Antipyretics (, from anti- 'against' and pyretic 'feverish') are substances that reduce fever. Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus to override a prostaglandin-induced increase in temperature. The body then works to lower the temperature, which results in a reduction in fever.
Most antipyretic medications have other purposes. The most common antipyretics in the United States are ibuprofen and aspirin, which are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used primarily as analgesics (pain relievers), but which also have antipyretic properties; and acetaminophen (paracetamol), an analgesic with weak anti-inflammatory properties.
There is some debate over the appropriate use of such medications, as fever is part of the body's immune response to infection. A study published by the Royal Society claims fever suppression causes at least 1% more influenza cases of death in the United States, which results in at least 700 extra deaths per year.
Video Antipyretic
Non-pharmacological treatment
Bathing or sponging with lukewarm or cool water can effectively reduce body temperature in those with heat illness, but not usually in those with fever. The use of alcohol baths is not an appropriate cooling method, because there have been reported adverse events associated with systemic absorption of alcohol.
Maps Antipyretic
Medications
Many medications have antipyretic effects and thus are useful for fever but not in treating illness, including:
- NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen, and nimesulide
- Aspirin, and related salicylates such as choline salicylate, magnesium salicylate, and sodium salicylate
- Paracetamol (USAN and JAN: acetaminophen)
- Metamizole, banned in over 30 countries for causing agranulocytosis
- Nabumetone
- Phenazone (antipyrine), available in combination with benzocaine as an ear drop in the US.
Children
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that improper dosing is one of the biggest problems in giving acetaminophen (paracetamol) to children. The effectiveness of acetaminophen alone as an antipyretic in children is uncertain, with some evidence showing it is no better than physical methods. Therapies involving alternating doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen have shown greater antipyretic effect than either drug alone. One meta-analysis indicated that ibuprofen is more effective than acetaminophen in children at similar doses when both are given alone.
Due to concerns about Reye syndrome, it is recommend that aspirin and combination products containing aspirin not be given to children or teenagers during episodes of fever-causing illnesses.
Plants
Traditional use of higher plants with antipyretic properties is a common worldwide feature of many ethnobotanical cultural systems. In ethnobotany, plants with naturally occurring antipyretic properties are commonly referred to as febrifuge.
Popular culture
Antipyretic was the word spelled by Joanne Lagatta to win the 1991 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
On the second disc for the Final Fantasy Tactics soundtrack, there is a track titled Antipyretic.
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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