Shallot vs. Dadap Serep leaf compresses: Non-pharmacological approaches to fever management in toddlers with ARIs
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33024/minh.v8i12.1908
Acute Respiratory Infection Antipyretic Dadap serep Shallots Traditional Compress Methods
Abstract
Background: Fever is one of the most common symptoms of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) in toddlers, and non-pharmacological interventions such as traditional compresses are widely used in community settings. Shallot (Allium cepa L) compresses and dadap serep (Erythrina subumbrans) leaf compresses are two conventional methods believed to have antipyretic effects, yet direct comparative evidence remains limited.
Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of shallot compresses and dadap serep leaf compresses in reducing fever among toddlers diagnosed with ARIs.
Method: A quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test control group was employed. A total of 34 toddlers aged 12–59 months were selected using purposive sampling and evenly divided into two groups: shallot compress (n = 17) and dadap serep compress (n = 17). Body temperature was measured before and 15 minutes after the intervention. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and N-Gain scores.
Results: Both interventions significantly reduced body temperature (p < 0.001). The dadap serep group showed a slightly higher absolute temperature reduction (0.60°C) compared to the shallot group (0.50°C). However, the shallot compress demonstrated a higher N-Gain score, indicating greater proportional effectiveness.
Conclusion: Shallot and dadap serep leaf compresses are both effective, low-cost, and accessible non-pharmacological interventions for reducing fever in toddlers with ARIs. Shallot compresses provide more stable proportional effectiveness, while dadap serep compresses offer a slightly greater immediate reduction. Both methods hold value for home-based fever management and primary healthcare settings.
Downloads
References
Al Arifi, M. N., & Alwhaibi, A. (2021). Assessment of Saudi parents’ beliefs and behaviors towards management of child fever in Saudi Arabia—a cross-sectional study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(10), 5217.
Alqudah, M., Stubbs, M. A., Al-Masaeed, M., & Fernandez, R. (2025). An evaluation of parents' and caregivers' preferences managing fever in children based on experiences in using ibuprofen and paracetamol: A systematic review. Journal of Pediatric Nursing.
Awatiszahro, A., Nirwana, B. S., Rofiah, K., Sefika, P. R., & Ulum, H. (2023). Erythrina Subumbrans Compress To Reduce Fever Of Children With Hyperthermia. Journal of Global Research in Public Health, 8(2), 170-172.
Desouza, J., Patil, M., Thomas, I., & Desouza, J. (2024). Current clinical profiles of acute respiratory tract infections in children between 2 months to 5 years. Int J Contemp Pediatr, 11, 152-6.
Fahmy, N. M., Al-Sayed, E., El-Shazly, M., & Nasser Singab, A. (2020). Alkaloids of genus Erythrina: An updated review. Natural Product Research, 34(13), 1891-1912.
Health Office of Bengkulu Province. (2024). Profil Kesehatan Provinsi Bengkulu Tahun 2023. Sub. Bagian Perencanaan, Evaluasi dan Pelaporan Dinas Kesehatan Provinsi Bengkulu. Retrieved from: https://dinkes.bengkuluprov.go.id/buku/
Gill, P. J., Kaziev, C. L., Mtaweh, H., Kant, T., Seaton, C., Farrar, D. S., & Khosa, B. (2025). Performance of the World Health Organization (WHO) severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) case definitions in hospitalized children and youth: cross-sectional study. The Lancet Regional Health–Americas, 44.
Jiménez-Cabrera, T., Bautista, M., Velázquez-González, C., Jaramillo-Morales, O. A., Guerrero-Solano, J. A., Urrutia-Hernández, T. A., & De la O-Arciniega, M. (2020). Promising antioxidant activity of Erythrina genus: an alternative treatment for inflammatory pain?. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(1), 248.
Kailasari, R., Cahyaningrum, E. D., & Suryani, R. L. (2023). Pengaruh Pemberian Kompres Bawang Merah Terhadap Penurunan Suhu Tubuh Pada Balita Demam Di Puskesmas Kembaran 1. Jurnal Cakrawala Ilmiah, 2(12), 4477-4484.
Kerdar, S. H., Himbert, C., Martin, D. D., & Jenetzky, E. (2021). Cross-sectional study of parental knowledge, behaviour and anxiety in management of paediatric fever among German parents. BMJ open, 11(10), e054742.
Kwiyolecha, E., Groendahl, B., Okamo, B., Kayange, N., Manyama, F., Kidenya, B. R., & Mirambo, M. M. (2020). Patterns of viral pathogens causing upper respiratory tract infections among symptomatic children in Mwanza, Tanzania. Scientific reports, 10(1), 18490.
Lé, F., Kané, M., Dembé, G., Maiga, L. B., Kountao, N., Traoré, N. L., & Dicko, F. (2025). Causes and Prognoses of Acute Fever in Children Aged 0-15 Who Are Hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics at the University Hospital (UH) Gabriel Touré, Bamako-Mali. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 15(1), 10-20.
