[Paracetamol dosage for children--different from that for adults]

Abstract

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) has become the most widely used antipyretic and analgesic drug for children in Denmark. However, there is a wide discrepancy between the consumption of the drug and our knowledge of children's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Dosage, therapeutic intervals and toxic potential are different for children and adults. In this review we look at the published guidelines for treating children with paracetamol and the evidence supporting them.