title: Single intramuscular injection of diclofenac sodium in febrile pediatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are few reports on the effectiveness and safety of intramuscular (IM) antipyretic injections in pediatric patients. This study reports the efficacy and adverse effects of a single IM injection of diclofenac sodium in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational study in which records of febrile pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department were analyzed. Subjects included pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department with a temperature of 38°C or higher. Infants under 12 months of age were excluded. Patients were excluded if they received antipyretics within 4 h prior to presenting to the emergency department. Body temperature was measured at 30-60 min intervals following diclofenac sodium injections. Fever alleviation was defined as the temperature decline to 1°C below the temperature at presentation. Patients who received diclofenac sodium twice or more on different days were observed for side effects such as allergic reaction. Records from the emergency department and outpatient clinics were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dose of diclofenac sodium injected was approximately 2 mg/kg. The average time elapsed until antipyresis was 69.1 ± 23.8 min. The average temperature reduction after 1 h was 1.1 ± 0.6°C. The average proportion of temperature change after 1 h was 40.6 ± 22.2%. During the period at the emergency department, there were no reported serious side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single dose of diclofenac sodium provided effective antipyresis in pediatric patients. Serious side effects were not observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Yeol
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Hwi
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Myoung Cheol
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Taek Geun
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Ohk
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hui Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chan Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004008:Diclofenac
keywords: Antipyretics; diclofenac sodium; intramuscular; pediatric; side effects