Given the concerns regarding the routine administration of antipyretics (paracetamol and ibuprofen) in hospitalised children with fever, we recently audited antipyretic prescribing practices at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Australia (RCH). In this regard, we read with interest the recent editorial by McIntyre on the use of antipyretics in children with fever1 that shares our concerns.

As highlighted by McIntyre, there is no evidence that reducing fever in a sick child confers any benefit in reducing mortality. On the contrary, current evidence suggests that reducing fever through the use of antipyretics may in fact adversely affect the outcome following infection.1 In addition, …