Dataset Information

Prehospital use of paracetamol among children attending the accident and emergency department.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:To identify patterns of prehospital administration of paracetamol to children who were perceived to be feverish by their carers. METHODS:A prospective cohort study of carers of children attending a paediatric accident and emergency (A&E) department. Carers of children completed a questionnaire to identify domestic patterns of paracetamol use. Data were collected on temperature of the child in the A&E department, administration of antipyretics in the A&E department, diagnosis, and disposal from the A&E department. RESULTS:Seventy five adults attending the A&E department consented to involvement. Sixty five of the children were feverish on arrival in the A&E department. Twenty one children (32.3%) had not received paracetamol before attending. There was a significant relation between knowledge of the antipyretic properties of paracetamol and administration (chi(2)=5.0, p<0.05). There was a significant correlation between fever and administration of paracetamol in the A&E department (chi(2)=23.7, p<0.01), however, 15 feverish patients (24.6%) were not treated. CONCLUSIONS:Most carers administer paracetamol appropriately in the prehospital setting. Administration correlates significantly with knowledge of its benefits. There is scope for education of carers and A&E department staff in the in the appropriate use of antipyretics such as paracetamol.

SUBMITTER: Mason S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1726030 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Prehospital use of paracetamol among children attending the accident and emergency department.

Mason S S Thorp S S Burke D D

Emergency medicine journal : EMJ 20030101 1

<h4>Objectives</h4>To identify patterns of prehospital administration of paracetamol to children who were perceived to be feverish by their carers.<h4>Methods</h4>A prospective cohort study of carers of children attending a paediatric accident and emergency (A&E) department. Carers of children completed a questionnaire to identify domestic patterns of paracetamol use. Data were collected on temperature of the child in the A&E department, administration of antipyretics in the A&E department, diag ...[more]

PMID: 12533384

Similar Datasets

Project description:ObjectiveTo assess the role of sex in the presentation and management of children attending the emergency department (ED).DesignThe TrIAGE project (TRiage Improvements Across General Emergency departments), a prospective observational study based on curated electronic health record data.SettingFive diverse European hospitals in four countries (Austria, The Netherlands, Portugal, UK).ParticipantsAll consecutive paediatric ED visits of children under the age of 16 during the study period (8-36 months between 2012 and 2015).Main outcome measuresThe association between sex (male of female) and diagnostic tests and disease management in general paediatric ED visits and in subgroups presenting with trauma or musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal and respiratory problems and fever. Results from the different hospitals were pooled in a random effects meta-analysis.Results116 172 ED visits were included of which 63 042 (54%) by boys and 53 715 (46%) by girls. Boys accounted for the majority of ED visits in childhood, and girls in adolescence. After adjusting for age, triage urgency and clinical presentation, girls had more laboratory tests compared with boys (pooled OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.15). Additionally, girls had more laboratory tests in ED visits for respiratory problems (pooled OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.26) and more imaging in visits for trauma or musculoskeletal problems (pooled OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.20) and respiratory conditions (pooled OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.24). Girls with respiratory problems were less often treated with inhalation medication (pooled OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.83). There was no difference in hospital admission between the sexes (pooled OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.04).ConclusionIn childhood, boys represent the majority of ED visits and they receive more inhalation medication. Unexpectedly, girls receive more diagnostic tests compared with boys. Further research is needed to investigate whether this is due to pathophysiological differences and differences in disease course, whether girls present signs and symptoms differently, or whether sociocultural factors are responsible.

Dataset Information

Prehospital use of paracetamol among children attending the accident and emergency department.

Publications

Prehospital use of paracetamol among children attending the accident and emergency department.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets