Don’t Take Ibuprofen If You Have This Common Illness – Health Digest

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, taking ibuprofen when you have chickenpox has been shown to increase the risk of serious skin infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis (per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). A study published in the Italian Journal of Pediatrics in 2021 found that ibuprofen is associated with severe necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) during the chickenpox course.

NSTIs are serious infections that affect the soft tissues in our body. These infections can cause severe tissue damage and are characterized by signs of toxicity. According to a 2017 report in the New England, NSTIs can take on different forms, such as necrotizing fasciitis, myositis, and cellulitis. These infections develop due to the presence of dead and damaged tissue and require fast diagnosis and treatment with surgery and antibiotics. If left untreated, NSTIs can be fatal (per Cleveland Clinic).