Abstract

• The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of ice-pack application on different body areas and to note which body area produces the best results according to age, room temperature, sex and disease. Seventeen patients, including six men and eleven women, hospitalized at Seoul National University Hospital from May 22 to August 29, 1971, ranging in age from 15 through 60 years with an oral temperature of 38degrees C or over, were chosen for this study, They were observed with regard to the effect of the iee-riaclcs aftnr applications for 30, 45 or GO minutes. Four ice- packs, 7.6inch by 9 inch, were applied on the chest and the abdominal surface in the control group and the same size and number of packs on the axillary and popliteal regions in the experimental group. The study results were reviewed in a statistical method to obtain the following findings 1. There was no significant difference in the change of the body temperature between the control group and the experimental group after applying the packs for 30, 45 or 60 minutes. 2. Individually, there was a significant difference in the change of body temperature between before and after application for 30, 45 or 60 minutes. 3. The difference of room temperature also had no marlel influence on the body temperature taken immediately before applying the ice-packs. Even when ice-packs were applied for 30, 45 or 60- minutes, the room temperature did not influence the reduction of temperature in the patient. 4. There was a significant difference in the change of the body temperature, according to the sex, after application for 30, 45 or 60 minutes. Male patient's body temperature decreased far more noticeably than the female patients and the degree of reduction became more pronounced the longer the packs were applied. 5. In regard to age, in adults, the degree of reduction in the dody temperature by the application of Ice-packs was similar after applying them for 30, 45 or 60 minutes and did not depend upon the length of application. 6. Regardless of the disease, there was no great difference in the reduction of body temperature when the ice-packs were applied for 30 or 45 minutes, except for patients with typhoid fever when a striking decrease in the fever resulted after a 60 minute application of the ice-pack.

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