Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2026
07:56
Protocol for Long Duration Whole Body Hyperthermia in Mice
Published on: August 25, 2012
Fever therapy: an educational intervention for parents.
Pediatrics
|May 1, 1984
Summary
Educating parents on childhood fever management significantly reduces inappropriate physician visits and medication errors. This study highlights the benefits of active learning for improving parental understanding and care of febrile children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Health Education
- Family Medicine
Background:
- Fever in children frequently causes parental anxiety.
- Parental misconceptions can lead to improper fever management.
- Many parents, even well-educated ones, are misinformed about fever's seriousness and care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate an educational intervention aimed at improving parental understanding and management of childhood fever.
- To assess the impact of active learning on parental confidence and practices regarding febrile illnesses.
Main Methods:
- A prospective controlled trial involving 108 children (6 months to 4 years) and their parents.
- Intervention group received a standardized interview, demonstration, practice, and printed information on fever management.
- Control group did not receive the educational intervention.
Main Results:
- Parents in both groups showed increased knowledge about fever over time.
- The intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in inappropriate physician contacts.
- Medication errors were also significantly reduced in the intervention group.
Conclusions:
- An active learning approach to anticipatory guidance is effective for managing transient febrile illness in children.
- Educational interventions can empower parents to manage childhood fever appropriately, reducing unnecessary healthcare utilization.
- This approach may be beneficial for other common pediatric issues in primary care settings.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Factors Affecting Body Temperature
As a nurse, it is vital to understand the factors affecting body temperature to monitor variations and effectively evaluate deviations from regular.
Factors may include:
Factors may include:
01:25Increased Body Temperature
A body temperature above 38°C (100.4 °F) is known as fever or pyrexia, and a person with fever is termed 'febrile.' Typically, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, regulates body temperature through a thermoregulatory setpoint. It receives signals from cold and warm thermal receptors throughout the body and adjusts the body's temperature accordingly. Fever occurs when this hypothalamic setpoint is altered, usually in response to an infection or illness.
01:22Methods of reducing fever
The signs and symptoms of fever include hot and dry skin, flushed face, thirst, muscle aches, anorexia, headache, tachycardia, tachypnea, and fatigue. Elevated body temperature is reduced using two methods: pharmacological and nonpharmacological. Proper identification and treatment of the root cause of a fever is of utmost importance.
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
01:29Decreased Body Temperature
A decreased body temperature can occur in patients with hypothermia and frostbite. Heat loss with extended cold exposure overpowers the body's ability to create heat, resulting in hypothermia. Core temperature readings help classify hypothermia. Mild hypothermia is temperatures between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 35°C (95 °F) and is caused by impaired thermoregulation. Moderate hypothermia is temperatures between 28 C (82.4 °F) and 32 °C (89.6 °F) caused by sustained extreme cold exposure, and severe...
01:25Types of Fever
Fever can be triggered by several factors, including infections, nervous system disorders, certain cancers, blood diseases like leukemia, embolism, thrombosis, heatstroke, dehydration, surgical trauma, crushing injuries, and allergic reactions.
Here are the different types of fever:
Here are the different types of fever:
01:26Patterns of Fever
Before understanding the types and patterns of fever, it is essential to know its phases.