2024, Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part A

Background: Providing appropriate treatment for Fever is very essential in decreasing the morbidity and mortality of patients and preventing the transmission of communicable illness in communities. Hence, the quantification of the prescribing patterns through which fever is effectively managed could be a guide in healthcare system planning and a prerequisite for disease burden estimates in the future.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a multiple-response questionnaire-based survey focusing on the prevalence, clinical characteristics, management of fever, and the usage of paracetamol will be useful to improve the clinical practice of fever management.

Results: About 43% of respondents treated 60-80% of their patients with plain paracetamol. Approximately 79% of the respondents advise Tepid sponging to patients with fever. Only 69% of the respondents felt that urban parents have better awareness about fever. Over 54% of the respondents reported that cough and cold are more commonly associated with fever and 29% of the respondents reported 60-80% of patients with otitis media have fever. Only 32% of the respondents prescribed antibiotics along with paracetamol to 40-60% of their patients. About 57% of respondents preferred 15 mg/kg paracetamol dosage for fever whereas 44% of the respondents preferred the paracetamol + mefenamic acid combination for high-grade fever.

Conclusion: Despite the challenges in managing fever, clinicians commonly prescribe antibiotics along with Paracetamol. The results shown here can help determine the common clinical practice patterns among clinicians in the management of fever. Enumerating treatment-providing preferences, trends, and public care preferences identifies pitfalls that need to be improved in fever management guidelines.