Edward Purssell

BMJ

The flagship general medical journal, published since 1840, updated daily online, weekly in print and on the iPad.

BMJ Journals

BMJ Journals division publishes over 40 journals across a broad range of specialties.

BMJ Journals

studentBMJ

An international medical journal written for students by students.

Student BMJ

Jobs

BMJ Careers

BMJ Careers makes it easy for you to find the right job with the latest healthcare vacancies, upcoming careers fairs, advice on choosing the right specialty, pay and working conditions.

18-19 October 2013 at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. Register here

BMJ Careers Fair

Advanced search

An international peer-reviewed journal for health professionals and researchers covering conception to adolescence

Arch Dis Child

2011;96:1175-1179 doi:10.1136/archdischild-2011-300424

Drug therapy

Systematic review of studies comparing combined treatment with paracetamol and ibuprofen, with either drug alone

Table 1

Study characteristics

Study	Interventions	Temperature	Age	Follow-up time
Lal et al9^*	G1: paracetamol 10 mg/kg 8 hourly, n=33	>38.5°C axilla	Mean (95% CI) 2.85 years (1.75 to 3.95) and 3.02 (2.34 to 3.7)	5 days
Lal et al9^*	G3: paracetamol 10 mg/kg and ibuprofen 10 mg/kg 8 hourly, n=18	>38.5°C axilla		5 days
Erlewyn-Lajeunesse et al14	G1: paracetamol 15 mg/kg single dose, n=37	≥38°C tympanic	6 months–10 years	2 h
	G2: ibuprofen 5 mg/kg single dose, n=35
	G3: paracetamol 15 mg/kg and ibuprofen 5 mg/kg single dose, n=36
Nabulsi et al13	G2: ibuprofen 10 mg/kg, followed by placebo at 4 h, n=33	≥38.8°C rectal	6 months–14 years	8 h
Nabulsi et al13	G3: ibuprofen 10 mg/kg, followed by paracetamol 15 mg/kg at 4 h, n=36	≥38.8°C rectal	6 months–14 years	8 h
Sarrell et al11^†	G1: paracetamol 12.5 mg/kg 6 hourly, n=154	≥38.4°C rectal	6 months–3 years	10 days
	G2: ibuprofen 5 mg/kg 8 hourly, n=155
	G3: paracetamol 12.5 mg/kg alternately with ibuprofen 5 mg/kg 4 hourly, n=155
Hay et al10	G1: paracetamol 15 mg/kg 4–6 hourly, n=52	37.8–41°C axilla	6 months–6 years	5 days
	G2: ibuprofen 10 mg/kg 6–8 hourly, n=52
	G3: paracetamol 15 mg/kg 4–6 hourly and ibuprofen 10 mg/kg 6–8 hourly, n=52
Kramer et al12	G1: paracetamol 15 mg/kg followed by placebo at 3 h and paracetamol 15 mg/kg at 4 h, n=19	>38°C oral (rectal <2 years)	6 months–6 years	24 h
Kramer et al12	G3: paracetamol 15 mg/kg followed by ibuprofen 10 mg/kg at 3 h and placebo at 4 h, n=19	>38°C oral (rectal <2 years)	6 months–6 years	24 h
Paul et al15	G1: ibuprofen 10 mg/kg followed by paracetamol 15 mg/kg at 3 h, n=20	>38°C temporal artery	6 months–6 years	6 h
	G2: ibuprofen 10 mg/kg
	G3: ibuprofen 10 mg/kg and paracetamol 15 mg/kg

↵* This study also included a nimesulide arm not analysed here.
↵† Half of each group were initially loaded with paracetamol and ibuprofen; because there was no difference these were analysed together.