Therapeutic conducts and alternating antipyretics in the management of fever in children.

OBJECTIVES: To describe therapeutic conducts and the alternate use of antipyretics in children, and to evaluate factors associated with this use. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 692 children from 0 to 6 years, living in southern Brazil. Through cluster sampling, we carried out household interviews with caregivers, using a structured questionnaire. A descriptive analysis was performed and the association between sociodemographic factors and the alternate use of antipyretics was evaluated. We analyzed 630 cases (91.0%), corresponding to children with history of fever. RESULTS: Around 73% of the caregivers answered that their first action with respect to a rising temperature was to medicate the child. The mean temperature considered fever by the caregivers was 37.4 °C and high fever, 38.7 °C. The use of alternate antipyretics was reported by 26.7% of respondents, justified by the lack of response to monotherapy and medical advice, in most cases. The most widely used drugs were dipyrone and paracetamol. Children whose main caregiver was a parent, with better economic conditions and higher educational level were more likely to use alternating therapy. Around 70% of the doses used were below the minimum recommended. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of medication to control fever is a common practice, including alternating antipyretics. Most caregivers consider fever some temperatures below those recommended, and pointed out non-response and medical advice as the main reasons for alternating antipyretics.