The nurse is caring for a child with a high grade fever. The child's mother asks if she should give her child aspirin. How should the nurse respond?

Explanation

•Caution parents not to give aspirin to children with a fever because aspirin is associated with Reye’s syndrome.

•Reye’s syndrome is a potentially fatal disease that causes acute encephalopathy and fatty liver. The cause is unknown, but it is associated with children taking aspirin for a viral illness.

•An antipyretic should be given to children with a fever. Acetaminophen is an excellent antipyretic and it is the drug most often prescribed to reduce fever in children.

•Aspirin is not associated with adrenal dysfunction.

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