MEDIA RELEASE
3rd September 2008

Experts advise parents ibuprofen is best to reduce fever in children

New study on BMJ.com shows young children’s fever is reduced
for longer by giving ibuprofen first

A new study(1) published on BMJ.com today suggests that giving a child an ibuprofen-containing product can reduce their fever for longer.

Whilst fever is a normal part of childhood illness, it affects around 70% of pre-school children every year.(2) A team of researchers from the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England in the UK carried out a study in which children received either a combination or paracetamol plus ibuprofen, just paracetamol, or just ibuprofen.

The research shows in the first four hours, temperature is reduced faster and for longer in children given ibuprofen (10 mg/kg BW) than those given paracetamol (15 mg/kg BW); and that the two medicines in combination were not markedly better than just giving ibuprofen. In a 24 hour period the combination shows some advantages. The study concludes that those wanting to achieve faster and more prolonged fever relief in the first four hours should use ibuprofen in preference to paracetamol.

The researchers say: “Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and parents wanting to use medicines to treat young, unwell children with fever should be advised to use ibuprofen first and to consider the relative benefits and risks of using both medicines over a 24 hour period.”

Paediatrician, Dr Dipak Kanabar, from Evelina Children’s Hospital in London, UK, comments, “In children, we recognise that ibuprofen has a very good effect in fever and pain control compared to agents like paracetamol and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as it controls these symptoms for longer periods of time. The new study confirms this.”

Nick Henderson, Executive Director of the International Ibuprofen Foundation (IIF) comments: “It’s very interesting to see the results of this study and it supports the wealth of research we have which demonstrates the benefits of ibuprofen for treating children’s pain and fever. Not only does paediatric ibuprofen work quickly and effectively, but it also lasts for eight hours, meaning parents can be confident they are helping their child to get better as soon as possible.”

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References:
1. Hay, A. D. et al. Paracetamol plus ibuprofen for the treatment of fever in children (PITCH): randomized controlled trial. BMJ 2008;337:a1302
2. Hay, A. D. et al. The prevalence of symptoms and consultations in pre-school children in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC): a prospective cohort study. Fam Pract 2005;22:367-74

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