Knowledge and Practices on Antipyretics among Caregivers of Paediatric Patients at Teaching Hospital Ragama

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Fever is the commonest presenting complaint to paediatric units worldwide. Here we aim to describe the knowledge and practices of fever and antipyretics among caregivers of paediatric patients in Teaching Hospital, Ragama. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted at Teaching Hospital Ragama between June-November 2019. Care givers of consecutive children above 1 month admitting with a complaint of fever were recruited. Data were collected using a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire to gather information on socio-demographics, knowledge and practice about fever and antipyretics. Ethical approval was obtained from Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians. RESULTS: Care givers (mean age-31.8±7.1yrs; females-84%) of 495 children (mean age-35.5±35.0months) were recruited; 98% were married, 44% studied beyond grade 10 and 77% were housewives. 35(7.1%) children had febrile convulsions before. 341(69%) caregivers used thermometers however, only 96(19.4%) could accurately use them. Paracetamol is the preferred antipyretic in 98.4% while some used ibuprofen (4.2%), diclofenac (0.6%), aspirin (0.4%) and mefenamic acid (1.6%)additionally.83% mothers knew that paracetamol is given according to weight but only 12% knew how to calculate. 40.7% of children were given supra-therapeutic (>15mg/kg/dose) doses of paracetamol while 11.7% had received very high doses(>20mg/kg/dose). Children of male care givers (18.8%vs10.4%, 2=4.56, p<0.05) and who never had febrile convulsions (12.6%vs0.0%, 2=4.99, p<0.05) were at significantly higher risk of receiving very high doses. CONCLUSIONS: Although one-third of mothers used thermometers to measure temperature, only one-fifth knew the correct method. 12% of children were given very high doses (>20mg/kg/dose) of paracetamol; who were cared by male caregivers in particular.