Article by Nguyen Huy Khiem Clinical Pharmacist - Department of Pharmacy - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital
Fever is a common symptom in young children, and parents can usually treat fever with over-the-counter medications. However, in cases of vomiting or non-cooperation in children, rectal suppositories are the best choice.
1. When should we use rectal suppositories antipyretic to reduce fever in children?
Usually, when children have a fever, parents can treat the fever with over-the-counter oral medications such as paracetamol/acetaminophen (brand names: Efferalgan, Panadol, Hapacol,...) or ibuprofen (brand names: Brufen,...). However, in cases where children vomit or are uncooperative (being fussy, not wanting to take medicine, do not like the taste of medicine), rectal suppositories are a consideration for many parents. Here are some important points to note for safe and effective use of this type of medication.
2. Composition of fever-reducing suppositories
In Vietnam, the most common rectal suppository for fever reduction is Efferalgan suppository with the active ingredient paracetamol. The drug is available in dosages of 80 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg. The dosage of the suppository is similar to the oral dosage: 10-15 mg/kg/dose (maximum not exceeding 500 mg/dose), and can be repeated every 4-6 hours (total daily dose not exceeding 75 mg/kg/day).
It should be noted that fever-reducing suppositories have the same active ingredient, paracetamol, as some oral fever-reducing medications (Efferalgan, Panadol, Hapacol,...), therefore, to avoid the risk of overdose, it is necessary to adhere to the dosage and interval between doses for both rectal and oral administration.
3. Steps to use rectal suppositories
The steps to use rectal suppositories are as follows:
4. Side effects of using rectal suppositories in children
The rectum has a small absorption area and little fluid, so placing medication in this area can cause irritation, leading to anal itching, tenesmus, or fecal incontinence. If the parents' insertion technique is too forceful, it can cause injury to the anal area, leading to pain, bleeding, and even infection.
In addition, rectal suppositories should not be used in children with diarrhea or anal-rectal injuries or infections (anal fissures, bleeding, etc.).
To minimize adverse effects, when using rectal suppositories for children, parents should follow the doctor's instructions exactly. If the child has any unusual symptoms, parents should take the child to a medical facility for examination and timely treatment.
The Pediatrics Department at Vinmec International General Hospital is a destination for the examination and treatment of diseases commonly found in infants and young children such as virus fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, pneumonia, etc. With modern equipment, a sterile environment, minimizing the impact and risk of disease transmission, and with doctors who are highly qualified and well-trained, the examination, treatment, and prevention of diseases in children is no longer a major concern for parents.
Customers can directly visit the Vinmec Healthcare system nationwide for examination or contact the hotline here for support.
