Parents warned against dangers of using paracetamol and ibuprofen on children with simple fevers

Almaty. February 28. Kazakhstan Today - Doctors warn parents not to give their children who have a simple fever paracetamol and ibuprofen amid adverse outcomes, Kazakhstan Today reports.

Parents should not dose up children who have a simple fever on regular spoonfuls of paracetamol and ibuprofen, according to doctors who say that doing so could put them at risk, The Telegraph reported.

A misplaced "fever phobia" in society means parents too frequently use both medicines to bring down even quite slight temperatures, say the paediatricians, who warn that children often receive accidental overdoses as a result.

A high temperature is usually the body's way of fighting an infection, according to advice issued today by the American Academy of Pediatrics, so to bring it down could actually lengthen the time a child suffers.

Doctors too readily advise parents to give the medicines, known collectively as "antipyretics", according to the Academy.

The advice comes after a study indicated that children given paracetemol before 15 months were more than twice as likely to develop asthma by the age of six as those not given it.

Writing in a clinical report on fever and the use of paracetamol and ibuprofen in children, the authors warn: "Combination therapy with acetaminophen [paracetamol] and ibuprofen may place infants and children at increased risk because of dosing errors and adverse outcomes, and these potential risks must be carefully considered."

Doctors, they write, should begin "by helping parents understand that fever, in and of itself, is not known to endanger a generally healthy child".

They explain: "It should be emphasized that fever is not an illness but is, in fact, a physiologic mechanism that has beneficial effects in fighting infection."

It slows the spread of bacteria and viruses, enhances white blood cell production, and "actually helps the body recover more quickly from viral infections".

A frequent error is giving children adult-sized doses, while children who are small for their age can also receive doses that are too high even if their parents follow box instructions based on age alone.

In Britain, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) advises that the use of anti-pyretics "should be considered in children with fever who appear distressed or unwell".

However, they "should not routinely be used with the sole aim of reducing body temperature in children with fever who are otherwise well".

Similarly, "paracetamol and ibuprofen should not routinely be given alternately to children with a fever", although it states this approach "may be considered if the child does not respond to the first agent."

Paracetamol has been linked to asthma while ibuprofen has been said in rare cases to lead to stomach ulcers and even kidney problems, Daily Mail informed.

This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.