title: Choice of antipyretic in children.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relative efficacy of 3 commonly used antipyretics viz. mefenamic acid, ibuprofen and paracetamol. The subjects were randomized to 3 groups to receive either paracetamol 10 mg/kg or ibuprofen 7 mg/kg or mefenamic acid 6.5 mg/kg. Axilla temperature was recorded just prior to drug administration and at hourly intervals for 4 hrs. The mefenamic acid group (n = 29) showed a drop of 3.5 degrees F at the end of 4 hours as compared to the paracetamol group (n = 29) (drop 2.44 degrees F) and ibuprofen group (n = 20) (drop 2.79 degrees F). Analysis of the area under the mean temperature vs. time curve showed that mefenamic acid demonstrated significantly better antipyretic activity compared to paracetamol (P < 0.05) over the entire period of observation and ibuprofen (P < 0.05) in the 2 to 4 hour range. Mefenamic acid continued to show antipyretic activity at the end of 4 hours in contrast to ibuprofen and paracetamol. Since the period of observation was restricted to 4 hours, we were unable to quantify the precise duration of its extended antipyretic efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Dept. Of Pediatrics, Kasturba Hospital, Bombay.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Khubchandani
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Ghatikar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keny
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Usgaonkar
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008528:Mefenamic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000082:Acetaminophen; D008528:Mefenamic Acid; D007052:Ibuprofen