In a prospective, observational safety study, rapid paracetamol infusions showed good tolerability in children below 18 years of age. Paracetamol was successfully infused to pediatrics with a median infusion time of 3 minutes without eliciting pain or signs of local inflammatory reactions. Astrid Eliasen et al. undertook this study to assess whether intravenous paracetamol can be given during five min or less in children (age <18 years) without eliciting related adverse reactions.

With the aid of pain scales like visual analog scale (VAS), Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC), COMFORT neo, and COMFORT behaviour, the mean pain scores prior to and after the paracetamol infusions (primary endpoint) were procured. Also, the signs of inflammation at the site of infusion were examined.

The study incorporated 44 volunteers who were given paracetamol as an intravenous infusion via a central venous catheter (n=22) or peripheral venous catheter (n=22). Overall, 93 paracetamol infusions exhibited a median infusion time of 3 minutes.

Following infusions, the pain scores were reduced in comparison with before infusions (mean change −0.26). There were no objective signs of inflammation. It is safe to give paracetamol as a rapid intravenous infusion in children and neonates. These findings might contribute to better and cost-effective pain management in pediatric departments.