EVALUATION OF SPONGING AND ANTIPYRETIC MEDICATION TO REDUCE BODY-TEMPERATURE IN FEBRILE CHILDREN

Two hundred and twenty-four children aged 6 months to 5 years, with re ctal temperatures greater than or equal to 39 degrees C (104 degrees F ), were randomly treated with sponging alone or with medication includ ing a single oral dose of aspirin 15 mg/kg, or paracetamol 15 mg/kg, o r ibuprofen 8 mg/kg. Twenty-three children were excluded from the fina l analysis because they did not complete the study. Demographic charac teristics of the patients were found to be comparable in all groups. R ectal temperatures were recorded every 30 min for a 3 h period. During the first 30 min of intervention, sponging was found to be more effec tive than all of the three medications. After 60 min, the effects of e ach medication became superior to sponging with tepid water in reducin g body temperature. Twenty-three children were excluded from the final analysis because they did not complete the study. Comparing the effec t of the three different medications, it was seen that the antipyretic efficacy of aspirin and ibuprofen were significantly more than parace tamol 3 h after intervention (P < 0.05). For the management of fever o ver 39 degrees C, it is therefore recommended to give children an anti pyretic drug, preferably ibuprofen, and at the same time to begin spon ging to provide a rapid and sustained antipyresis.