An Italian multidisciplinary Delphi Consensus on managing children and adolescents with acute fever using ketoprofen lysine salt.

Abstract

Fever is a common symptom and sign in children and adolescents. Italian pediatric guidelines recommend pharmacologically treating fever if discomfort is present. In addition, guidelines state that ibuprofen among NSAIDs and acetaminophen are the first-choice medications for relieving fever in children; however, among NSAIDs, also ketoprofen lysine salt (KLS) is indicated in young patients 6 years of age and older and proved to exert antipyretic effects. The present multidisciplinary Delphi Consensus, promoted by the Italian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (SIAIP), aimed at proposing practical statements about fever management and the possible use of KLS to relieve acute pediatric fever. A multidisciplinary panel of 33 qualified experts discussed and anonymously voted on the statements drafted by a steering committee. The results confirmed a large agreement about the para-physiological role of fever and underlined the concept of not indiscriminately reducing fever. In addition, there was agreement that KLS displays efficacy and safety overlapping with ibuprofen and acetaminophen in modulating fever. Some discordances concerned the advantages of quickly relieving fever and the safety profile. Therefore, the steering committee hopes for new methodologically robust comparative trials. In conclusion. KLS could be considered a reasonable option for managing children and adolescents with fever. However, further studies are required to provide more robust evidence.