The use of calf compresses for gentle fever reduction- What do we know? A scoping review

Raak, Christa; Scharbrodt, Wolfram; Berger, Bettina; Boehm, Katja; Martin, David

doi:10.1016/j.colegn.2022.01.010

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 53 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The first phase is the one of temperature rises, when the body decreases heat loss through centralization and increases heat production through shivering [22]. From the literature, we conclude that it is advantageous to support each fever phase with physical measures [23]. A recent scoping review showed that applying heat at or above body temperature by the use of electric warming blankets, hot packs, hot water bottles, or hot water foot baths is regularly used for febrile patients in some cultural spaces [24].…”

Section: Supporting the Heat Flowmentioning

confidence: 87%

Warming up for a better fever: a randomized pilot study in pediatric oncology

Krafft

Raak

Jenetzky

et al. 2022

Pilot Feasibility Stud

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Fever in children is a major problem in pediatric oncology. Usual management leads to immediate antibiotic and antipyretic therapy, although there is consensus that antipyretic therapy should not be utilized with the sole aim of reducing body temperature. Increased body temperature during fever appears to be an effective modifier in terms of viral replication and enhanced host defense mechanisms against pathogens. Therefore, it might be beneficial to support febrile patients by applying gentle heat during the onset of fever to help the body to reach its new thermoregulatory set point. Methods A randomized pilot study over 6 months will be conducted in a pediatric oncology department in an academic hospital in Germany. This study is a preparation for a multicenter clinical trial with two parallel groups concerning the efficacy of heat application vs. treatment as usual. One of the inclusion criteria is body temperatures ≥ 38.0 °C in n = 24 cases of patients receiving chemotherapy aged 18 months to 17 years. The first intervention consists of gentle heat application with hot water bottles at any sign of illness and onset of fever. The aim is to achieve a warm periphery equilibrated to trunk temperature of less than 0.5 °C. The second intervention is the avoidance of antipyretics. The control group receives the standard antipyretic treatment from the participating hospital. The purposes of this pilot study are proof of principle of intervention, evaluation of safety, feasibility, definition of endpoints, and to receive basic data for sample size calculation and needed resources. Discussion The main goal is to improve the care of children with cancer by providing the best possible support for febrile episodes. If fever support by heat reduces discomfort, administration of antipyretics and maybe even antibiotics, this would be an advancement in oncological fever management. This pilot study is intended to provide a basis for a main, multicenter, randomized trial and demonstrate the practicability of heat application in febrile patients in pediatric oncology. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), DRKS00028273. Registered on 14 April 2022

show abstract

Section: Supporting the Heat Flowmentioning

confidence: 87%

Warming up for a better fever: a randomized pilot study in pediatric oncology

Krafft

Raak

Jenetzky

et al. 2022

Pilot Feasibility Stud

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Moreover, in practice, the difficulty in carrying out the intervention was observed due to the characteristic behavior of children under 3 years of age, especially in the local PIU where children are often not prostrate. Physical methods decrease body temperature by increasing the gradient between body temperature and the environment, promoting heat loss mechanisms (19,25) , which lead to body compensatory measures with peripheral vasoconstriction, tremors that can generate even more heat (14) , increased metabolic demand, marginal cerebrovascular and cardiac supply (26) , and rebound hypothermia, which should also be the focus of attention of the nursing team (12,15) . These situations of discomfort were reported in other studies using warm compresses (10,16,26) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of compresses has been present in home practice for decades, due to the belief that when the child's skin is externally cooled, its temperature tends to decrease (13,19) ; however, there have been no studies yet, national or international, which clearly demonstrate whether this hypothesis is true. What is known is that, when exposing the child to warm water, vasoconstriction and tremors can be triggered, which consequently influences fever (12) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on pre-existing literature which portrays that the use of cold (12,19) and hot (20) water is not effective in reducing fever, but with differences regarding the use of warm water (11,19) , this study considered the warm compress an object of research. When observing that the literature portrays possible adverse effects of the use of warm water (12) , the null hypothesis was supported that the administration of antipyretic alone is as effective in reducing the mean body temperature of febrile children as the reduction in temperature that occurred with children who received antipyretic associated with the intervention with warm compresses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Effectiveness of warm compresses in reducing the temperature of febrile children: A pilot randomized clinical trial

