J Korean Acad Child Health Nurs.  2010 Jan;16(1):30-40.

Fever and Fever Management in Children: A Literature Review

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Nursing Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Nursing, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea. jinsun@chosun.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purposes of this review were to identify whether available evidence supports the nursing interventions that are commonly used to reduce fever in children and to introduce research findings into practice.
METHODS
Journal databases and clinical guidelines from 1990 to 2009 were searched. The search terms were fever, febrile convulsion, fever management, fever phobia, child, antipyretics, temperature, external cooling, tepid sponge bath, and physical treatment.
RESULTS
Evidence suggests that uncomplicated fever is relatively harmless, but it is an important immunological defense. Antipyretics should not routinely be used with the sole aim of reducing body temperature in children with fever who are otherwise well. Currently a lack of evidence supports the practice of alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and the routine use of tepid sponge bath.
CONCLUSION
Currently, fever management in children does not reflect research evidence. Pediatric nurses can play an important role by encouraging clinical research in this area and also by enhancing research utilization in their practice. Moreover, pediatric nurses can educate parents about evidence-based fever management. Evidence-based educational interventions for pediatric nurses need to be developed and evaluated to improve the quality of nursing care in the management of childhood fever.

Keyword

Fever; Child; Nurse; Evidence-based nursing

MeSH Terms

Acetaminophen
Antipyretics
Baths
Body Temperature
Child
Evidence-Based Nursing
Fever
Humans
Ibuprofen
Nursing Care
Parents
Phobic Disorders
Porifera
Seizures, Febrile
Child Health
Acetaminophen
Antipyretics
Ibuprofen
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