Effect of Tepid Massage and Antipyretics in the Management of Fever at the Emergency Department.
- Author:
Hyung Min LEE
1
;
Myung Chun KIM
;
Young Gwan KO
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Randomized Controlled Trial
- Keywords:
Fever;
Antipyretics;
Massage
- MeSH:
Acetaminophen;
Antipyretics*;
Body Temperature;
Child;
Emergencies*;
Emergency Service, Hospital*;
Fever*;
Humans;
Massage*;
Prospective Studies
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2004;15(3):156-160
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Fever is the single most common problem in children visiting the emergency department. Fever is treated with a variety of methods, including the recommended combination of tepid massage, and antipyretics. We compared the effects of antipyretics and tepid massage for the management of febrile children. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled study to assess 49 children who visited to the ED, Kyung Hee Medical Center, with complaints of fever. Ages ranged from 3 to 60 months. Patients were grouped into one of the following three treatment groups: 1) acetaminophen only, 2) tepid massage only, and 3) acetaminophen and tepid massage. We measured body temperature at 0 and 30 minutes after management. RESULTS: The mean temperature at 30 minutes had decreased by initial temperature 0.58degrees C, 0.48degrees C, and 0.90degrees C for groups 1), 2), and 3), respectively. Although body temperature for group 3) decreased to a greater degree than it did in the other groups, the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Although tepid massage have been recommended for managing fever, their effect is still uncertain, so they are not recommended, especially in the cases of crowded emergency rooms.
