FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY

Institute of Nursing S.Y. 2019-2020

Olarte, Kimberly Shane V. 05/05/2020

BSN201

Evidence-based Nursing (PEDIA CONCEPT)

A comparative study between use of antipyretic drugs with cold sponging

method and use of antipyretic drugs alone
Clinical Question: Reducing body temperature: Is the use of antipyretic drugs along
with cold sponging more effective than using antipyretic drugs alone?

Patient focus Intervention Comparison Outcome

population

Pediatric To reduce the body To reduce the The temperature of the body
patients ages 3- temperature with the use of body was lowered within the usual
12y/o having antipyretic drugs together temperature range of 36.5 oC-37.5 oC and
temperature: with cold sponging. with the use of to increase the patient's
37.8oC – 40oC antipyretic comfort level.
A fever treated with drugs only.
•Psychosocial antipyretic drugs and cold
development is sponging fall faster in the first Antipyretic
initiative vs. guilt 30 minutes and those treated drugs reduce
with antipyretic drugs only body
•Cognitive has slow lowering of body temperature
development is temperature. Both variables and it does not
preoperational: are able to normalize the prolong
Intuitive thought body temperature within two illnesses. The
(2) hours (Khaliq, A., 2019). use of physical
•Psychosexual treatments like
development is tepid sponge
Phallic stage bath or cold
baths have less
•Moral efficacy on
Development is reducing body
Preconventional temperature
level – Stage 2: (Barbi, E. et.al,
Individualism 2017).
and Exchange

•Spiritual
Development is
 FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY
Institute of Nursing S.Y. 2019-2020
Intuitive
projective

The use of antipyretic drugs combined with cold sponging is more successful based on the
speed of body temperature reduction than using antipyretic drugs alone. Both methods can
reduce body temperature within two (2) hours, but in the first thirty (30) minutes, the antipyretic
drugs along with cold sponging have a faster effect. There are some indications that children's
use of cold sponge baths is distressing (Barbi, E. et al, 2017). In conclusion, if the goal is to
provide a rapid reduction in body temperature, then the approach to be used is along with cold
sponging antipyretic drugs. If the objective is to lower the temperature of the body, the way to
use is to administer antipyretic drugs to the patient without using cold sponging as cold
sponging causes the patient pain or anxiety.

References:
Egidio Barbi, Pierluigi Marzuillo, Elena Neri, Samuele Naviglio, and Baruch S. Krauss 4 (2018). Fever in
Children: Pearls and Pitfalls. Retrieved from: file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/children-04-00081-v2.pdf

Khaliq A, Zeb R, Khan S, Tahir M, Ahmed I, S IAM (2019). Comparison between antipyretic and cold sponging
versus only antipyretic in treatment of fever in pediatrics age group. Retrieved from:
file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/634-Article%20Text-1168-1-10-20190329.pdf