Antipyretic drugs: benefits and undesirable consequences

Abstract

Fever is a defensive and adaptive reaction of the body that develops in response to the action of pathogenic stimuli. It often accompanies various infectious, autoimmune, oncohematological and other diseases. Due to the frequent significant deterioration of children's general health, the occurrence of fever in children gives rise to concern not only in parents, but also in pediatricians. According to temperature level, fever can be classified into different categories: subfebrile - 37.1 to 37.9 °C, moderate -38 to 39 °C, febrile - 39.1 to 41 °C and hyperthermic - above 41 °C. By clinical manifestation distinguish benign, or rose, and malignant, or white, fever. The need to use antipyretic drugs depends not only on the hight of the body temperature elevation, but also on the patient's general health. The clinical guidelines state that the use of acetylsalicylic acid, nimesulide and met-amizole to lower the body temperature in children is not recommended, due to high risk of adverse reactions. Ibuprofen and paracetamol are the drugs of choice to lower body temperature in children both in Russia and abroad. Over 120 comparative studies of these two drug formulations have shown their close efficacy, but ibuprofen is most preferred for the treatment of fever and pain. In order to lower body temperature, parents can uncontrollably use antipyretic drugs in various combinations and incorrect dosages, which leads to severe toxic effects. The article presents a clinical case of Reye's syndrome in a 10-year-old girl, which is most likely associated with the use of aspirin as an antipyretic.