Use of tolfenamic acid in febrile children with and without glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antipyretic action of tolfenamic acid, as well as its possible adverse reactions, especially in children with severe or partial form of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. In the study 55 febrile children were included, whose mean age was +/- SD 3.5 +/- 3.3 years, range 0.5-15. Ten of them had severe or partial form of G6PD deficiency. Fifty-three of the patients responded with a decrease of temperature which lasted at least 6 hours, though in 2 of them the temperature decrease lasted less than 6 hours. The tolerance of the drug was good and no side-effects were noted. None of the patients with or without G6PD deficiency showed symptoms, signs, or laboratory findings indicating hemolysis before administration of the drug and 4 days thereafter. In conclusion, tolfenamic acid is a strong antipyretic agent with excellent tolerance and high safety in children.