5 ms·

Wow! I have two young children, and we’ve been cautious about using paracetamol. But this really changes the perspective for me.

by qixv 5y ago

TeMPOraL 5y ago
Same here, two children (2.5yo and 3wo), both exposed to Paracetamol in what I now hope were low enough concentrations. I'm very concerned, to say the least.
- oynqr 5y ago
  Why do you use the word "exposed"? You seem to be overreacting.
  - Tade0 5y ago
    To me it looks like a normal response of a parent. I've been giving my infant paracetamol and am now having second thoughts about it.
  - TeMPOraL 5y ago
    What other word should I use? My wife took paracetamol, so the fetus was exposed to it.
ekianjo 5y ago
Aspirin is a much safer drug to give to kids, despite the bad press it has received. You only need to look at the actual data to be convinced that it should be prescribed over Paracetamol any day.
- phreeza 5y ago
  I think paracetamol is also used to lower fevers which are more common in little kids. Does aspirin also serve that function? I think it doesn't.
  - feanaro 5y ago
    It does.
  - adrianN 5y ago
    Aspirin, Ibuprofen and Paracetamol all lower fever.
- _moof 5y ago
  Ok... I looked at the data and when people stopped giving aspirin to children, prevalence of Reye syndrome dropped by 90%. I'm gonna go ahead and continue not giving aspirin to kids.
  - ekianjo 5y ago
    You know the saying that correlation is not causation ? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11994026/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11994026/ > The presence of salicylates in the blood or urine of Reye's syndrome patients has not been demonstrated, and no animal model of Reye's syndrome has been developed where aspirin causes the disease. It is clear from epidemiological data that the incidence of Reye's syndrome was decreasing well before warning labels were placed on aspirin products. Reye's syndrome disappeared from countries where aspirin was not used in children as well as from countries which continued to use aspirin in children. This link with Reyes syndrom is about as valid as good old snake oil to treat ailments. Bad science was not invented just last year.
- zepin 5y ago
  While uncommon, Aspirin can cause Reye syndrome in children, which can lead to death or cause permanent disability. Paracetamol does not cause such harmful effects if used as directed. It definitely should be used as a first-line treatment (if needed) in case of fever or pain. Edit: typo
  - ekianjo 5y ago
    > Aspirin can cause Reye syndrome in children This has never been demonstrated
- Angostura 5y ago
  Absolutely not.
- bencollier49 5y ago
  This article essentially argues that Paracetamol should be used sparingly, if necessary. Calpol (suspension of paracetamol for children) is used indiscriminately in the UK, with some parents seemingly attempting to use it as a chemical cosh when their children are in a bad mood - it does also appear to alter moods. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/apr/14/paracetamol-may-dull-emotions-as-well-as-physical-pain-new-study-shows https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/apr/14/paracetamol-... https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jun/04/why-parents-are-addicted-to-calpol https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jun/04/why-par...
- rscho 5y ago
  Read on Reyes syndrom, maybe?
  - ekianjo 5y ago
    read on the lack of evidence when it comes to Reyes syndrom, maybe?
    - rscho 5y ago
      Oh, of course let's conduct a trial where we give aspirin to children and see what happens! I gather you'll be volunteering your own children? How nice of you!

Wow! I have two young children, and we’ve been cautious about using paracetamol. But this really changes the perspective for me.

by qixv 5y ago

Wow! I have two young children, and we’ve been cautious about using paracetamol. But this really changes the perspective for me.

TeMPOraL 5y ago

Same here, two children (2.5yo and 3wo), both exposed to Paracetamol in what I now hope were low enough concentrations. I'm very concerned, to say the least.

oynqr 5y ago
Why do you use the word "exposed"? You seem to be overreacting.
- Tade0 5y ago
  To me it looks like a normal response of a parent. I've been giving my infant paracetamol and am now having second thoughts about it.
- TeMPOraL 5y ago
  What other word should I use? My wife took paracetamol, so the fetus was exposed to it.

ekianjo 5y ago

Aspirin is a much safer drug to give to kids, despite the bad press it has received. You only need to look at the actual data to be convinced that it should be prescribed over Paracetamol any day.

phreeza 5y ago
I think paracetamol is also used to lower fevers which are more common in little kids. Does aspirin also serve that function? I think it doesn't.
- feanaro 5y ago
  It does.
- adrianN 5y ago
  Aspirin, Ibuprofen and Paracetamol all lower fever.
_moof 5y ago
Ok... I looked at the data and when people stopped giving aspirin to children, prevalence of Reye syndrome dropped by 90%. I'm gonna go ahead and continue not giving aspirin to kids.
- ekianjo 5y ago
  You know the saying that correlation is not causation ? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11994026/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11994026/ > The presence of salicylates in the blood or urine of Reye's syndrome patients has not been demonstrated, and no animal model of Reye's syndrome has been developed where aspirin causes the disease. It is clear from epidemiological data that the incidence of Reye's syndrome was decreasing well before warning labels were placed on aspirin products. Reye's syndrome disappeared from countries where aspirin was not used in children as well as from countries which continued to use aspirin in children. This link with Reyes syndrom is about as valid as good old snake oil to treat ailments. Bad science was not invented just last year.
zepin 5y ago
While uncommon, Aspirin can cause Reye syndrome in children, which can lead to death or cause permanent disability. Paracetamol does not cause such harmful effects if used as directed. It definitely should be used as a first-line treatment (if needed) in case of fever or pain. Edit: typo
- ekianjo 5y ago
  > Aspirin can cause Reye syndrome in children This has never been demonstrated
Angostura 5y ago
Absolutely not.
bencollier49 5y ago
This article essentially argues that Paracetamol should be used sparingly, if necessary. Calpol (suspension of paracetamol for children) is used indiscriminately in the UK, with some parents seemingly attempting to use it as a chemical cosh when their children are in a bad mood - it does also appear to alter moods. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/apr/14/paracetamol-may-dull-emotions-as-well-as-physical-pain-new-study-shows https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/apr/14/paracetamol-... https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jun/04/why-parents-are-addicted-to-calpol https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jun/04/why-par...
rscho 5y ago
Read on Reyes syndrom, maybe?
- ekianjo 5y ago
  read on the lack of evidence when it comes to Reyes syndrom, maybe?
  - rscho 5y ago
    Oh, of course let's conduct a trial where we give aspirin to children and see what happens! I gather you'll be volunteering your own children? How nice of you!