Dipyrone versus paracetamol: a double-blind study in typhoid fever

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Typhoid fever remains a significant global health concern, often accompanied by high fever.
• Effective fever management (antipyresis) is crucial for patient comfort and recovery in typhoid fever.
• Dipyrone and paracetamol are commonly used antipyretic agents, but their comparative efficacy in typhoid fever requires clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of dipyrone versus paracetamol in reducing fever in patients with typhoid fever.
• To evaluate the onset and magnitude of antipyretic effect for both drugs.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind study was conducted involving patients diagnosed with typhoid fever.
• Patients were randomized to receive either 500 mg of dipyrone (n=25) or 500 mg of paracetamol (n=28).
• Rectal temperature and pulse were monitored every 30 minutes to assess treatment response.

Main Results:

• Dipyrone demonstrated a significantly faster onset of antipyresis (30 minutes) compared to paracetamol (1 hour).
• The area under the time-temperature curve was significantly greater for patients treated with dipyrone, indicating more sustained fever reduction.
• Overall temperature reduction favored dipyrone over paracetamol throughout the observation period.

Conclusions:

• Dipyrone exhibits superior efficacy in terms of faster onset and greater overall fever reduction in typhoid fever patients compared to paracetamol.
• Both dipyrone and paracetamol were found to be well-tolerated in the studied typhoid fever patient population.
• These findings suggest dipyrone may be a preferred choice for rapid fever control in typhoid fever management.