Parents frequently avoid giving their children fever medicine before a sick
visit because they’re afraid it will compromise the doctor’s medical evaluation.
In reality, giving a child something to lower her fever before a visit usually
makes it easier for doctors to determine what’s going on. Fever medicine isn’t
strong enough to mask symptoms, but has the potential to make a young child more
cooperative during the visit.
There is one caveat to this recommendation,
however. NEVER give fever medicine to an infant less than 2 months of age
because it this age group, doctors do need to assess the baby before the fever
is treated.