The Three W's of Acetaminophen In Children: Who, Why, and Which Administration Mode

Céline Thibault; Élaine Pelletier; Christina Nguyen; Evelyne D Trottier; Marie-Joëlle Doré-Bergeron; Kathryn DeKoven; Anne-Marie Roy; Nelson Piché; Jean-Francois Delisle; Caroline Morin; Julie Paquette; Niina Kleiber

doi:10.5863/1551-6776-28.1.20

The Three W's of Acetaminophen In Children: Who, Why, and Which Administration Mode

J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2023;28(1):20-28. doi: 10.5863/1551-6776-28.1.20. Epub 2023 Feb 3.

Authors

Céline Thibault^{1

2

3

4}, Élaine Pelletier^{1

4

5}, Christina Nguyen^{4

5}, Evelyne D Trottier^{4

6}, Marie-Joëlle Doré-Bergeron^{3

4}, Kathryn DeKoven^{4

7}, Anne-Marie Roy^{4

8}, Nelson Piché⁴, Jean-Francois Delisle^{4

5}, Caroline Morin^{4

5}, Julie Paquette^{4

8}, Niina Kleiber^{1

2

4

9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (CT, NK), Université de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
² Research Center (CT, NK), CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
³ Department of Pediatrics (CT, MJDB, NK), CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁴ Groupe de Gouvernance des Analgésiques (CT, EP, CN, EDT, MJDB, KD, AMR, NP, JFD, CM, JP, NK), Pharmacology Committee, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁵ Department of Pharmacy (EP, CN, JFD, CM), CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁶ Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine (EDT), CHU Sainte Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁷ Department of Anesthesiology (KD), CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁸ Department of Nursing (AMR, JP), CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁹ Department of Surgery (NP), CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Abstract

Acetaminophen is one of the oldest medications commonly administered in children. Its efficacy in treating fever and pain is well accepted among clinicians. However, the available evidence supporting the use of acetaminophen's different modes of administration remains relatively scarce and poorly known. This short report summarizes the available evidence and provides a framework to guide clinicians regarding a rational use of acetaminophen in children.

Keywords: analgesia; antipyretics; fever; infant; pain; paracetamol; pediatrics.

Grants and funding

Disclosures. The authors declare no financial interest in any product or service mentioned in the manuscript, including grants, equipment, medications, employment, gifts, and honoraria.