Efficacy The effectiveness of tepid sponging as a treatment alongside paracetamol varies between studies (table 1), with some finding that it is of no benefit,23 whereas others suggest that it is helpful.45However, even where a positive effect is seen with the addition of sponging to paracetamol, the difference in temperature reduction between those receiving and not receiving the sponging is small; at one hour, the mean difference in temperature reduction of the three studies reporting this figure was 0.4°C.2–4 The clinical importance of temperature differences such as these is marginal, particularly when the time involved in sponging is considered.