Acetaminophen and ibuprofen in the management of fever and mild to moderate pain in children

Acetaminophen has become the non-narcotic of choice for children because of concerns regarding the connection between acetylsalicylic acid exposure and Reye's syndrome. Ibuprofen, recently granted over-the-counter status for children over two years of age, offers another choice for treatment. The efficacy and safety of both drugs have been studied in numerous clinical trials. This paper reviews the published evidence about the efficacy and safety of acetaminophen and ibuprofen with regard to treating fever and mild to moderate pain in children.