Conocimientos y prácticas de los padres en el manejo de la fiebre infantil

OBJECTIVE: to describe parents’ knowledge and practices in the management of childhood fever at the Comprehensive Maternal and Child Care Center and the Municipal Clinic of Asunción Mita, Jutiapa, during August and September 2025. METHOD: a descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 96 parents of children attending pediatric consultation. A structured questionnaire was applied, including sociodemographic variables, knowledge about childhood fever, methods used to identify it, practices employed at home, and reasons for seeking health services. RESULTS: the predominant age group was 28 to 37 years (38.5%), with a predominance of females (94%) and mainly complete primary education (40.6%). Seventy-six percent of participants did not know the temperature that defines fever, and 30.2% did not identify its causes. Only 7.3% used a thermometer to measure temperature. The most frequent practices to reduce fever were the use of alcohol rubs (58.3%), cold compresses (18.8%), and cold baths (4.2%). The main reasons for seeking health care were persistent fever (42.7%) and fear of complications (33.3%). CONCLUSION: parents exhibit limited knowledge and inadequate practices in the management of childhood fever. These findings highlight the need to strengthen community health education aimed at promoting safe practices, facilitating the correct identification of fever, and improving decision-making at home.