Pediatric Doctors Warn Parents About Dangerous Home Remedies and Heat‑Wave Risks

Pediatrician Dr Gabrijel Vidović cautioned that folk treatments such as placing onion in a child's socks or giving rakija do not reduce fever and can delay essential medical care. He described a case where a boy’s fever was initially dismissed as a common cold, but laboratory tests revealed a serious bacterial urinary infection (pyelonephritis) that required hospitalisation and intravenous antibiotics.

Separately, health experts highlighted the growing danger of extreme heat for infants and young children during summer heat waves across Europe. Record‑high temperatures have been linked to more than 10,000 excess deaths continent‑wide, and UNICEF estimates over 1.5 billion children worldwide face frequent intense heat exposure, with roughly 400 child deaths each year in Europe and Central Asia. Pediatrician Dr Katherine Williamson of Rady Children’s Health (California) urged parents to monitor signs of dehydration and overheating, recommend frequent small meals, ensure adequate fluid intake, and schedule outdoor activities in early morning or evening to protect children from heat‑related illness.