Reducing fever in children: Safe use of Acetaminophen

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Pharmacist Dinh Thi My Hanh - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.
Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, can be easily purchased at drugstores nationwide without a doctor's prescription. However, users still need to be cautious to minimize possible bad consequences.

1. What is Acetaminophen?

Acetaminophen (also popularly known as paracetamol) is a very commonly used drug and can be bought easily at pharmacies without a prescription from a doctor. Acetaminophen has analgesic and antipyretic effects, but has no anti-inflammatory effect (different from aspirin).
Although it is an over-the-counter drug, patients should still consult a pharmacist before taking the drug to promote its effectiveness and avoid possible negative consequences when using the drug incorrectly.

2. Misconceptions when using paracetamol to reduce fever for children

Improper dosage is one of the biggest and most common problems in treating children with acetaminophen for fever.
When children need to reduce fever, parents often buy acetaminophen and divide the dose to use for children. However, we cannot give children a divided dose of adults and conversely, we cannot give older children a higher dose of children. The cause of confusion in the division of doses of drugs is partly due to the richness of content and uses as well as the lack of adequate guidelines for different dosages for children of different ages and conditions. different medical conditions.
On the other hand, determining the dose of acetaminophen becomes more complicated when the active ingredient is used in combination with other ingredients in medicines to relieve many symptoms, such as a cough or cold. Acetaminophen is present in more than 600 medications, including prescription (ETC) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
In general, acetaminophen is considered safe and effective for most patients if taken according to the manufacturer's directions for use. However, for sensitive subjects such as infants, giving a child a slightly higher dose than the prescribed dose or accidentally adding another medicine that also contains acetaminophen may cause some adverse effects. desired, most commonly nausea and vomiting.
In some cases of overdose in both adults and children, the risk can lead to liver failure and death. In fact, acetaminophen poisoning is the leading cause of liver failure in the United States.

3. Tips for giving children acetaminophen

Never give a child more than one medicine containing the active ingredient acetaminophen . To determine if a medication contains acetaminophen, look for the name “acetaminophen” or “paracetamol” in the “Active ingredients” section of the drug information label. Choose the right OTC medication based on your child's weight and age. The instructions on the Drug Information label will tell parents if the medicine is right for their child and how much to do. If the child's weight or age is not listed on the label or the label does not provide dosage information, parents should ask the pharmacist or doctor directly; Follow the treatment instructions in the manufacturer's instructions or your doctor's prescribing information. If the fever or pain does not improve, take your child to the doctor to be examined and find a more suitable treatment plan. Do not arbitrarily use additional days of drugs and additional doses of drugs beyond the indications; For liquid dosing (such as syrup), use the measuring device that came with the product. Do not use kitchen spoons or teaspoons (unless specifically instructed); Make a note of the medications your child is taking every day. Give this information to the doctor or caregiver if necessary. If you find that your child has overdosed on acetaminophen, get your child to the doctor as soon as possible, even if you don't notice any symptoms of an overdose.

When using acetaminophen to lower a child's fever, parents need to strictly follow the doctor's instructions or the manufacturer's drug information to limit the risk of dangerous complications from overdose. .
Parents can take their children to see a doctor to receive the necessary professional advice on the treatment of fever in children. Vinmec International General Hospital is a prestigious facility in the treatment of pediatric diseases that parents should choose. There is a team of highly qualified and experienced pediatricians, always dedicated to patient's health; modern facilities, constantly being invested; Professional medical services, ensuring absolute satisfaction for customers when coming for medical examination and treatment at Vinmec.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: fda.gov.