Acetylsalicylic acid for children

A couple of decades ago, the main antipyretic agent was considered to be acetylsalicylic acid, which was prescribed for treatment to adults and children. But due to the manifestation of numerous side effects, modern medicine conducted a study aimed at finding out whether it is possible to give children aspirin in order to reduce the temperature?

To date, physicians have come to the conclusion that acetylsalicylic acid can be given only to children who reached the age of fourteen. In other cases, the prescription of this medicine and medicines containing aspirin is carried out only for vital indications and under the strict supervision of an experienced doctor.

Aspirin - dosage for children

Aspirin is prescribed for children at elevated temperature during various infectious and inflammatory diseases, as well as with pain of low or medium intensity of different origin. For children older than 14 years, a single dose is 250 mg (half a pill) 2 times a day, with a maximum daily dose of 750 mg. Acetylsalicylic acid should be taken only after eating, carefully crushing the pill and washing down with a lot of water. It is not recommended to use this drug in treatment, as an antipyretic, for more than 3 days and, as an anesthetic, for more than a week.

Why can not aspirin small children?

The purpose of this antipyretic drug for young children is considered dangerous. This is due to the fact that taking aspirin in a small and underdeveloped organism can cause quite a serious complication - Ray's syndrome. This condition is characterized by toxic damage to the brain, as well as a sharp development of hepatic renal failure. It should be noted that in this case the patient's condition becomes extremely difficult and can lead to death. The probability of occurrence of such consequences is small enough, but, I think, each parent will agree, that it is better not to expose your children, though small, but at risk.

Among other side effects, there may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain. In addition, acetylsalicylic acid can provoke in children the occurrence of bleeding and ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as allergic reactions.

Nowadays children use paracetamol and ibuprofen based drugs, which have less negative effects on the child's body, for reducing temperature and inflammatory processes in children. But also their application should occur under the supervision of a specialist.