Prehospital use of paracetamol among children attending the accident and emergency department.
OBJECTIVE
To identify patterns of prehospital administration of paracetamol to children who were perceived to be feverish by their carers.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study of carers of children attending a paediatric accident and emergency (A&E) department. Carers of children completed a questionnaire to identify domestic patterns of paracetamol use. Data were collected on temperature of the child in the A&E department, administration of antipyretics in the A&E department, diagnosis, and disposal from the A&E department.


RESULTS
Seventy five adults attending the A&E department consented to involvement. Sixty five of the children were feverish on arrival in the A&E department. Twenty one children (32.3%) had not received paracetamol before attending. There was a significant relation between knowledge of the antipyretic properties of paracetamol and administration (chi(2)=5.0, p<0.05). There was a significant correlation between fever and administration of paracetamol in the A&E department (chi(2)=23.7, p<0.01), however, 15 feverish patients (24.6%) were not treated.


CONCLUSIONS
Most carers administer paracetamol appropriately in the prehospital setting. Administration correlates significantly with knowledge of its benefits. There is scope for education of carers and A&E department staff in the in the appropriate use of antipyretics such as paracetamol.
Mason
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S
Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, Northern General Hospital Trust, Sheffield, UK. suzanne.mason@lineone.net
Thorp
S
S
Burke
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D
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen