Researchers from the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England say that sick children could be cured from their fever for longer if they are given ibuprofen first and then paracetamol plus ibuprofen.
The new study, published online in the British Medical Journal, involved following 156 children aged between six months and six years. The experts found that over a 24-hour period, children given both medicines experienced 4.4 hours less time with fever than those given just paracetamol, and 2.5 hours less time with fever than those just given ibuprofen.
Fever is very common in young children, affecting around 70 per cent of pre-school age youngsters each year. Until now parents have been told not to combine the drugs due to a lack of evidence on doing this safely but the new say alternating the two drugs over a period of time could help.
The results showed that ibuprofen - used in children's Nurofen - by itself was the most effective in the first four hours of a fever. Scientists have now called on the British government's drugs watchdog, The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), to update its guidance.
