A Randomized Controlled Trial of Defervescent Efficacy of Oral versus Rectal Paracetamol in a Pediatric Acute Care Setting
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Abstract
Objective: To assess the comparative efficacy of oral versus rectal paracetamol in reducing fever in a pediatric acute care setting.
Methods: 200 children with body temperature >39ºc were randomized to receive oral or rectal paracetamol, together with tepid sponging. Their body temperatures were measured at enrollment, after fever reduction protocol had been completed and at 30-minute and 60-minute intervals. General linear model was used to assess the effect of time and type of medication on fever reduction.
Results: Mean log [temperature] differed significantly between time intervals (F(1.275, 248.576) = 32.766, p<0.001) and the test of between subject effects showed that there was a significant effect of antipyretic types on mean body temperature of children at different time intervals (F(1, 995) = 4.040, p<0.05).
Conclusion: Rectal paracetamol was shown to be more effective overall at lowering body temperature, especially at the termination of fever reduction protocol, and at 60 minutes.
Keywords: Paracetamol, fever, rectal suppository, defervescence
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