BET 2: NSAIs and chickenpox.
Karen Stone1, Emma Tackley1, Sandra Weir1
1Gloucester Royal Hospital, Gloucester UK and John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
Emergency Medicine Journal : EMJ
|December 17, 2017
Summary
Avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during chickenpox. Research suggests NSAIDs may increase the risk of severe bacterial skin infections, with paracetamol recommended as a safer alternative.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chickenpox (varicella) is a common viral infection.
- Management of fever and discomfort in chickenpox patients is crucial.
- Concerns exist regarding the safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in varicella cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the safety of prescribing NSAIDs for patients with chickenpox.
- To evaluate the evidence linking NSAID use to complications in varicella patients.
Main Methods:
- A shortcut review of scientific literature was conducted.
- Searches were performed in CINAHL, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases.
- Six papers providing the best evidence were selected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests a potential increased risk of severe bacterial skin infections associated with NSAID use in primary varicella.
- No studies definitively confirmed NSAID safety in this patient group.
- Paracetamol emerged as a recommended alternative for symptom management.
Conclusions:
- Pending further research, it is advisable to avoid NSAIDs in patients with primary varicella.
- Healthcare providers should consider paracetamol as a safer alternative to manage symptoms.
- Further investigation is warranted to fully elucidate the risks of NSAIDs in chickenpox.
Keywords:
emergency care systems
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