Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Fever is one of the commonest presenting symptoms in clinical medicine in all age group patients. The present study was conducted to compare antipyretic efficacy of intravenous (IV) acetaminophen versus oral (PO) acetaminophen in the management of fever in children. Materials & Methods: 62 patients of fever of both genders were randomly divided into 2 groups of 31 each. Group I received oral acetaminophen (15 mg/ kg/dose) and group II received IV acetaminophen (15 mg/kg/dose) as antipyretic. Results: There were 17 boys and 14 girls in group I and 13 boys and 18 girls in group II. The mean weight was 24.7 kgs in group I and 25.1 kgs in group II, heart rate was 114.6 beats/min in group I and 102.3 beats/min in group II and respiratory rate was 22.6 cycles/min in group I and 18.4 cycles/min in group II. Adverse events were dry mouth seen in 1 in group I and 5 in group II, itching 1 in group I and 7 in group II, constipation 1 in group I and 6 in group II and additional dose was required in 7 in group I and 4 in group II. Conclusion: A single dose of intravenous acetaminophen is safe and effective in reducing fever where patients are unable to tolerate oral administration.