Table of contents:
- The origin of ibuprofen gossip is not safe for children
- Ibuprofen is still safe for your little one, Mother
- Tips for safe use of ibuprofen to relieve fever in children
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, was a matter of debate. Its safety was called into question, reducing the use of this type of drug by 80% in France. However, in the end, it turned out that the debate did not prove to be true. Check out the reasons why ibuprofen is still safe to use for children or adults.
The origin of ibuprofen gossip is not safe for children
Ibuprofen is a fever-reducing medicine or pain reliever. This drug is often used for children and can be obtained freely without a doctor's prescription. However, at the start of the pandemic that disrupted normal life in many countries, concerns arose because of the publication of a study questioning the safety of using ibuprofen in the midst of a pandemic.
Ibuprofen is said to play a role in helping the virus enter the body's cells, thereby increasing a person's chances of suffering from COVID-19 or worsening the condition of the COVID-19 disease he is suffering from. This is spreading rapidly and has even led the World Health Organization (WHO) to make a statement to avoid using ibuprofen in COVID-19 patients. Some parents have become worried about using ibuprofen for children.
However, it was not long before WHO corrected the statement. On March 19, 2020 or eight days after research that sparked debate about ibuprofen, WHO revised the statement that actually ibuprofen was still safe to use, with the following reasons:
- There is no adequate research
- The exact data on ibuprofen is dangerous
- There is little evidence of side effects of using ibuprofen in COVID-19 patients
Ibuprofen is still safe for your little one, Mother
Even though the WHO has withdrawn their claim, rumors are still as pervasive as wildfire amid flammable substances. Therefore, let us evaluate further the use of this type of drug based on existing studies.
To assuage public concerns, WHO conducted a study of 73 studies, Ibu. Among these studies, 46 were conducted on children with acute respiratory infections. The results of the study prove that ibuprofen is still safe for children or adults because:
- The use of ibuprofen and other NSAIDs did not show any serious side effects
- There is no evidence that NSAID use affects patient safety
- The use of NSAIDs has no effect on the quality of life for COVID-19 patients
In addition, there are two other studies that have shown that using NSAIDs actually helps improve lung health in some viral respiratory infections.
Then, research in June 2020 in Israel also again proved the safety of ibuprofen. The study, conducted on 403 COVID-19 patients, concluded that ibuprofen was not associated with a decline in the patient's condition. The study compared the use of ibuprofen with paracetamol or without the use of any fever-reducing drugs.
Tips for safe use of ibuprofen to relieve fever in children
There have been many important organizations or bodies in the health world that have debunked the myth that ibuprofen is not safe for certain age groups in the midst of a pandemic. For example, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed with WHO on the safety of ibuprofen.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also makes a statement regarding ibuprofen, namely that there is not enough evidence for parents to avoid giving ibuprofen to children. Exceptions are given only if your child has other diseases that are not clinically recommended by doctors to give ibuprofen. An example is an allergy to ibuprofen or there is bleeding in the child's digestive tract.
In short, ibuprofen can still be given to your little one in the midst of a pandemic according to the doctor's recommendation. As a fever-lowering drug, this type of drug aims to increase the comfort of children in times of fever.
For your little one's safety, parents still need to do these things when giving ibuprofen:
- Consult a doctor first
- Give ibuprofen at the recommended dosage
- Monitor children regarding the activities they are allowed to do
- Pay attention to the signs and symptoms that may appear
- Ensure that children drink enough water
If your little one finds it difficult to take medication, you can choose ibuprofen, which comes in a syrup with a taste that your little one likes.
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