From the Guidelines
Yes, a 9-year-old girl can take ibuprofen, but it should be given in the appropriate children's dose and under parental supervision. According to the study published in Nature Reviews Neurology in 2021 1, ibuprofen is recommended as first-line medication for children and young adolescents, at a dose appropriate for body weight. For a 9-year-old, the typical dose is based on weight, generally 5-10 mg per kilogram of body weight every 6-8 hours as needed, not exceeding 4 doses in 24 hours.
Key Considerations
- Children's ibuprofen is available as a liquid suspension (100 mg/5 mL) or chewable tablets (100 mg each)
- Always use the measuring device provided with liquid medication for accurate dosing
- Ibuprofen can help reduce fever and relieve pain from headaches, minor injuries, or other discomforts
- Do not give ibuprofen for more than 3 consecutive days without consulting a healthcare provider
- If the child has asthma, kidney problems, stomach issues, or is taking other medications, check with a doctor first
- Ensure the child takes ibuprofen with food to minimize stomach upset, and contact a doctor if symptoms worsen or don't improve after 24 hours.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Ibuprofen Use in Children
- Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug frequently administered to children for relief of fever and pain 2, 3.
- The efficacy and safety of ibuprofen in children have been extensively studied, and it is approved as an over-the-counter medication in many countries worldwide 2.
- However, there are divergent dosing recommendations for analgesia and treatment of fever in infants, especially in the age group between 3 and 6 months of age 2.
Age and Dosage Considerations
- For infants older than 3 months of age with a body weight above 5-6 kg, short-term use of ibuprofen is considered safe when special attention is given to the hydration of the patient 2.
- The recommended dose of ibuprofen for children is 5-10 mg/kg, administered 3-4 times a day, resulting in a maximum total daily dose of 30-40 mg/kg 2.
- There is no specific information available on the use of ibuprofen in 9-year-old girls, but it is generally considered safe for children over 3 months of age when used according to the recommended dosage 2, 3, 4.
Comparison with Other Medications
- Ibuprofen and paracetamol have a comparable efficacy and safety profile in children with fever 4.
- Ibuprofen is consistently superior to paracetamol at conventional doses in a range of painful conditions, including acute post-operative pain, dysmenorrhoea, and osteoarthritis 5.
- However, paracetamol is often recommended as the first-line analgesic for children due to its tolerability profile 3.
Safety and Efficacy
- The safety and efficacy of ibuprofen in children have been extensively studied, and it is generally considered safe when used according to the recommended dosage 2, 3, 4.
- However, there is a low increased risk of adverse reactions to ibuprofen in specific clinical situations, such as chicken pox, pneumonia, and angina 4.
- Treatments alternating or combining paracetamol and ibuprofen can further lower the temperature compared to paracetamol or ibuprofen alone, but there is no evidence of improved child comfort 4.