Nurofen(Ibuprofen) o.k to give to child with asthma?? (Per.G.P.)

[rascals]

On a recent visit to G.P,Where ds3 eventually needed antibiotics for chest infection,I was relaying ds's symptons & he told me O.K to give ibuprofen as well as or instead of paracetamol if struggling to keep ds3 temp.down during illness,even though ds3 has asthma.(I had said never given him ibuprofen always paracetamol cos of asthma).
He said its only adults with asthma who need to be careful & they have discovered it is safe to give children with asthma ibuprofen.
Does anyone know,is this new findings or been around for a while now(sorry if I'm seriously behind the times with this info.!)
I have always avoided ibuprofen for ds1 & ds3 if they have fever because they are asthmatic.Has anyone any knowledge,advice,info.re. this-Many thanks.,rascals.

[SueW]

Is this any help?

[SueW]

You could also try ringing the helpline of the drug company or checking the patient info sheet or talking to a pharmacist.

AFAICS NHS Direct stills says no ibuprofen in asthmatic children.

I have NO medical training btw.

[Twiglett]

reading SueW's medline report I am reminded that my GP told me that ibuprofen was fine in my case as I had never shown any sensititivites to it (late diagnosis of asthma) .. it seems borne out by that research

I'd speak to Asthma UK nurses though rather than NHS direct .. there's a helpline number on their website and they're very good

[RubberDuck]

Well I'm asthmatic and I've been told many times that I'm fine to take ibuprofen as I'd know by now if I was allergic to it and it did worsen symptoms (just as well really, as paracetamol does NOTHING for me on the cusp of a migraine whereas nurofen can often head it off at the pass).

Aspirin is different - asthmatics should never take aspirin as you can suddenly become allergic to it at any time, apparently (or at least that was what I was told). Of course, you shouldn't give aspirin to children anyway so that's a bit moot.

I would have been wary giving it to a child who isn't young enough to describe their asthma symptoms because they wouldn't be able to tell me if they were getting worse, necessarily. But I'd be inclined to believe the GP.

[RubberDuck]

(Actually, I remember many times as a student denying I was asthmatic to the woman in Boots just so I could buy Nurofen... my GP was perfectly happy, the pharmacist would always quibble. Was really annoying!)

[colditz]

Apparently only triggers wheezing in 1/10 of asthmatics - as long as you hadve a reliever i would try it - it's a very valuable drug for reducing temperature.

[colditz]

No training BTW

[RubberDuck]

(that should read "who isn't OLD enough to describe..." doh!)

[brimfull]

My asthmatic ds becomes wheezy when given nurofen.
I am asthmatic but I take nurofen with no problem.

[brimfull]

Agree with colditz, I have used it with ds when calpol did bugger all.He just need ventolin ,he didn't have a full blown attack.

[Twiglett]

if you want to test it you could always plonk yourself in the doctor's waiting room with your inhalers and the nurofen and give them a dose .. stay there for 30 mins or so .. if there is a reaction you'd be close enough to a neb if you need one and if there isn't then you know it'd be fine

[SofiaAmes]

I am asthmatic and ibuprofen doesn't bother me. You should test it out in a doctor's office first though, as someone else suggested.

[chloesmumtoo]

OUR DOCTOR WONT GIVE IT TO MY DD. SHE HAS ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES.