Paracetamol plus ibuprofen for treating fever in children
Author Information
Author(s): Hay Alastair D, Costelloe Céire, Redmond Niamh M, Montgomery Alan A, Fletcher Margaret, Hollinghurst Sandra, Peters Tim J
Primary Institution: University of Bristol
Hypothesis
Is paracetamol plus ibuprofen superior to either drug alone for increasing time without fever and relieving discomfort in febrile children managed at home?
Conclusion
Using ibuprofen first is recommended for maximizing the time children spend without fever.
Supporting Evidence
- Paracetamol plus ibuprofen reduced fever faster than paracetamol alone.
- Children given both drugs spent more time without fever than those given either drug alone.
- No significant difference in discomfort was found between treatment groups.
Takeaway
This study found that giving children both paracetamol and ibuprofen helps them feel better and have less fever than just giving one of the medicines.
Methodology
Individually randomised, blinded, three arm trial conducted in primary care and households.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in parental reporting of discomfort due to knowledge of treatment allocation.
Limitations
The study did not include a placebo group, which limits understanding of the effectiveness of antipyretics.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 6 months to 6 years with fever.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 33 to 77
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website