Dipyrone and acetaminophen: correct dosing by parents?
OBJECTIVE
Several studies in developed countries have documented that a significant percentage of children are given inappropriate doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. The objective of this paper was to investigate parents' accuracy in giving dipyrone and acetaminophen to their children, in a poor region.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study at the pediatric emergency department of Instituto Materno-Infantil Prof. Fernando Figueira, a teaching hospital in Pernambuco.


METHODS
The inclusion criteria were age between 3 and 36 months, main complaint of fever and at least one dose of dipyrone or acetaminophen given to the child during the 24 hours preceding their arrival at the emergency department. The mothers were asked for demographic information and about the antipyretic doses given, which were compared with the recommended dosage.


RESULTS
Among the 200 patients studied, 117 received dipyrone and 83 received acetaminophen. Overall, 75 % received an incorrect dose of antipyretic. Of the patients who received dipyrone, 105 (89.7%) were given an incorrect dose; 16 (15.2%) received too little dipyrone, and 89 (84.8%) received too much. Of the patients who received acetaminophen, 45 (54.2%) were given an incorrect dose; 38 (84.4%) received too little acetaminophen, and 7 (15.6%) received too much. There were no differences in maternal and child characteristics between the groups receiving correct and incorrect doses of medication, except for the type of medication (dipyrone versus acetaminophen).


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the children treated were given inappropriate doses, mainly dipyrone overdosing and acetaminophen underdosing.
Alves
João Guilherme Bezerra
JG
Instituto Materno-Infantil Professor Fernando Figueira, Pernambuco, Rua dos Coelhos 300, Boa Vista, Recife (PE), CEP 50070-550, Brazil. joaoguilherme@imip.org.br
Cardoso Neto
Fortunato José
FJ
Almeida
Camila Dornelas Câmara
CD
Almeida
Natalia Dornelas Câmara
ND
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D004177:Dipyrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010290:Parents; D011204:Poverty Areas; D017678:Sex Distribution
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000082:Acetaminophen; D004177:Dipyrone