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New research, commissioned by thermometer manufacturer Braun, has revealed that many UK parents suffer from so called 'fever phobia' €“ worrying that a fever can cause serious health problems.

The study found that of 1,021 parents, over 50 per cent tried to reduce their child's temperature as soon as the temperature reading became elevated, in an attempt to prevent more serious problems such as seizures and brain damage from developing. And over 40 per cent said they turned to medication such as paracetamol and ibuprofen as the first port of call, even when the child's temperature was only slightly raised.

However, according to the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), fever is actually a sign of a robust immune system as it stimulates the body's natural defence system by raising the inner-core temperature and making it harder for the bacteria and viruses that cause infection to survive. Therefore, while fever may be uncomfortable for a child, it is often caused by an infection and will usually clear up by itself.