The effect of sponging using friction and non-friction on body temperature reduction among febrile children

Abstract

This Quasi-Experimental study aimed to compare the effect of sponging and oral antipyretic therapy using friction and non-friction techniques on temperature reduction among febrile children. Participants were 249 febrile children with medical diagnoses of respiratory diseases (78.3%), gastrointestinal tract diseases (13.3%), urinary tract infection (0.8%), and others (7.5%) at Child Health Clinic in the hospital located in Bangkok. Informed consent was obtained from parents prior to the intervention. Randomized match pair technique was used to assign the participants in each intervention. Room temperature, humidity, water temperature, and sponging materials were controlled. The intervention consisted of body temperature measurement before sponging, administering paracetamol, and measuring body temperature right after sponging at 15 and 30 minutes later. Inferential statistics was used to compare the body temperature after intervention. The resual reveald that after 15 minutes of sponging with friction, the body temperature significantly decreased, in contrast to non-friction sponging technique. It was statistically different at P(0.005) level of significance. The friction sponging technique which is combined with oral antipyretic medication was proven to be useful and appropriate in terms of application in any setting of the febrile child.