Fever
If you think your child is warm, the most important thing to do is to take the temperature with a thermometer. Feeling the child’s forehead is notoriously inaccurate; thermometers are readily available in almost any drug or sundrae store and are inexpensive.
A fever is:
- A rectal temperature greater than 100.5 Degrees Fahrenheit, or
- An axillary temperature (under the arm) greater than 100.0 degrees.
If your child has a fever please:
- Remain calm.
- Try to find out the cause of the fever.
- Remove excess clothing and bedding.
- Keep the child comfortable but not cold.
- Give fever medication as indicated for fever and medical symptoms.
Fever medications include acetaminophen (Tempra) or Ibuprofen. As a first line medication for temperature control, acetaminophen should be used; however, there may be times when I may recommend alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen in addition to sponging with tepid water (slightly cooler than skin temperature).
Acetaminophen Dosinq Chart:
Weight | Infant’s drops | Children’s suspension | Children’s chewables | Junior strength chewables |
80 mg/0.8ml | 160 mg/5 ml | 80 mgeach | 60 mgeach | |
Dropperful | Teaspoon | Tablet | Tablet/Caplet | |
6-11 Ibs. | 1/2 | |||
12-17 Ibs. | 1/2 | |||
18-23 Ibs. | 1 1/2 | 3/4 | ||
24-35 lbs. | 2 | 2 | ||
36-47 Ibs. | 1 1/2 | 3 | ||
48-59 Ibs. | 2 | ’4 | 2 | |
60-71 Ibs. | 2 1/2 | S | 21/2 | |
72-95 Ibs. | 3 | 6 | 3 | |
95+ Ibs. | 4 |
The child may be given the appropriate acetaminophen dose every
four hours.
Ibuprofen should only be used for children ovér 6 (six) months of age.
Ibuprofen Dosinq Chart:
| Weight | Infant’s drops | Children’s suspension | Chewable tablets 50 mg | Chewable tablets 100 mg |
| Dropperful | Teaspoon | Tablet | Tablet | |
| 12-17 Ibs. | 1 | 1/2 | ||
| 18-23 Ibs. | 2 | 1 | 2 |
|
| 24-35 Ibs. | 3 | 1 1/2 | 3 | 1 1/2 |
| 36-47 Ibs. | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| 48-59 Ibs. | 2 1/2 | 5 | 2 1/2 | |
| ó0-71 Ibs. | 3 | 6 | 3 | |
| 72-95 Ibs. | 4 | 8 | 4 |
The child may be given theappropriate ibuprofen dose every 8 (eight) hours.