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Cough - acute with chest signs in children - Evidence
Evidence on alternating ibuprofen and paracetamol to control fever
A single randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial provided evidence to support an alternating regimen of paracetamol and ibuprofen [Sarrell et al, 2006].
- Population: 464 children aged 6–36 months with a fever of a least 38.4°C.
- Intervention group: 155 children received ibuprofen 5 mg/kg body weight alternately with paracetamol 12.5 mg/kg body weight (maximum four doses a day of each drug).
- Control groups: 154 children received paracetamol alone, and 155 children received ibuprofen alone. Both these groups received paracetamol or ibuprofen at the same total doses as the intervention group.
- Outcomes: alternating paracetamol with ibuprofen at 4-hourly intervals is statistically significantly superior at reducing fever in children. The alternating regimen reduced the temperature by almost 1°C more than either paracetamol or ibuprofen used alone.
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