title: The efficacy of tepid sponge bathing to reduce fever in young children.
abstract: Tepid sponge baths distress febrile children, and their efficacy at reducing fever has not been established. This study compared fever reduction and with (1) acetaminophen alone and (2) acetaminophen plus a 15-minute tepid sponge bath. Twenty children, ages 5 to 68 months, who presented to the emergency department or urgent care center with fever of > or = 38.9 degrees C were randomized to receive (1) acetaminophen alone or (2) acetaminophen plus a 15-minute tepid sponge bath. All subjects received a 15-mg/kg dose of acetaminophen. Tympanic temperature was monitored every 30 minutes for 2 hours. Subjects were monitored for signs of discomfort (crying, shivering, goosebumps). Sponge-bathed subjects cooled faster during the first hour but there was no significant temperature difference between the groups over the 2-hour study period (P = .871). Subjects in the sponge bath group had significantly higher discomfort scores (P = .009).
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sharber
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001494:Baths / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D001831:Body Temperature; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003448:Crying; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012768:Shivering
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen