To the Editor.—The article "Oral Antipyretic Therapy" published in the March issue of the Journal (123:204-206, 1972) has caused considerable debate in the department where it evolved. The presentation, accuracy, and esteem of the investigators is unquestioned. Unfortunately, many of our house staff are misled into the routine application of combination acetaminophen-aspirin therapy for resistant temperature elevations.
The authors' "comments" seem to be causing confusion because of omissions in the interpretation of their data. These omissions give tacit approval to combination fever therapy.
For example, the first sentence under "Comment" reads, "The present study has shown that a combination of aspirin and acetaminophen is more effective in reducing fever in children than either drug used alone." This statement is quickly modified in the next sentence as they note that it is not more effective in rate or amount of temperature reduction, but only significantly more sustained. They do not