J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2004 Jun;15(3):156-160.

Effect of Tepid Massage and Antipyretics in the Management of Fever at the Emergency Department

• Lee HM
• Kim MC
• Ko YG

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.

Keyword

Fever; Antipyretics; Massage

MeSH Terms

Acetaminophen
Antipyretics*
Body Temperature
Child
Emergencies*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Fever*
Humans
Massage*
Prospective Studies
Acetaminophen
Antipyretics