Liu, Q., Qin, C., Du, M., Wang, Y., Yan, W., Liu, M., & Liu, J. (2022). Incidence and mortality trends of upper respiratory infections in China and other Asian countries from 1990 to 2019. Viruses, 14(11), 2550.
Marefati, N., Ghorani, V., Shakeri, F., Boskabady, M., Kianian, F., Rezaee, R., & Boskabady, M. H. (2021). A review of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects of Allium cepa and its main constituents. Pharmaceutical biology, 59(1), 285-300.
Menekşe, D., Tiryaki, Ö., & Çınar, N. (2025). Determination of the relationship between parents' health literacy and fever management of their children: A cross‐sectional study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81(2), 867-877.
Ng, H. L., Li, H., Jin, X., & Wong, C. L. (2023). Parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards childhood fever among South-East and East Asian parents: A literature review. Plos one, 18(9), e0290172.
Novitasari, A., Kurniawati, A., & Septiana, M. (2023). Plesdasep Innovation: Fever-Reducing Plaster Using the Leaves of Dadap Serep (Erythrina subumbrans) as a First Aid Medium for Fever. Jurnal Inovasi Daerah, 2(2), 204-210.
Pebriani, R., Handayani, L., & Kusvitasari, H. (2023). Pengaruh Kompres Bawang Merah Terhadap Penurunan Suhu Tubuh Pada Kejadian Ikutan Paska Imunisasi (KIPI) Pentabio. Jurnal Rumpun Ilmu Kesehatan, 3(3), 37-52.
Putri, F., & Wulan, R. (2022). Hubungan Kompres Bawang Merah (Allin Esensial Oil) Dengan Penurunan Demam Pada Balita Di Kampung Hasik Jaya Sorong Selatan. Coping: Community Of Publishing In Nursing, 10(3), 299.
Rafferty, M. S., Burrows, H., Joseph, J. P., Leveille, J., Nihtianova, S., & Amirian, E. S. (2021). Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and the coronavirus pandemic: Current knowledge and implications for public health. Journal of infection and public health, 14(4), 484-494.
Rahmawati, E. D., Isnaini, N., Lathifah, N. S., & Yuantina, Y. (2024). Efektivitas Bawang Merah Terhadap Penurunan Suhu Tubuh Anak dengan Demam Pasca Imunisasi DPT di Desa Sukanegara. Malahayati Nursing Journal, 6(1), 214-221.
Sakr, F., Toufaili, Z., Akiki, Z., Akel, M., Malaeb, D., Dabbous, M., & Salameh, P. (2022). Fever among preschool-aged children: a cross-sectional study assessing Lebanese parents’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding paediatric fever assessment and management. BMJ open, 12(10), e063013.
Setiawan, A. Y. D., Putri, R. I., Indayani, F. D., Widiasih, N. M. S., Anastasia, N., Setyaningsih, D., & Riswanto, F. D. O. (2021). Kandungan kimia dan potensi bawang merah (Allium cepa L.) sebagai inhibitor SARS-CoV-2. Indonesian Journal of Chemometrics and Pharmaceutical Analysis, 143-155.
Shahrajabian, M. H., Wenli, S. U. N., & Cheng, Q. (2020). Chinese onion, and shallot, originated in Asia, medicinal plants for healthy daily recipes. Notulae Scientia Biologicae, 12(2), 197-207.
Sirota, S. B., Doxey, M. C., Dominguez, R. M. V., Bender, R. G., Vongpradith, A., Albertson, S. B., & Ed-Dra, A. (2025). Global, regional, and national burden of upper respiratory infections and otitis media, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 25(1), 36-51.
Susilawati, E., Levita, J., Susilawati, Y., & Sumiwi, S. A. (2023). Pharmacology activity, toxicity, and clinical trials of Erythrina genus plants (Fabaceae): an evidence-based review. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14, 1281150.
Teshika, J. D., Zakariyyah, A. M., Zaynab, T., Zengin, G., Rengasamy, K. R., Pandian, S. K., & Fawzi, M. M. (2019). Traditional and modern uses of onion bulb (Allium cepa L.): a systematic review. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 59(sup1), S39-S70.
Widhidewi, N. W., Wiyatno, A., Dewantari, A. K., Paramasatiari, L., Aryastuti, S. A., Artika, I. N., & Safari, D. (2020). Identification of viral etiology of acute respiratory tract infections in children and adults in Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia. Access Microbiology, 2(6), e000120.
Windi, R., Efendi, F., Qona'ah, A., Adnani, Q. E. S., Ramadhan, K., & Almutairi, W. M. (2021). Determinants of acute respiratory infection among children under-five years in Indonesia. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 60, e54-e59.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Leli Mulyati, Hendra Septiansah, Sri Haryani, Vhebyta Camilla; Priyo Sasmito
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
