AFARA 360

#11 Paracetamol is not a cure
By Dr Adenike Ogunde Oluleye (Paediatrician, University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan)

Mother brings 3yr old to the hospital. The child is very ill, pale (palms & under-feet are almost white), breathing fast & in a coma!

Dr: When did his illness start?

Mother: He started with hotness of the body, for over a week now. Off and on. But I have been giving paracetamol.

Doctor examines baby, & does some tests. Confirms child has severe malaria and very low blood levels (severe anaemia). Child receives appropriate medications & blood transfusion. He makes a full recovery and he goes home.

Dear parent,
Paracetamol is not a cure for fever. Fever means hotness of the body,& it is a sign that something is going on in the body. Paracetamol may relieve the fever temporarily but will not cure the underlying cause.

It is important that every fever in a child is properly investigated & treated. If not, it may result in complications and you end up spending much more thousands of Naira on a condition that could have been easily treated with cost-effective oral medications.

In this boy's case, paracetamol relieved the fever but did not cure malaria. Hence it became severe, the boy became very sick, lost consciousness & even needed blood transfusion.

-Dr Adenike Ogunde Oluleye