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Physical methods for treating fever in children
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. meremiku@skannet.com
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|June 14, 2003
Summary
Tepid sponging can effectively reduce fever in children, especially when combined with antipyretic drugs. However, mild side effects like shivering may occur with physical cooling methods.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Clinical Medicine
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Health workers often recommend physical cooling methods for childhood fever.
- Limited knowledge exists on the efficacy and comparative effectiveness of these methods versus antipyretic drugs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the benefits and harms of physical cooling methods for managing fever in children.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized and quasi-randomized trials.
- Searched multiple databases including Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL.
- Assessed methodological quality and extracted data on fever reduction and adverse events.
Main Results:
- Seven trials with 467 participants were included.
- Physical methods showed a higher proportion of children fever-free at one hour when used with antipyretics.
- Mild adverse events like shivering were more common with physical methods.
Conclusions:
- Tepid sponging demonstrates effectiveness in reducing fever in children.
- Further research with larger trials is needed to confirm efficacy and safety.