Treatment of fever in 1982: a review

Abstract

While there is room for questioning the need, or even advisability, of routine antipyretic therapy, the available data do not yet constitute any sort of a contraindication. There are reasons for individualizing the decision. However, having once decided, there is no compelling reason for selecting one antipyretic over any other, and aspirin remains the most satisfactory in light of the available evidence. Some serious theoretic questions persist about the safety of acetaminophen use in sick persons, and clearly there are some precautions that should be taken with regard to the doses of flavored preparations of this and any future products whose attractiveness to children is thus enhanced.