Childhood fever: Parental paracetamol administration after consulting out-of-hours general practice. (16th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Bont, Eefje G. P. M.; Bohnen, Jolijn M. H. A.; Verhoeven, Rachèl; Dinant, Geert-Jan; Cals, Jochen W. L.
• Is Part Of: European journal of general practice. Volume 26:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 25
• Publication Date: 2020-12-16
• Subjects: Child -- infection -- general practice -- paracetamol; Family medicine -- Periodicals; 362.172
• DOI: 10.1080/13814788.2019.1676415
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1381-4788

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Current guidelines emphasise prudent use of paracetamol in febrile children without pain. Little evidence is available on paracetamol administration by parents in general and post-GP-consultations. Objectives: To investigate if and how often parents of febrile children administer paracetamol to their child after consulting a GP during out-of-hours care. To explore if condition (painful or not), socio-economic status and age influenced this behaviour. Methods: This was a pre-planned secondary study, attached to an RCT ( n = 25, 355) that studied the effect of an illness-focused interactive booklet on antibiotic prescriptions in febrile children between three months and 12 years, at 20 GP out-of-hours centres across the Netherlands. Baseline data and ICPC codes were retrieved from the GP out-of-hours centre database. During a telephone survey two weeks after consulting a GP out-of-hours centre, a random sample of parents was asked if and how often they had given their child paracetamol. Results: Parents of 548 children participated. Most parents administrated paracetamol for two weeks after consulting (83.8%). Children received 11 doses on average during follow-up (maximum 72 doses). Paracetamol administration increased with age. Age three to six months received paracetamol in 68% (17/25) of the cases versus 89.6% (121/135) in children aged five to twelve years. Frequency of paracetamol administration was similar for most common infections, regardless of being painful or painless. Conclusion: Most children who consulted out-of-hours general practice for fever and common infections received paracetamol at home during their illness episode, regardless of a painful condition being present. Paracetamol administration increased with age.