WHO updates stance on avoiding ibuprofen

Parents are just trying their best this week. In the age of coronavirus we are all doing what we can to practice social distancing, homeschool our kids and, in some cases, self-quarantine because our kids have cold and flu symptoms.

There is a ton of misinformation floating around the internet regarding coronavirus, and parents are desperately in need of clarification on some issues.

Thankfully, we got some when the World Health Organization reversed its previous stance on avoiding ibuprofen when treating those with COVID-19.

In a tweet, the WHO stated: “Based on currently available information, WHO does not recommend against the use of ibuprofen.

Q: Could #ibuprofen worsen disease for people with #COVID19?

A: Based on currently available information, WHO does… https://t.co/kaAEMvw28V

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO)
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The suggestion to avoid ibuprofen in favor of acetaminophen was made by a WHO official earlier in the week after French health officials tweeted warning about how anti-inflammatory drugs could worsen symptoms of COVID-19. The tweet came after a study in The Lancet suggested the same.

What happened in France was that doctors noted that a lot of people coming into the Intensive Care Unit had been on non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, but it’s still unclear if this was the only factor in why these cases got worse.

Some doctors and pharmacists in the United States and Canada said there was not enough evidence to say ibuprofen exacerbates COVID-19, and the WHO agrees with that now.

So if you’re trying to treat a child’s fever the WHO is not against either ibuprofen (Children’s Advil or Motrin) or acetaminophen (Children’s Tylenol). This article and the WHO’s tweets are not a substitute for medical advice. If you suspect you or your child has come down with COVID-19 contact the appropriate local health authority and seek guidance from medical professionals when it comes to choosing a medication.

According to the CDC, “children do not appear to be at higher risk for COVID-19 than adults. While some children and infants have been sick with COVID-19, adults make up most of the known cases to date.”

[This post was originally published March 18. It has been updated.]