Souza

Damião

et al. 2022

Rev. esc. enferm. USP

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the application of a warm compress in association with the prescribed antipyretic drug compared to the effect of the prescribed antipyretic alone, in reducing fever in hospitalized children. Method: This is a pilot randomized clinical trial performed in pediatric units of a secondary-level hospital. The convenience sample consisted of 33 children with axillary temperature greater than or equal to 37.8°C (100°F), randomized to the control group (antipyretics) or intervention group (antipyretics + warm compresses). Temperature was monitored in both groups for 3 hours and data were collected using standardized instruments, analyzed using Mann Whitney, Fisher’s Exact, Chi-Square, and ANOVA tests. Results: The control group consisted of 17 children and the intervention group of 16 children. The temperature of all children decreased over time, with progressive attenuation, with a lower final mean in the control group (p=0.035). In the intervention group, irritability and crying were observed in 12.5% of the children. Conclusion: The application of warm compresses in association with antipyretics was not effective in reducing fever in hospitalized children compared to the use of pharmacological measures alone. Clinical trial registration protocol: UTN-U1111-1229-1599.

show abstract

“…O uso das compressas é presente na prática domiciliar há décadas, pela crença de que ao resfriar externamente a pele da criança sua temperatura tende a se reduzir (13,19) ; porém, ainda não há estudos, nacionais nem internacionais, que demonstrem, claramente, se essa hipótese é verdadeira. O que se sabe é que, ao expor a criança à água morna, pode-se desencadear vasoconstrição e tremores, o que consequentemente influencia na febre (12) .…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Efetividade de compressas mornas na redução da temperatura de crianças febris: Ensaio clínico randomizado piloto

Souza

Damião

et al. 2022

Rev. esc. enferm. USP

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da aplicação da compressa morna em associação ao antitérmico prescrito em comparação ao efeito isolado do antitérmico prescrito, na redução da febre em crianças hospitalizadas. Método: Ensaio clínico randomizado do tipo piloto, realizado em unidades pediátricas de um hospital de nível secundário. A amostra, de conveniência, foi composta por 33 crianças com temperatura axilar maior ou igual a 37,8°C, randomizadas para o grupo controle (antitérmicos) ou grupo intervenção (antitérmicos + compressas mornas). A temperatura foi monitorada em ambos os grupos durante 03 horas e os dados foram coletados por meio de instrumentos padronizados e analisados por meio dos testes Mann Whitney, Exato de Fisher, Qui-Quadrado e ANOVA. Resultados: O grupo controle foi composto por 17 crianças e o grupo intervenção por 16 crianças. A temperatura de todas as crianças diminuiu com o tempo, com atenuação progressiva, com média final menor no grupo controle (p=0,035). No grupo intervenção observou-se irritabilidade e choro em 12,5% das crianças. Conclusão A aplicação de compressa morna em associação ao antitérmico não se mostrou eficaz na redução da febre em crianças hospitalizadas em comparação ao uso de medidas farmacológicas isoladas. Protocolo de registro do ensaio clínico: UTN-U1111-1229-1599.

show abstract

The use of calf compresses for gentle fever reduction- What do we know? A scoping review

Cited by 5 publications

References 53 publications

Warming up for a better fever: a randomized pilot study in pediatric oncology

Warming up for a better fever: a randomized pilot study in pediatric oncology

Effectiveness of warm compresses in reducing the temperature of febrile children: A pilot randomized clinical trial

Efetividade de compressas mornas na redução da temperatura de crianças febris: Ensaio clínico randomizado piloto

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About