Survey on knowledge, prescription habits, and management of fever among pediatricians at a children's hospital

Introduction. There are discrepancies in relation to pediatricians approach to fever. Our objective was to describe the knowledge, prescription habits, and drug and non-drug treatment indications for fever among physicians at a childrens hospital in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Material and methods. Observational, descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study conducted at Hospital de Ninos Ricardo Gutierrez in 2018. Results. A total of 100 surveys were completed: 37 % of pediatricians always indicated physical methods, whereas 54 % did so occasionally; 68 % alternated antipyretic agents, while 72 % considered this practice increased the risk for toxicity; and 32 % stated that early management reduced the risk for seizures. Conclusions. Pediatricians have prescription habits and indicate drug and non-drug treatments for fever that have demonstrated little effectiveness.