Acetaminophen and ibuprofen dosing by parents

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Background:

• Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are common pediatric medications.
• Parental misdosing of these antipyretics can lead to toxicity or ineffective treatment.
• Limited data exist on the prevalence and risk factors for pediatric antipyretic misdosing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of inaccurate dosing of acetaminophen and ibuprofen by caregivers in a pediatric emergency department.
• To identify risk factors associated with medication misdosing in children.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in a pediatric emergency department.
• Two hundred children 10 years or younger who received acetaminophen or ibuprofen in the prior 24 hours were enrolled.
• Caregiver interviews and physician questionnaires assessed medication use, dosing information sources, and factors influencing dosage decisions.

Main Results:

• 51% of children received an inaccurate dose; 62% for acetaminophen and 26% for ibuprofen.
• Infants under 1 year old were more likely to receive an inaccurate dose.
• Caregivers who based dosage on weight were less likely to misdose medication.

Conclusions:

• A significant proportion of caregivers misdose common pediatric antipyretics, particularly infants.
• Weight-based dosing appears to be a protective factor against misdosing.
• Targeted patient education on accurate dosing, especially weight-based, is crucial.