Knowledge and management of fever in parents of children under 5 years of age at a children’s hospital
Vanesa Castellano, Natalia Talamona, Norberto Giglio, Liliana Sabbaj, Ángela Gentile
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In pediatrics, fever is a common reason for consultation. The objective was to assess parental knowledge, behaviors, and fears in the management of fever in their children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational, analytical, cross-sectional study. In 2018, a survey was administered to the parents of children aged 6 months to 5 years who attended Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. The association between sociodemographic outcome measures and knowledge, behaviors, and fears in cases of fever was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 201 surveys were completed: 56.7 % of parents considered that fever was bad for health; 37 % defined fever between 37 °C and 37.5 °C, and 59 %, between 38 °C and 38.5 °C. The mean temperature considered severe was 39.2 °C (standard deviation: 0.69). Physical methods were used by 93 % of caregivers; 97 % administered antipyretic agents, and 14.5 % used alternating agents. Fears of consequences included seizures in 82 %, dehydration in 41 %, brain damage in 18 %, and death in 12 %. Also, 86.5 % woke up their children to give them an antipyretic agent. Among the higher maternal education level, fear of fever was lower (odds ratio: 0.5; 95 % confidence interval: 0.28-0.91). CONCLUSIONS: One-third of survey respondents considered low body temperature values as fever. Fear of fever was high, and the level of maternal education may mitigate it.