Effectiveness of Tepid Sponging along with Antipyretic Drug versus Only Antipyretic Drug in the Management of Fever among Children – A Randomized Control Trial

Background: Childhood fever remains a very significant health issue among parents. A wide range of childhood illnesses is accompanied by fever, leading to varied attempts at treatment by parents at home before reaching to hospitals. Common methods of treatment include the use of Antipyretics and Physical methods like tepid sponging. These methods have created varied attitudes among community. Hence this study was conducted to assess the efficacy of both methods of treatment among children with fever.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness in reducing the body temperature between use of antipyretic drug versus tepid sponging with antipyretic drug.

Materials and Methods: A randomized control study was conducted for a period 18 months among 100 children of 6 months -12 years presenting with complaints of fever. The children were randomly allocated to Tepid sponging with antipyretic group and antipyretic alone group. The children were monitored for the reduction pattern of the temperature and vitals at various time intervals. The unpaired t test was used to compare means between groups and ANOVA test was used to compare means before and after intervention.

Results: There no significant difference in reduction pattern of temperature among the groups at admission, half an hour, one and half hours and 2 hours post intervention (p>0.001).There is a significant reduction in temperature from baseline till 2 hours post intervention in both groups. Pulse and Respiratory rate showed the potential efficacy of proposed treatment to reduce the pyrexia. As there is gradual normalization of vitals as pyrexia beings to subside (p>0.001).

Conclusion: Antipyretics was found to be one of the easier and cheaper intervention for administration when compared to physical methods in management of fever in children. Physical method like tepid sponging can be administered along with antipyretic medications to reduce the body temperature, both at home and healthcare facility by the parents or caregivers or paramedics for better and earlier relief from fever among children who don’t experience any discomfort during the procedure.