Is it safe to use ibuprofen for children during a pandemic?

How familiar are you with a drug called ibuprofen? This one medicine should be familiar to you. Not only for adults, the use of ibuprofen is also often given to children because it can help relieve pain.

However, given the COVID-19 pandemic situation that is currently sweeping the world, including Indonesia, the use of ibuprofen is a bit questionable. To be clearer and not mistaken, the following is an explanation.

Revealing the facts of using ibuprofen for children in the midst of a pandemic /

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) class of drugs that have been shown to be safe and effective as an antipyretic and painkiller.

In children, the use of ibuprofen is widely used because it can reduce fever and reduce pain in toothaches, joint pain, and others. This drug can be purchased over the counter and is widely available.

According to information from nhs.uk, ibuprofen can be given to children from 3 months of age. Usually, children ages 3 months to 12 years take ibuprofen in liquid or syrup form.

In connection with the pandemic period, in early March 2020 there were recommendations not to use ibuprofen in patients with symptoms of acute respiratory infections, including COVID-19. It is said that there is an increase in drug side effects as well as worsening in COVID-19 patients who receive ibuprofen.

This information certainly raises concerns in the community, especially parents who have been using ibuprofen to deal with complaints of fever or pain in their children.

There is no evidence that ibuprofen is dangerous

According to the World Health Organization - World Health Organization (WHO) and the Drug Authority of other countries such as United States - Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) and the European Union - European Medicines Agency (EMA), this information cannot be proven.

Of the studies that examined the side effects of ibuprofen, including those for children, none of the studies specifically referred to COVID-19 infection. When compared with paracetamol, the side effects of ibuprofen were only slightly or even not different, including the side effects of gastrointestinal bleeding.

The side effects observed in the majority of the studies were mild to moderate. No serious side effects were reported.

Plus, still from the online page nhs.uk, The Commission on Human Medicines has confirmed that there is no definite evidence that using ibuprofen to treat symptoms of elevated body temperature can worsen patients who are positive for the coronavirus.

Therefore, given the absence of direct evidence in patients with COVID-19, on March 19 2020 WHO issued a statement that there is no recommendation to prohibit the use of ibuprofen for patients with symptoms of COVID-19. Ibuprofen is safe to use for children as well.

In Indonesia, in April 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) has also issued a statement regarding the safety of using ibuprofen.

Thus, if needed, for example, to treat fever in children, ibuprofen can still be given according to the correct dose.

Tips for giving ibuprofen to children

Apart from making sure that the dosage given to children is correct, you need to pay attention to the following things:

Check the expiration date of the drug which is usually printed on the package
Follow the instructions for use which are also listed on the packaging
Make sure the child is not on certain medications. If you still want to give ibuprofen, it is advisable to ask your doctor first.
If your little one vomits ibuprofen in syrup form, do not return to this drug immediately and wait at least 6 hours.
When choosing ibuprofen syrup, choose one that has a sweet taste or one that is easy to drink.

In conclusion, you don't need to worry when giving ibuprofen to help treat children's health conditions, such as pain or fever, in the midst of this ongoing pandemic. Various world organizations including domestic have clarified that the use of ibuprofen is indeed safe. One thing to remember, give ibuprofen according to the dosage and be sure to read the rules of use.