Which statement about acetaminophen is true?

• A. It has anti-inflammatory properties
• B. It has anti-pyretic effects but no anti-inflammatory properties
• C. It has no analgesic effects
• D. It is unsafe in children

Answer: (B)

Acetaminophen relieves fever and mild pain but does not reduce inflammation. Fever reduction comes from its action on the hypothalamic heat-regulating center, while analgesia is produced by central inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. It has little to no peripheral anti-inflammatory effect, because it does not effectively inhibit COX enzymes in inflamed tissues like NSAIDs do. That combination makes the statement describing it as having anti-pyretic effects but no anti-inflammatory properties the best description. It is generally safe for children at proper dosing; concerns about safety arise with overdose, not routine use. The other statements fail because acetaminophen does provide analgesia, and it does not have meaningful anti-inflammatory properties or be inherently unsafe in children when dosed correctly.