For several years it has been recommended that
aspirin should be avoided in children under the age of 12 years because of the risk of
Reye's Syndrome. In this study we investigated the reported use of
analgesics among children who attended the Children's Department of the Dental Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne. In addition the study also investigated the complaints that led to use of
analgesics, the dose and frequency of administration of the
analgesic, and past and current contact with medical services. Of 179 children investigated, 129 were under 12 years-old; of these 129 children under 12 years-of-age, 72 (56%) had taken an
analgesic within the previous six months, 12 (17%) of whom took
aspirin. Three of these children who had taken
aspirin were reported to have had a serious illness in their lives, and would therefore have had significant contact with medical services. One-quarter of all children who had taken an
analgesic did so for
toothache. Inappropriate use of
aspirin in children under 12 years-of-age indicates that health education about the possible risks of
Reye's Syndrome needs to be improved.