Ibuprofen can mask symptoms of infection and might worsen outcomes, says European drugs agency

The European Medicines Agency’s pharmacovigilance risk assessment committee (PRAC) has recommended updating the product information for drugs containing ibuprofen and ketoprofen to warn that they can mask the symptoms of infection.

Such masking can delay treatment and worsen outcomes and has been observed in bacterial community acquired pneumonia and bacterial complications to varicella (chickenpox), the committee said after its monthly meeting on 17 April. Patients should therefore be monitored for worsening of infection when drugs containing ibuprofen and ketoprofen are used for relieving fever or pain from an infection.

The committee’s recommendation further fuels concerns about ibuprofen, which …