Kids medicine dosages for fever and pain   Frank Barnhill M.D.
 

Few things are more distressing than to have a child running a fever or experiencing pain.

Of course fever is the body’s response and attempt to fight an infection, whether viral, bacterial or fungal. Studies have shown that the body’s immune system does work better at a temperature above 99 degrees, but when a child’s fever goes above 101 degrees, the child becomes restless and starts to experience muscle comforts. When a fever reaches 104 or greater some children are at risk of febrile seizures and other complications.

Pain is the body’s way of telling us there is something wrong. We learned not to touch hot stoves from the pain of a burn. Likewise, a child quickly learns not to move an arm or a leg when it hurts. If pain or a fever continues for more than 24 to 48 hours despite use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin/Advil (ibuprofen), then it’s time to see a doctor. See our associated articles on fever in children (Mike place link Here). 

Caution: important! Never use aspirin in anyone suspected of having the flu! Aspirin use can still cause Reye’s syndrome. Actually, you shouldn’t use aspirin or products containing aspirin in any child without asking your doctor!

Use caution in giving Tylenol infant drops to older kids. The infant dropper gives 80 milligrams of acetaminophen in a 0.8 milliliter (ml.) dropper. If you were to give an older child a teaspoon (5 mls.) of this preparation, you would be giving almost 500 milligrams of the drug. That’s enough to overdose some children.

Be sure you’re using the right dropper for Motrin (75 mg in 1.875 ml.) , since the old dropper looked just like a Pediacare dropper (50 mg in 1.25 ml). You may actually be giving too little medication.

Be sure you’re using the right drops for the right age group. Children’s Tylenol (80 mg per ½ teaspoon or 160 mg per 5 ml) and Advil (100 mg per teaspoon or 5 ml) are not the same as Infants Tylenol and Advil.

Here are important notes and dosages for kid’s Advil/Motrin and Tylenol:

Motrin/Advil (ibuprofen) Dosages using the new 1.875 ml syringe for every

6 hour dosing:

12-18 pounds:             1.25 ml or 2/3 syringe

19-24 pounds:             1.875 ml or 1 syringe (75 mg)

25-29 pounds:             2.5 ml or 1 1/3 syringe

30-36 pounds               3 ml or 1 2/3 syringe

37-41 pounds              3.75 ml or 2 syringes (150 mg)

42-47 pounds              4.25 or 2 1/3 syringes

48-55 pounds               5 ml or 2 2/3 syringes

Roughly estimated Tylenol/acetaminophen dosages for every 6-hour dosing can be calculated at 7 mg per pound or 15 mg per kilogram (kg). A kg is 2.2 pounds.

For a high fever (over 103) parents can safely use a double dose only for the very first dose and not again. This has been shown more effective for breaking high fevers.

For stubborn fevers, a parent may consider alternating ibuprofen and acetaminophen every three to four hours for up to 24 to 36 hours.

It takes about 7 to 8 times the recommended dose of acetaminophen to be harmful and regular around the clock dosing is usually safe for up to 48 hours or 2 days. After that time, you should contact your doctor, as a common cold fever should have responded to your treatment.

Likewise, if you’re using these over-the counter drugs to treat a child for pain, you should consult a doctor if the pain persists more than 24 hours, suddenly increases in intensity, or becomes associated with a high fever, vomiting, sleepless nights, confusion or disorientation. Sometimes, even simple pain medicines like ibuprofen will mask or hide a serious illness, because the pain isn’t seen as “bad enough to visit the doctor”. 

Hopefully, these guidelines will help you make your little one more comfortable while getting well during his or her next illness.

Dr. Frank

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