Acetaminophen (Tylenol)	Tylenol should be given every 4-6 hours. Do not give doses more often than every 4 hours.
	6-11 lbs	12-17 lbs	18-23 lbs	24-35 lbs	36-47 lbs	48-59 lbs	60-71 lbs	72-95 lbs	95 lbs +
Elixer or Syrup 160 mg/5mL	1.25 ml	2.5 ml	4 ml	1 tsp	1.5 tsp	2 tsp	2.5 tsp	3 tsp	4 tsp
Chewable tabs 80 mg			1.5 tabs	2 tabs	3 tabs	4 tabs	5 tabs	6 tabs	8 tabs
Chewable tabs 160 mg				1 tab	1.5 tabs	2 tabs	2.5 tabs	3 tabs	4 tabs
Adult tabs 325 mg				0.5 tabs	.75 tabs	1 tab	1.25 tabs	1.5 tabs	2 tabs
Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil)	Do not give ibuprofen to children under 6 months of age. Ibuprofen should be given every 6-8 hours. Do not give doses more often than every 6 hours.
	6-11 lbs	12-17 lbs	18-23 lbs	24-35 lbs	36-47 lbs	48-59 lbs	60-71 lbs	72-95 lbs	95 lbs +
Infant Drops 50mg/1.25ml		1.25 ml	1.875 ml	2.5 ml	3.125 ml	3.725 ml
Suspension 100mg/5ml		2.5 ml	4 ml	1 tsp	1.5 tsp	2 tsp	2.75 tsp	3.25 tsp	4 tsp
Chewable Tabs 50mg		1 tab	1.5 tabs	2 tabs	3 tabs	4 tabs	5.5 tabs	6.5 tabs	8 tabs
Chewable Tabs 100mg		0.5 tabs	1 tab	1 tab	1.5 tabs	2 tabs	2.5 tabs	3 tabs	4 tabs
Caplets Jr. 100mg		0.5 tabs	1 tab	1 tab	1.5 tabs	2 tabs	2.5 tabs	3 tabs	4 tabs
Adult Tabs 200mg				0.5 tab	0.75 tab	1 tab	1 tab	1.5 tabs	2 tabs

* 1 tsp = 5cc or 5ml, 1/2 tsp = 2.5cc or 2.5 ml

Helpful Hints

Fever invokes much concern in parents.  A fever is a temperature of 100.4° F or greater.  It is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection which causes white blood cells to release a chemical called interluken-1.  This chemical or pyrogen then changes the set point of the thermostat in the brain that regulates the body’s temperature.  Generally speaking, the higher the fever goes the more serious the infection, but this is not always true.  For example, an illness such a roseola, a viral illness affecting infants which causes high fever for about three days, is not dangerous, whereas a serious illness such as meningitis may present with a relatively low fever.

One’s temperature can vary as much as 1.5° F during the day.  It tends to go up to its highest level between 5 and 7 p.m., and down to its lowest level between 2 and 6 a.m. 

The main reason for giving fever reducing medication is to help the child feel better.  There is nothing magic about “breaking a fever”.  The illness won’t go away any faster.  The most commonly used fever reducing medications are acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin.  DO NOT give aspirin containing medication to a child with chicken pox or influenza.  Aspirin is rarely used now because it has been suspected of causing Reyes syndrome, a serious illness affecting the liver and brain.  Too much acetaminophen can cause liver damage.  Ibuprofen and aspirin tend to upset the stomach and should not be given to a child who is vomiting.  If an unusual rash, trouble breathing, swelling/itching occurs, stop medication and call the doctor.  Acetaminophen can be bought as a suppository for the child who is vomiting or refuses to take his medication by mouth.

The temperature at which brain damage occurs is not known.  There is no evidence that fever as high as 106° F causes brain damage.  However, if the fever reaches 105° F the child may be placed in a tepid bath for about 30 minutes and rinsed with water which, as it evaporates will help cool the child off.  Never use alcohol.  If a child is shivering or chilling, or has “goose bumps”, you should not try to cool the child down and you should not put blankets or heavy pajamas on the child even though this is what they may want.  Dress or cover the child lightly so that the temperature won’t go too high, but also so that the child won’t feel too cold.  Increasing fluids like popsicles and iced drinks are helpful because fluids are lost due to sweating.

If you child has a fever (100.4°F) call your doctor if:

*Your child is less than 4 months old
*The temperature is over 103°F
*For any fever lasting more than 48 hours
*The child is listless or very restless
*The child has a convulsion or stiff neck (hurts to touch chin or chest)
*The child has abdominal pain or pain in the back near the kidneys
*Pain with urination or frequent urination

Febrile convulsions occur in an estimated 2% to 4% of children and are rare after age 3.  They are always frightening and upsetting even if you’ve seen many of them.  They rarely last for more than a few minutes and rarely, if ever, cause brain damage.  It is not unusual for a child who is having a febrile convulsion to stop breathing for a few seconds and turn blue at the beginning.  During the convulsion the breathing may be very irregular.  Call 911 for help from the paramedics if the child stops breathing for more than a few seconds, and head to the emergency room or doctor’s office if the convulsion lasts for more than 5 minutes and shows no signs of stopping.  Children are usually very drowsy and want to sleep afterwards.

If your child has a convulsion:

*Try to protect the child from injury (falling off the bed, drowning in the
bathtub, etc.
*Don't try to put anything in the mouth
*Make sure the child can breathe by suctioning secretions, lying on side so saliva can run out, and by pulling jaw bone forward a little.
*Cool off by removing clothing and sponging down
*Remain calm and avoid shaking the child
*Call your doctor afterward to let him know about the convulsion