Care in the use of ibuprofen as an antipyretic in children.

Ibuprofen is being widely used as an antipyretic in children. Recent studies indicate that it is as efficacious and with no significant difference in side-effects when compared to paracetamol. We describe three cases that illustrate that renal complications can occur when ibuprofen is prescribed in the presence of intravascular volume depletion and/or pre-existing renal problems. We discuss the mode of action of ibuprofen and recommend that its use as an antiypretic in children should be avoided in actual or potential intravascular volume contraction and in cases with pre-existing renal problems.