The Efficacy of Cooling Gel Patch versus Sponging in febrile children

Author(s) : Tahir Hayat, Muhammad Hamid, Abdur Raffay, Umar Farooq, Sidra Jamil & Lal Muhammad

Abstract:

DOI:https://doi.org/10.52587/njmhs.v5i1.63


Objective:
Children usually suffered from fever which is one of the main complaints of childhood illnesses, and this is a discomfort for the kids as well as their caregivers. The main objective of the study is to find the efficacy of cooling gel patch versus sponging in febrile children.
Material and Methods:
This randomized control trial was conducted at Paediatrician Department, Khyber Medical Complex, Peshawar from January 2023 to May 2023. Data were collected from 250 febrile children. Patients presenting with fever were enrolled in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups: the cooling gel patch group or the sponging group. Children aged 6 months to 12 years with a documented fever (axillary temperature ≥ 38.0°C) of infectious or non-infectious origin were included in the study.Participants underwent a standardized assessment, including a detailed medical history, physical examination, and baseline temperature measurement.
Results:
Data were collected from 250 patients according to criteria and designed of the study. Mean age was 6.5±2.1 and 6.3±2.3 years respectively, with a comparable distribution of gender. Weight and height measurements also showed negligible differences between groups. Baseline temperatures averaged 38.5°C in both groups. At 0.5, 1, and 2 hours post-intervention, the cooling gel patch group demonstrated greater temperature reductions compared to the sponging group (1.2°C ± 0.4°C vs. 0.9°C ± 0.3°C, 1.5°C ± 0.5°C vs. 1.2°C ± 0.4°C, and 1.8°C ± 0.6°C vs. 1.4°C ± 0.5°C, respectively), all with p-values < 0.05
Conclusion:
It is concluded that cooling gel patches exhibit superior efficacy compared to sponging in reducing fever and achieving fever resolution within a 2-hour timeframe in febrile children.

Keywords: Gel patches, Cooling, Efficacy, Febrile, Children.