PRUDENT USE OF ANTI-FEBRILE DRUGS IN ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISEASES IN CHILDREN

Body temperature rise with and without other clinical symptoms, including respiratory ones is one of the most frequent causes for contacting an outpatient clinic or for emergency and urgent medical care in paediatric practice. In most acute respiratory diseases, an increase in body temperature (up to 3 months – above 38°C; in initially healthy children older than 3 months. – above 39–39.5°C) will not cause persistent health problems, and a fever at body temperature of 37.7–38°C shall be mainly reduced in the presence of pathological symptoms (impaired appetite, state of health, discomfort, myalgia, headache, toxicosis, etc.) in children at risk with febrile convulsions. The article reviews present-day knowledge on etiopathogenesis, clinical features of fever, provides practical recommendations on the prudent use of antifebrile therapy in children, which should be administered in a short course and using a differentiated approach. Paracetamol is currently considered as the first-line drug among anti febrile drugs.