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Acetaminophen (paracetamol) in the management of burned children with fever

C Childs1, R A Little

  • 1Regional Paediatric Burns Unit, Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester, UK.

Burns, Including Thermal Injury
|October 1, 1988
PubMed

Insights

Acetaminophen effectively reduced fever in children after burn injuries. This antipyretic effect, observed in 80% of cases, suggests a potential mechanism involving thermoregulation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Burn Care
  • Pharmacology
  • Thermoregulation

Background:

  • Burn injuries in children can lead to significant alterations in thermoregulation.
  • Fever management is crucial in the acute phase of burn care.
  • Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is a common antipyretic agent.

Observation:

  • Acetaminophen (12 mg/kg p.o.) was administered to 12 children (13-36 months) within 60 hours of burn injury (10-44% BSA).
  • The drug was effective in lowering rectal temperature on 80% of occasions.
  • No specific patient or injury patterns were associated with treatment failure.

Findings:

  • Acetaminophen demonstrated efficacy in reducing fever post-burn injury.
  • No tachyphylaxis (diminished drug response) was observed with repeated acetaminophen administration.
  • Temperature changes suggest acetaminophen may increase heat loss or decrease heat production, potentially by lowering the thermoregulatory setpoint via prostaglandin synthetase inhibition.

Implications:

  • Acetaminophen is a viable option for fever management in pediatric burn patients.
  • Understanding the mechanism of action can inform treatment strategies for burn-related fever.
  • Further research into acetaminophen's role in thermoregulation post-injury is warranted.

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