Effects of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen in Children

At the Marc Bony Chiropractic Center, we care about the natural health of the little ones. Today we explore the effects of paracetamol and ibuprofen in children and discuss better alternatives for treating fever.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen in children The administration of paracetamol and ibuprofen in combination to lower fever in children is a common practice among parents. The popularity of this treatment stems from the mistaken belief that it is more effective and reduces the side effects of analgesics or antipyretics in minors, as most pediatricians defended until a few years ago. However, the medical studies conducted so far have found no scientific evidence to support these claims. The latest research on combined treatments of ibuprofen and paracetamol, carried out jointly by the pharmacology departments of the universities of Arkansas and Kentucky, has yielded even worse conclusions. Not only are they ineffective, but they “worsen fever and exacerbate the flu”, even in solutions for children. The study published in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics also documents a survey with discouraging results: half of the parents surveyed administered doses that were too high of these analgesics, which can be purchased over the counter and are used even when the child only has a slight fever. In this case, the risk of suffering from heart conditions or asthma multiplies, while it can cause damage to the liver and kidneys. Fever as an antibody: The Spanish Association of Pediatrics itself has warned about the risks that excessive medication poses to children’s health. Furthermore, last June, a substantial meta-study was published in The Lancet, funded by the UK Medical Research Council, in whose conclusions it was warned that excessive ibuprofen medication raises the risk of heart attack to three per thousand. When it comes to just a few tenths above normal body temperature, fever plays a role as an antibody against infections, so trying to eliminate it with drugs could worsen the child’s illness. The authors of the research conclude that only one analgesic should be administered to avoid risks and improve treatment efficacy, instead of combining them as is commonly done. Fever is a physiological defense mechanism that can have beneficial effects against infections “Pediatricians must educate parents to understand that fever, when not very high, is not bad in itself if the child is healthy. It is not a disease, but a physiological defense mechanism that has beneficial effects when combating infections,” the authors state in the study’s conclusions. There are different brands on the market indicated for different age groups, such as Dalsy, which increases the margin of error for parents who decide to self-medicate their children, as the maximum doses vary. As with most medications, the best option is to consult a doctor before consuming them. Alternative treatments The consumption of analgesics in industrialized countries continues to increase “excessively,” as several UN reports have warned in recent years. The WHO has also warned about the need to reduce their prescription to cases where they are absolutely necessary and recommends seeking alternative treatments when possible. Especially if there is a family history or if the patient presents other risk factors, such as high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol. To choose analgesics as appropriately as possible, experts offer two key pieces of advice for consumers to consider. The first is that people with chronic pain, who cannot stop taking painkillers, reduce the dose as much as possible as well as the duration of treatment. The second piece of advice is that, in case of having other risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases (smoking, high blood pressure, or elevated cholesterol), a medical evaluation should be requested to determine the risks of consuming these types of drugs based on personal and family medical history.