FPIN's Clinical Inquiries. Aspirin use in children for fever or viral syndromes.
Aspirin should not be used to treat acute febrile viral illness in children. (Strength of Recommendation [SOR]: C, based on case-control studies). Although no causal link has been proven, data from case-control and historic cohort studies demonstrate an association between aspirin use and Reye syndrome. The risk of Reye syndrome decreases with age, becoming extremely rare by the late teenage years. Other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective antipyretics and are not associated with the constellation of symptoms seen in Reye syndrome, which includes nausea, vomiting, headache, excitability, delirium, combativeness, and coma. Aspirin use in children younger than 19 years should be limited to diseases in which aspirin has a proven benefit, such as Kawasaki disease and the juvenile arthritides. (SOR: C, based on expert opinion).
Beutler
Anthony I
AI
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA. abeutler@usuhs.mil
Chesnut
Gregory T
GT
Mattingly
John C
JC
Jamieson
Barbara
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012202:Reye Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012307:Risk Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001241:Aspirin