The antipyretic activity of tenoxicam was compared with that of paracetamol. Thirty-eight inpatients aged between 6 months and 16 years, with a rectal temperature of above 38.5 degrees C, were divided into four groups. Patients received tenoxicam (0.3, 0.6 or 1.2 mg/kg) or paracetamol (10 mg/kg) in a single oral dose. Rectal temperatures were recorded before admission, 30 min and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h after administration of the drug. The fall in temperature was significant in the paracetamol group and in one tenoxicam group with a dose of 1.2 mg/kg. Doses of 0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg of tenoxicam had only a slight effect. It was concluded that tenoxicam has a slight antipyretic effect, but is not an alternative to paracetamol as an antipyretic drug in the treatment of fever in children.