Fever Myths and Facts (Children) and Dosage Chart for Fever Reducing Medication
Fever is one of the most alarming symptoms a child can have for parents. There are many scary fever myths out there and it is time to set the record straight! To pediatricians, fever can be a good sign that the body is responding to an infection.
Five fever myths and facts:
Myth: A temperature between 98.7° F and 100° F is a low-grade fever.
Fact: These temperatures are normal variations and are not a fever. The body’s temperature changes throughout the day and is naturally higher in the afternoon and evening. An actual fever is any temperature of 100.4°F or higher.
Myth: Fever is bad. A fever can cause brain damage or seizures and are dangerous to my child.
Fact: Fever is a sign that the body's immune system is working. A fever can be good for a sick child by helping the body fight infection. A fever does not cause brain damage. As for seizures, the vast majority (96 percent) of children do not have a seizure with a fever. About 4 percent of children can have a seizure with a fever – this is a febrile seizure. A febrile seizure is scary to watch, but they usually stop within five minutes. They do not cause brain damage or have long-term side effects. Children who have had febrile seizure are not at greater risk for developmental delays or learning disabilities.
Myth: A fever needs to be treated with fever medicine (such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen). After treatment, the fever should go away completely.
Fact: A fever needs to be treated only if the child is uncomfortable. For young children, that usually means fevers over 102° F or 103° F. With treatment, fevers usually come down 2° F or 3° F but may not go away completely. There is no harm in not treating a fever.
Myth: The exact number of the temperature is very important. If the fever is high, the cause is serious.
Fact: How your child looks is what is important, not the exact temperature. If the fever is high, the cause may or may not be serious. If your child looks well, the cause is likely to be less serious. One exception is in babies who are less than 3 months of age. A health care provider should always see them right away if they have a fever because their immune systems are not fully developed. If it is the weekend and your baby spikes a fever, it is best to call your doctor's office and take them to urgent care.
Myth: If the fever does not come down (if you cannot "break the fever"), the cause is serious.
Fact: The seriousness of the infection is not related to whether a fever comes down or not. How high the fever goes and how long the fever lasts does not show whether a virus or bacteria caused the fever. What matters most is how your child looks.
If your child has a fever:
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Clothing: Body heat is lost through skin. Keep clothing to a minimum because the fever will increase if you dress your child in extra layers or wrap in blankets
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Fluids: Fever increases water loss from the body through evaporation. For infants under 1 year old, regular feedings (formula or breast) and between feedings give Oral Rehydration Solution (Pedialyte or other product available from grocery or drug stores without prescription). For children over 1 year old, give plenty of cool fluids like water, juice, Jell-O water, 7-Up, or popsicles.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are over-the-counter pain and fever reducers. Fever is the body’s normal response to infections and will usually get better on its own. If a child is uncomfortable, treating a fever with these medications can make your child more comfortable, but the infection will not go away faster.
Safety tips
If you give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen, be sure to follow these important guidelines.
Acetaminophen
Ibuprofen
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Don’t give to infants under 6 months old.
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Don’t give your child more than 4 doses in 24 hours.
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Don’t give if your child is dehydrated, vomiting, or has kidney problems.
General medication guidelines
Do’s
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Carefully read and follow all labels on the package.
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Know how much your child weighs. The correct dose for your child is based on weight (not age).
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Use only the syringe or cup that came with the medication to measure it, not a kitchen spoon. Measure in a well-lit area.
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If instructed by medical provider to switch between acetaminophen and ibuprofen every 3-4 hours to keep the fever down. Make a list of the medication(s) and the time given to safely provide correct medication and dose. This prevents giving too much medication.
Don’ts
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Don’t exceed the maximum recommended doses.
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Don’t switch between giving acetaminophen and ibuprofen without talking to a medical provider first. It’s easy to accidentally give too much medicine, and it’s usually not recommended.
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Don’t give aspirin to anyone under age 20.
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Don’t give naproxen sodium (Aleve) to children younger than 12 unless prescribed.
Recommended dosing for children
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Children's Dosage Chart
Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) Children's Dosage Chart