Antipyretic effects of nimesulide in paediatric practice: a double-blind study.

Abstract

A double-blind, multi-centre study was carried out in 42 hospitalized children, aged 6 months to 8 years, suffering from acute respiratory tract infections with fever, to investigate the antipyretic activity of nimesulide. On entry, patients were allocated at random to receive either nimesulide oral suspension, 5 mg/kg/day divided into 3 daily doses, for 5 days or placebo. Both groups were treated simultaneously with antibiotics: children under 5 years of age received 100 mg amoxycillin/kg/day, those over 5 years received 40 to 50 mg erythromycin/kg/day. Measurements of rectal temperature before and during the 6 hours after the first dose of nimesulide showed a significant mean decrease from a baseline value of 38.89 +/- 0.74 degrees C to 37.28 +/- 0.76 degrees C at 6 hours. In the placebo group, no significant changes were observed between baseline (38.82 +/- 0.67 degrees C) and the 6-hour value (38.28 +/- 1 degree C). Morning temperatures remained within the normal range on the following days. Nimesulide was well tolerated. The results indicate that nimesulide has a prompt antipyretic effect which may well be clinically helpful before the correct antibiotic therapy is effectively established.

• Authors: J Lecomte, T Monti, M G Pochobradsky
• Journal: Current medical research and opinion (Curr Med Res Opin) Vol. 12 Issue 5 Pg. 296-303 ( 1991) ISSN: 0300-7995 [Print] England
• PMID: 2004542 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Sulfonamides
• nimesulide

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Fever (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Respiratory Tract Infections (drug therapy)
• Sulfonamides (therapeutic use)