Acetaminophen for Preventing Fever After Vaccination in Infants
Author Information
Author(s): Lisa A. Jackson, Do Peterson, John Dunn, Simon J. Hambidge, Maya Dunstan, Patty Starkovich, Onchee Yu, Joyce Benoit, Clara P. Dominguez-Islas, Barbara Carste, Patti Benson, Jennifer C. Nelson
Primary Institution: Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
Hypothesis
Does acetaminophen prophylaxis reduce the risk of post-vaccination fever in infants receiving routine vaccinations?
Conclusion
The study suggests that acetaminophen may reduce the risk of post-vaccination fever and fussiness in infants.
Supporting Evidence
- 14% of children receiving acetaminophen had a temperature ≥38°C compared to 22% in the placebo group.
- Children receiving acetaminophen were less likely to be reported as much more fussy than usual (10% vs 24%).
- In older infants (≥24 weeks), acetaminophen significantly reduced the risk of fever (13% vs 25%).
Takeaway
This study looked at whether giving babies acetaminophen after vaccinations helps prevent fever. It found that it might help a little, but not enough to be sure.
Methodology
Infants aged 6 weeks to 9 months were randomized to receive acetaminophen or placebo after vaccinations, and their temperatures were monitored.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in reporting outcomes due to parental expectations and unblinding requests.
Limitations
The study was stopped before reaching the intended sample size, which may limit the power of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Infants aged 6 weeks to 9 months, with a mean age of 24.5 weeks.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.03
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 0.40–1.01
Statistical Significance
p=0.03
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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