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Community use of paracetamol and ibuprofen in children with fever
Bethany Kloeden1, Doris Tham1, Ed Oakley1,2,3
1Paediatric Emergency Department, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
Caregivers frequently administer medication for childhood fever, often using dual therapy or paracetamol. General practitioners significantly influence treatment decisions, highlighting a need for improved caregiver education on fever management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Fever is a common symptom in children, leading to significant caregiver concern and medication use.
- Understanding caregiver medication usage patterns and the drivers behind these decisions is crucial for effective fever management strategies.
- Existing knowledge gaps among caregivers regarding fever thresholds and appropriate treatment can influence medication administration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate caregiver medication usage patterns and decision-making drivers for febrile illnesses in children aged 3 months to 13 years.
- To assess caregiver knowledge and concerns related to fever and its management.
- To provide data for developing targeted educational interventions for caregivers.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, observational study involving 147 children presenting with febrile illness to a tertiary Pediatric Emergency Department.
- Caregivers completed a paper-based survey detailing medication use and fever-related concerns within 48 hours prior to presentation.
- Data were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods to identify trends and influences.
Main Results:
- Over 92% of caregivers administered medication for fever within 48 hours.
- Dual therapy (paracetamol and ibuprofen) was common (45.8%), with paracetamol also frequently used as monotherapy (35.4%).
- A significant proportion of caregivers (67.6%) perceived fever as harmful, with general practitioners being the strongest influence (60%) on medication choices.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals prevalent caregiver practices and knowledge regarding fever treatment in children.
- Findings underscore the need for evidence-based educational interventions to guide caregivers on appropriate fever management.
- Future strategies should address caregiver concerns and reinforce guidance from healthcare professionals.
Objective:
To establish, in children aged from 3 months to less than 13 years with a febrile illness, caregiver medication usage patterns and drivers. Secondary objectives assessed caregiver knowledge and concern about fever.
Methodology:
This was a prospective, observational study of a convenience sample of 147 children presenting to a tertiary Paediatric Emergency Department, where the caregivers reported a concern of fever within the preceding 48 h. A paper-based survey was completed by the caregivers, and the results analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Results:
Caregivers of 92.4% had administered medication for fever in the 48 h prior to presentation. Dual therapy of paracetamol and ibuprofen was used by 45.8%, with paracetamol used more frequently as monotherapy (35.4%). Almost one-third of caregivers woke their child to administer medication. Just over one-third of respondents stated that a temperature of less than 38.0°C is a fever. The majority of caregivers (67.6%) said that fever is bad for their child, with 97.9% being concerned by fever. Almost half the children (46.8%) were given medication purely to treat the degree of the temperature. General practitioners were reported as the strongest influence on medication decision (60%).
Conclusions:
This study provides insight into current knowledge and practices of parents regarding fever and its treatment. The results of this study may be used to direct future interventions to educate caregivers on this topic.
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