Page 219 - COMMUNITY PHARMACY PRACTICE

02/04/2024

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NSAIDS AND CHILDREN:

Doctors may prescribe aspirin to children in
some cases like :

¨ ………..

¨ strokes

¨ prevent heart attack
as aspirin potentiates the anticoagulant effect of oral
anticoagulants and heparin due to its anti platelet effect.

OTC NSAIDS are dosed by weight (tables provided on the
product for children<12 yrs):

• Ibuprofen(5-10mg/kg /6-8 hrs..max 40mg/kg/day)

• Acetaminophen (10-15mg/kg/4-6 hrs..max 5 doses/day)

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General precaution for children

• Paracetamol is the first-line choice for the treatment o
both fever and pain. ( < 2500 mg/day )(effective analgesic
and antipyretic)

• Ibuprofen is used safely (in UK used above 1 month old,
in US above 6 months) usually in alternation with
paracetamol.

• Off-label dose of celecoxib (typically 2–6 mg/kg/d) used in
children to treat pain and inflammation.

• Avoid aspirin in children aged under 16 due to risk of
Reye's syndrome.

• Morphine is recommended as the first-line strong opioid
for the treatment of persisting moderate-to-severe pain in
children with medical illnesses.

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