Which medication is an analgesic and antipyretic?

• A. Ibuprofen
• B. Aspirin
• C. Diclofenac
• D. Paracetamol

Answer: (D)

Analgesic and antipyretic effects come from lowering prostaglandin activity in the brain to reduce pain and to reset the body's temperature set point. Paracetamol achieves pain relief and fever reduction mainly through central mechanisms in the brain, but it has little to no peripheral anti-inflammatory action. That combination—effective for pain and fever without significant inflammation—distinguishes it from the other options, which are NSAIDs that inhibit COX enzymes both in the brain and in peripheral tissues and thus provide anti-inflammatory effects as well. Paracetamol also has a safer GI profile, though it can cause serious liver injury if taken in excess, so dosing must be watched.