Aspirin is probably the most commonly used home remedy of all and the one parents think of at once in the face of any crisis. Paracetamol is a non-aspirin alternative with similar properties. Both are available as flavored, chewable tablets, and in liquid form, and aspirin is available in the form of rectal suppositories. Both come in different strengths, and when you buy you should check the label to make sure that the strength is appropriate to the age of your child. Aspirin or paracetamol tablets can be crushed and mixed with a little stewed apple, jelly, or ice cream to make them more acceptable to the child. Whenever you disguise a medicine this way, however, you must be careful to watch that the child takes the whole dose. Aspirin suppositories should not be used. Their rate of absorption is uneven, and they present a greater risk of aspirin poisoning than other forms of this drug.
Until recently, aspirin substitutes such as paracetamol were used primarily when a child couldn’t take aspirin for one reason or another. It has now been suggested, however, that the use of aspirin, especially when given to a child with chicken pox or the flu, may be associated with a condition known as Reye’s syndrome. This is a relatively rare form of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) that also involves the liver.
Although it has not been proven that aspirin causes or promotes Reye’s syndrome, it is recommended that aspirin not be given to children with chicken pox or influenza. Paracetamol, however, has not been linked to Reye’s syndrome and is an acceptable substitute. If you are in any doubt about the use of aspirin or paracetamol for your child, consult your doctor.
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