Is It Worth Alternating Between Paracetamol And Ibuprofen When A Child Is Ill?
Many parents alternate the use of paracetamol and ibuprofen when a child is ill, although there is no specific scientific evidence for the benefits of combining the two drugs.
In addition to acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen are the most commonly used painkillers. Of the NSAIDs, ibuprofen and aspirin in particular are clearly used more in Finland than in the other Nordic countries.
Paracetamol and ibuprofen are often the first aid we turn to for health problems and especially when getting a fever. However, it must be remembered that these are medicines that are a great help when used correctly, but also have negative effects.
Paracetamol and ibuprofen
What is paracetamol and what is it used for?
Paracetamol, or acetaminophen, is a drug used in many painkillers. It relieves pain and lowers fever, but like ibuprofen does not cure inflammation and inflammatory reactions. The action of paracetamol is based on the inhibition of central nervous system prostaglandin synthesis.
Paracetamol is generally a well-tolerated drug with minor side effects at the recommended dosages. However, in high doses, paracetamol can damage the liver. It does not cause more gastrointestinal symptoms or kidney damage than snow.
What is ibuprofen and what is it used for?
Ibuprofen is a widely used NSAID with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic properties. Like paracetamol, it inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, which plays a significant role in the onset of fever, pain, and inflammation.
Doctors prescribe ibuprofen to relieve occasional mild to moderate pain and reduce fever. This medicine should only be used occasionally and for a limited period.
The most common side effects with ibuprofen are gastrointestinal symptoms, such as a stomach ulcer with long-term use. Other side effects include nausea, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, skin symptoms, elevated liver enzymes, and tinnitus.
Fever
Fever refers to a condition in which body temperature is higher than normal and is undoubtedly the most common reason for seeking medical attention with a child. Understandably, fever is a particular concern for parents of young children, and is often seen as a disease rather than a symptom.
In reality, however, fever is always a symptom of some change in the body, not the disease itself. In the treatment of fever, it is important to find out the cause, instead of just trying to lower your body temperature.
Fever is the body’s way of protecting people from inflammation. An increase in body temperature is a natural way of telling you that the immune system is working and fighting off invading microbes. Therefore, lowering the fever can even be harmful in some cases, as we do not detect the warning signs sent by our body.
Both drugs mentioned in this article, paracetamol and ibuprofen, are also suitable for the treatment of pain and fever in a child. However, they must be administered carefully and in accordance with the manufacturer’s or doctor’s instructions.
Should paracetamol and ibuprofen be used alternately when a child is ill?
Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to relieve the pain and fever caused by the flu. They can be used safely even at the same time, as long as the dosing instructions are not exceeded. Neither drug promotes healing, but they can make symptoms more tolerable.
There is no scientific evidence that the combination or alternation of the two drugs is of particular benefit, but some physicians recommend the concomitant use of iburofen and paracetamol in adults, for example to relieve certain pain and inflammatory conditions. According to some sources, two drugs work better than one also when treating children with fever.
However, concomitant use of paracetamol and ibuprofen increases the risk of misdosing and thus adverse reactions, and parents should be especially careful not to exceed the recommended doses.
