Adverse Drug Reactions of Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen in the Paediatric Population: Analysis of the Italian Spontaneous Reporting Database

Abstract

Background: Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are the only antipyretics drugs approved in children, and are considered safe and well tolerated. However, data regarding the adverse drug reaction (ADR) profile of these drugs in children are scattered.

Aim: The aim of our study is to evaluate the ADRs of acetaminophen and ibuprofen through an observational study over a period of 15 years (January 2005-April 2020). Reports of suspected ADRs to the active substances 'acetaminophen' and 'ibuprofen' are listed and accessible through the Italian spontaneous reporting database (RAM system) by AIFA (Pharmacovigilance of the Italian Drug Agency).

Methods: Acetaminophen ADRs in paediatric populations were 15% of cases, with more frequent involvement of skin and soft tissue (54.36%) and gastrointestinal apparatus (44.09%); liver dysfunction accounts for 5.67%.

Results: Ibuprofen paediatric ADRs were 26%: skin and soft tissues in 63.16% of cases, gastrointestinal tract in 47.75%, hematemesis and melena in 6.38%; kidney injury in 2.25% of cases.

Conclusion: Children aged 2 to 11 are more frequently affected by ADRs than infants and adolescents. The risk of gastrointestinal and renal side effects is significantly higher with ibuprofen. Hepatobiliary side effects are more frequently linked to acetaminophen. Potentially fatal ADRs have been reported sporadically for both drugs.

Keywords: Acetaminophen; adverse drug reactions; fever; ibuprofen; pediatric; pharmacovigilance.