A Randomized Controlled Trial of Defervescent Efficacy of Oral versus Rectal Paracetamol in a Pediatric Acute Care Setting

Authors

  • Jedsada Suwanwaree Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700

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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Published

09-03-2016

How to Cite

Suwanwaree, J. (2016). A Randomized Controlled Trial of Defervescent Efficacy of Oral versus Rectal Paracetamol in a Pediatric Acute Care Setting. Siriraj Medical Journal, 68(1), 37–41. Retrieved from https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/sirirajmedj/article/view/55204

Issue

Vol. 68 No. 1 (2016): January-February

Section

Original Article

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