Girl, 4, with coronavirus symptoms suffers rocketing temperature and starts shaking after she was given – The Sun

Dan and Maddie Milner, from Bristol, said four-year-old Amelia's condition rapidly deteriorated after she took the drug at the weekend.

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Amelia had been unwell since Tuesday with a cough, cold and rising temperature - symptoms associated with the Covid-19 virus.

As the couple waited for paramedics to arrive after calling 111, they gave Amelia ibuprofen as they had run out of children's medicine Calpol.

But Dan said that within an hour of giving her the liquid painkiller, her condition dropped dramatically.

According to health officials, anti-inflammatory drugs are a known risk for people with infectious illnesses because they can decrease the response of the bodys immune system.

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Dan took to Facebook to warn other parents to avoid giving their children analgesics - and to stick to paracetamol instead.

He said: "She was panting while trying to breathe, her heart rate was very rapid, she couldnt keep her eyes open, couldnt lift her head up, her body was shaking, she started being sick on herself and her temperature had risen to 39.4.

"We called back up and they sent out an emergency ambulance and once the paramedics got here, they managed to bring her temp and stats down a bit, theyre still higher than normal but not dangerous high anymore.

"Now shes back on Calpol, shes back to just being her poorly self.

"The paramedics only told us while here that we're not to give her ibuprofen."

He added: "The paramedic said about self-isolating and calling back if her temp rises that high again, so I asked if its just for the seven days as its already been five days but they said that as she has all symptoms we're to keep her isolated until all symptoms are gone.

"So please dont give them ibuprofen!"

In a moving Facebook post, Amelia's stepdad Dan also shared a photo of the poorly youngster.

He added: "To those of you that have children please read. If your child has symptoms of coronavirus, DO NOT give them ibuprofen."

Despite anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen being used to treat pain, arthritis, headaches, sore throats and colds, they can decrease the response of the body's immune system.

IBUPROFEN and other anti-inflammatory drugs can increase the risk for people with infectious diseases, like Covid-19.

They can interfere with how the body's immune system responds.

Experts advise people to take paracetamol instead.

Earlier this week, French ministers advised against taking ibuprofen, warning it could make your condition worse.

Prof Paul Little, from the University of Southampton, responded to the warning adding there is "sizeable" evidence that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can increase the risk of serious complications.

Prof Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, added: "The advice relates to ibuprofen's anti-inflammatory properties, that is, it dampens down the immune system, which may slow the recovery process."

He explained that based on the evidence around SARS - which is similar to Covid-19 - the virus reduces a key enzyme in the body that helps to regulate the water and salt concentration in the blood, and is thought to be part of the pneumonia seen in extreme cases.

"Ibuprofen aggravates this while paracetamol does not," he said.

"It is recommended that people use paracetamol to reduce temperature if you are feverish."

In addition, more general side effects from ibuprofen include stomach irritation and stress on the kidneys.

The NHS states that ibuprofen is a common painkiller for kids, used to treat conditions like teething, toothache, aches and pains as well as some cold symptoms.

But, the health service warns there are some conditions when children should not be given the drug.

"Do not give ibuprofen for chickenpox unless it has been recommended by a doctor - it can cause a serious skin reaction."

Other conditions where parents should not give their children the drug include:

if your child has had an allergic reaction to the drug in the past

has asthma

has liver or kidney problems

has a health problem that means that are at increased risk of bleeding

has inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's or ulcerative colitis

is small or big for their age, as a lower or higher dose might be better

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Health experts are recommending that people take paracetamol instead because "it will reduce the fever without counterattacking the inflammation".

French Health Minister Olivier Vran, a qualified doctor and neurologist, tweetedon Saturday: "The taking of anti-inflammatories could be a factor in aggravating the infection.

"In case of fever, take paracetamol. If you are already taking anti-inflammatory drugs, ask your doctors advice.

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Girl, 4, with coronavirus symptoms suffers rocketing temperature and starts shaking after she was given - The Sun