Children ages 6 to 17 with broken bones, bruises and sprains were given three kinds of drugs during a study conducted at a Canadian emergency room. Those who were given ibuprofen showed less pain within an hour of taking the medication.
Three hundred children at Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa, Canada were given ibuprofen in generic forms and under brand names like Advil and Motrin. Other children were given generic acetaminophen and codeine.
Those who took ibuprofen reported a 30 percent pain level after an hour, compared to 36 percent in the children given acetaminophen, and 40 percent in the children given codeine. All ratings were the same after only a half an hour after treatment. Researchers saw a difference after the first hour passed.
The study's purpose is to help parents choose which medication to give their children. This is the first study to compare all three medications. The findings will be published in this month's issue of Pediatrics.
