Contents
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
Paracetamol for children is a preparation appreciated by parents and used as an antipyretic. How does paracetamol work for children and when is it worth taking? What is the best form of paracetamol and what are the safe doses of this drug. Can the use of paracetamol cause side effects in children?
What is paracetamol?
Paracetamol is a preparation that was introduced to treatment in Great Britain in 1956. In Poland, paracetamol gained popularity in the 90s of the last century, when it replaced the commonly used pyramidone. Currently, paracetamol is one of the most commonly used antipyretic and analgesic drugs. Appropriately dosed paracetamol can be used in both adults and children.
Action of paracetamol – characteristics
Paracetamol is highly lipid soluble and has a relatively short half-life of 2 – 2,5 hours. After oral administration, paracetamol is rapidly absorbed through the duodenal mucosa and into the bloodstream, where it is mainly metabolised in the liver.
The analgesic effect of paracetamol is determined by its concentration in the brain. The concentration of paracetamol in the plasma must therefore be high enough to allow the drug to cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the neuronal tissue at a level sufficient to produce a therapeutic effect.
For paracetamol to be effective in reducing pain, an oral administration of at least 15 mg / kg is required, with a four-hour administration rapidly reaching therapeutic concentrations at steady state. When rapid analgesia is required, a single loading dose of paracetamol, e.g. 30 mg / kg, will shift the pharmacokinetics towards the desired steady state.
The same method of dosing paracetamol in mg / kg is recommended for obese children, but care should be taken never to exceed the adult dose. This is because the fat-soluble paracetamol is evenly distributed throughout the body. If the dose is reduced for children who weigh more than their ideal body weight, they run the risk of receiving too little dose and not getting adequate pain relief.
See: Anti-inflammatory drugs – which to choose for your ailment
Paracetamol for children – how does it work?
Paracetamol for children has an analgesic and antipyretic effect. The anti-fever activity of this preparation is due to the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in the central nervous system. Paracetamol for children, unlike other drugs, for example non-steroidal drugs, does not have an anti-inflammatory effect. It also does not inhibit platelet aggregation and does not affect the clotting process.
Paracetamol for children – when to use?
Paracetamol can be given to children from an early age, including newborns. Paracetamol for children is also considered safe for pregnant women. Paracetamol can be given in a variety of forms. The youngest children are given a suppository, older children are given a syrup, while the oldest children can be given a tablet.
Paracetamol for children should not be used immediately when the body temperature exceeds 36,6 degrees. The indication for the use of paracetamol for children is the temperature of about 38,5 – 39 degrees Celsius. Paracetamol is also a medicine used to relieve mild to moderate pain. This is especially true for headaches, toothaches, muscles, bones and joints.
Read: Do you suffer from glaucoma, asthma, hypertension? Watch out for pain medications
Paracetamol for children – how to dose?
The analgesic effect of paracetamol depends on the concentration of the drug in the plasma, which is high enough to cross the blood-brain barrier in sufficient quantity, therefore its appropriate dosage is required. Due to the wide range of body weight in children of all ages and the overall metabolic rate of paracetamol per kilogram of body weight, the dose of paracetamol is given in milligrams per kilogram of body weight, not by age.
For obese children, it is recommended to use the same milligrams per kilogram of body weight method for calculating the paracetamol dose. However, care should be taken never to exceed the adult dose, which may occur when dosing based on body weight in children weighing more than 65 kg.
Side effects are relatively rare when paracetamol is used at recommended dosages. Paracetamol is contraindicated in children with severe hepatic impairment.
The oral dose of paracetamol for children aged 1 month to 18 years is:
- 15 mg / kg per dose with a maximum of 1 g per dose every four to six hours with a maximum of 60 mg / kg per day with a maximum of 4 g per day.
It is best for the pediatrician to determine the dose of the drug for the child, taking into account the exact current weight of the child.
Undesirable effects of paracetamol for children
Side effects of using paracetamol for children are extremely rare, but occasionally allergic reactions, liver dysfunction, shortness of breath or low blood pressure may occur. Even more rarely, severe skin reactions, angioedema, anaphylactic shock or bronchospasm may occur. All undesirable side effects should be consulted with a doctor immediately.
See also: There will be more and more children with such allergies. There must be adrenaline in schools
Before use, read the leaflet, which contains indications, contraindications, data on side effects and dosage as well as information on the use of the medicinal product, or consult your doctor or pharmacist, as each drug used improperly is a threat to your life or health. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.