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Comparison of Acetaminophen and Ketoprofen in Febrile Children: A Single Dose Randomized Clinical Trial

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Abstract

Objective

To compare ketoprofen with acetaminophen in febrile children in terms of proportion of achieved temperatures below 37.8°C and time of temperature reduction.

Methods

316 patients (6 months–12 years) with fever were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of acetaminophen or ketoprofen orally. Tympanic temperature was measured at the time of antipyretic administration and at 15, 30, 60, 120,180, 240 min thereafter.

Results

A higher proportion of patients in the ketoprofen group achieved a temperature below 37.8°C during the 4 h follow up (95% CI, 3.03–12.99, p < 0.001). Treatment with ketoprofen was more likely to achieve temperature below 37.8°C compared to acetaminophen with odds ratio 6.25. (95% CI, 3.03–12.99, p < 0.001). Ketoprofen was superior at temperatures ≥39°C (p < 0.001). Ketoprofen group showed significantly lower mean temperatures at times 15 min (95% CI, 0.95–3.36; P < 0.001), 30 min (95% CI, 3.87–6.59; P < 0.001), 60 min (95% CI, 6.99–10.14; P < 0.001), 120 min (95% CI, 1.66–5.49; P < 0.001), 180 min (95% CI, 0.47–5.73; p < 0.05), and 240 min (95% CI, 3.87–6.59; p < 0.05). The mean temperature reductions at times 15, 30 and 60 min were larger in ketoprofen group (p < 0.001). Ketoprofen was superior to acetaminophen for less time with fever in the first 4 h (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

It seems reasonable to use ketoprofen first in need of rapid fever reduction.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank to all Emergency Department nurses for their assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children’s Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Telsizler 06080, Ankara, Turkey

    Saliha Senel & Can Demir Karacan

  2. Department of Pediatric Emergency Care, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children’s Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Nilgun Erkek

Authors
  1. Saliha Senel
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  2. Nilgun Erkek
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Correspondence to Saliha Senel.

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Senel, S., Erkek, N. & Karacan, C.D. Comparison of Acetaminophen and Ketoprofen in Febrile Children: A Single Dose Randomized Clinical Trial. Indian J Pediatr 79, 213–217 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-011-0500-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-011-0500-3

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