[Antipyretic effectiveness of ibuprofen and paracetamol]

To compare the antipyretic effectiveness of ibuprofen and paracetamol and to evaluate the possible influence of patients' sex, weight, height and underlying disease on effectiveness.

A total of 166 children with fever, defined as a temperature equal to or above 38 degrees C, were enrolled. Of these, 80 were given paracetamol at a dose of 15 mg per kg and 86 were given 7 mg of ibuprofen per kg. Temperature was recorded at 60, 120,180 and 240 minutes after drug administration. Data were statistically analyzed, including analysis of paired data.

Ninety percent of the children became afebrile at some time during the study with both paracetamol and ibuprofen. Seventy-four percent of the patients remained afebrile 4 hours after drug administration. The mean temperatures obtained with ibuprofen versus paracetamol were 37.66 +/- 0.73 vs 37.8 +/- 0.65, p = 0.22 one hour after drug administration; 37.09 +/- 0.83 vs 37.29 +/- 0.71, p = 0.14 two hours after drug administration; 37.12 +/- 1.05 vs 37.28 +/- 0.87, p = 0.64 three hours after drug administration; and 37.40 +/- 1.12 vs 37.46 +/- 1.00, p = 0.72 four hours after drug administration. The maximum rate of temperature decrease was achieved during the first 60 minutes after drug administration (-1.32 +- 0.83 with ibuprofen vs -1.09 +/- 0.77 with paracetamol, p = 0.10). In children aged between 5 and 12 years, ibuprofen achieved significantly lower temperatures than paracetamol (38.00 +/- 0.65 vs 37.45 +/- 0.43, p = 0.02 at 1 hour; 36.71 +/- 0.66 vs 37.60 +/- 0.93, p = 0.01 at 2 hours; 36.80 +/- 0.79 vs 37.67 +/- 1.12, p = 0.03 at 3 hours). Analysis by weight, height or underlying disease revealed no significant differences.

Both ibuprofen and paracetamol proved to be successful in reducing temperature. The effectiveness of ibuprofen and paracetamol was similar, except in children aged more than 5 years old, in whom ibuprofen was more effective. Weight, sex and underlying disease had no influence on effectiveness.