections, just the way diarrhea is probably a way for the body to flush out vira and bacteria quickly. In both cases, excess can be dangerous but that doesn't mean they should be stopped per default. Would you also give your kid anti-diarrhea and let the disease spread in order to stop the immediate unpleasantness?

logicchains 8y ago

I didn't say that, I said it's a trade-off. Taking them reduces pain and the risk of certain complications, but increases the risk of other complications (side effects). According to https://www.consumerreports.org/prescription-drugs/too-many-meds-americas-love-affair-with-prescription-medication https://www.consumerreports.org/prescription-drugs/too-many-..., "The amount of harm stemming from inappropriate prescription medication is staggering. Almost 1.3 million people went to U.S. emergency rooms due to adverse drug effects in 2014, and about 124,000 died from those events." So even if a medicine is side effect free when used as prescribed, there are still risks if it's accidentally misused, and painkillers are not side-effect free even when used as prescribed. Thought effect: if you had the option to eliminate a kid's pain with an 0.01% chance of causing a lasting defect, would you do it? Not everybody would; different people have different time preferences.

stolsvik 8y ago
"...prescription medication..."
- logicchains 8y ago
  Ah, good catch, I didn't notice that part. Here's a more relevant link, evidence for the trade-offs of OTC painkillers: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673608614452 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014067360... . Seems there's evidence of a link between use of paracetamol in early childhood and developing asthma.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]

jtc331 8y ago

What if the fever is actually the body’s way of killing the infection? You’re saying it’s scary that someone would want to prioritize recovery from the root cause rather than prolonging the root cause in favor of relief of mild symptoms? That’s the more shocking belief from my perspective.

coldtea 8y ago

Is the idea that you can kill your child or severely damage it because of what you did to "alleviate their fever/pain" equally revolting to you? Or are you OK with hurting your kids, as long as they don't feel the pain? (I'm putting the questions in the same tone you put yours)

kristiandupont 8y ago

Fever is likely a mechanism that the body exercises to fight infections, just the way diarrhea is probably a way for the body to flush out vira and bacteria quickly. In both cases, excess can be dangerous but that doesn't mean they should be stopped per default. Would you also give your kid anti-diarrhea and let the disease spread in order to stop the immediate unpleasantness?