Antipyretics in children.
Fever is an important symptom of underlying disease condition and in general is considered harmful in pediatric age group as it may lead to febrile seizures, stupor, dehydration increase work of breathing, discomfort and tachycardia. The increase metabolic demands stress the patient with marginal cardiac and cerebral vascular supply. The hypothalamus controls the body temperature. The fever results due to resetting of the hypothalamus that occur from the prostaglandins produced by the pyrogens. Fever is treated variedly by the pediatricians. The physical therapy offers a simple and cost effective way of lowering the body temperature. The drugs as paracetamol, nimesulide and ibuprofen lower the temperature by inhibiting the prostaglandin synthesis. Paracetamol is considered the safest of all the antipyretic drugs. It is recommended that a combination of physical therapy such as tepid sponging and paracetamol is best way of controlling temperature.
Chandra
Jagdish
J
Department of Pediatrics, Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India. bshishir@rediffmail.com
Bhatnagar
Shishir Kumar
SK
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008528:Mefenamic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000082:Acetaminophen; D008528:Mefenamic Acid; D001241:Aspirin; C012655:nimesulide; D007052:Ibuprofen