At the Marc Bony Chiropractic Center, we care about the natural health of children. Today we’re exploring the effects of acetaminophen and ibuprofen on children and discussing better alternatives for treating fever.
Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen in Children Giving children a combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen to reduce their fever is a widespread practice among parents. The popularity of this treatment stems from the mistaken belief that it is more effective and reduces the side effects of pain relievers or fever reducers in children—a view that most pediatricians supported until just a few years ago. However, medical studies conducted to date They have not found any scientific evidence to support these theories. The latest research on combination treatments of ibuprofen and acetaminophen, conducted jointly by the pharmacology departments at the University of Arkansas and the University of Kentucky, has yielded even worse results. Not only are they ineffective, but they also “make the fever worse and make the flu worse.”, even in solution form 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 in the study gave their children doses that were too high of these pain relievers, which can be purchased without a prescription and are often used even if the child has only a slight fever. In this case, the risk of developing heart conditions or asthma increases significantly, and it can also cause liver and kidney damage. Fever as an Antibody: The Spanish Association of Pediatrics itself has warned about the health risks to children posed by excessive medication. Furthermore, last June, an article was published in The Lancet a large-scale meta-analysis, funded by the UK Medical Research Council, in which conclusions it was noted that Excessive use of ibuprofen increases the risk of a heart attack to three per thousand. When it comes to just a few tenths of a degree above normal body temperature, Fever acts as a defense against infections, so trying to reduce it with medication could make the child's illness worse. The authors of the study conclude that only a pain reliever should be administered to avoid risks and improve the effectiveness of treatment, rather than combining medications as is commonly done. Fever is a physiological defense mechanism that can have beneficial effects against infections“Pediatricians should educate parents so they understand that a fever, When it isn't very high, it isn't necessarily a problem in itself if the child is healthy. ”This is not a disease, but rather a physiological defense mechanism that has beneficial effects in fighting infections,” the authors state in the study’s conclusions. There are various brands on the market intended for different age groups, as is the case with Dalsy, which increases the margin of error for parents who decide to self-medicate their children, since the maximum doses vary. As with most medications, the best option is to consult a doctor before administering them. Alternative Treatments The use of painkillers in industrialized countries continues to rise at an “excessive” rate, as several UN reports have warned in recent years. The WHO has also cautioned about the need to limit its use to cases where it is absolutely necessary and recommends seeking alternative treatments whenever possible. This is especially true if there is a family history of the condition or if the patient has other risk factors, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. To help consumers choose pain relievers as appropriately as possible, experts offer two key tips to keep in mind. The first is that people with chronic pain who cannot stop taking pain relievers, reduce the dose as much as possible, as well as the duration of treatment. The second piece of advice is that, if you have other risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (smoking, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol), you should seek a medical evaluation to determine the risks of taking these types of medications based on your personal and family medical history.
