What is a fever?
A fever is a temperature of 101° or greater. Temperatures normally vary during the day. Children can have temperatures up to 100° as a normal variation. Fever is a symptom of an illness and finding the cause may require a visit to the office. If your child is less than 2 months old with a fever of 101° or greater, please call our office immediately. Do NOT give medication. A rectal temperature is most accurate since it picks up temperatures from the body's core. If taken axillary (under the arm) or orally (in the mouth) tell us how you took it. Do not add or subtract a degree.
Taking a baby's temperature
Taking a rectal temperature: Turn baby onto his or her tummy on your lap. Spread the buttocks with one hand, exposing the anus (the rectal opening). With the other hand, slip about an inch of the bulb end of the thermometer into the rectum, being careful not to force it. Hold the thermometer in place for two minutes between your index and middle fingers.
What to do:
- It is not necessary to treat a temperature less than 102°, unless the child is uncomfortable.
- For a temperature of 102° or more, or if the child appears uncomfortable, give Tylenol or some other forms of acetaminophen (see dosage chart)
- You may also give Motrin or ibuprofen if the child is 6 months or older (see dosage chart).
- Give unlimited amounts of cool fluid.
- Keep the child cool. Dress your child in one layer of lightweight clothing. Do not bundle.
- If temperature is 104° or higher, may sponge child with luke warm water for 10-15 minutes (do not use alcohol).
Call us immediately if:
- The temperature reaches 105° or higher after fever-reducing medicine has been given.
- Your child looks or acts extremely ill (i.e., is difficult to arouse, refuses to eat, is disinterested in toys, speaks without making sense or appears extremely sick after fever-lowering medicine has been given.
- The fever is greater than 101° in an infant less than 2 months of age.
- The child has a convulsion for the first time (body stiffness, eyes roll, limbs jerk).
Call us promptly during regular office hours if:
- The fever is greater than 101° for more than 24 hours and your child is under 1 year of age.
- The fever comes and goes, or the fever is 101° or greater for more than 3 days with other signs of illness.
Acetaminophen/Tylenol
Pediatric Dosage Chart for Drops, Syrup and Chewables
| DOSAGE | |||||
| AGE |
APPROXIMATE
WEIGHT RANGE |
SYRUP 160mg/5mL "NEW" Concentration |
CHEWABLES
80 mg |
Jr CHEWABLES
160 mg |
|
| Under 3 months | 6-11 lbs. | 1.25 ml | - | - | |
| 4 to 11 months | 12 - 17 lbs. | 2.5 ml | - | - | |
| 12 - 23 months | 18 - 23 lbs. | 3.75 ml | - | - | |
| 2 to 3 years | 24 - 35 lbs. | 5 ml | 2 tablets | - | |
| 4 to 5 years | 36 - 47 lbs. | 7.5 ml. | 3 tablets | 1 1/2 tablets | |
| 6 to 8 years | 48 - 59 lbs. | 10 ml | 4 tablets | 2 tablets | |
| 9 to 11 years |
60 - 71 lbs. 72 - 95 lbs |
|
12.5 ml
|
5 - 6 tablets | 2 1/2 - 3 tablets |
| 12 years & older | 96 lbs. & over | - | 8 tablets | 4 tablets | |
Acetaminophen dosage may be given every 4 hours as needed but not more than 5 times daily. If your child is over 6 months of age, you may give ibuprofen every 6 to 8 hours as needed but not more than 4 times daily (see table below).
Motrin/Ibuprofen
Pediatric Dosage Chart for Drops, Syrup and Chewables
| DOSAGE | |||||
| AGE |
APPROXIMATE
WEIGHT RANGE |
ORAL DROPS
50 mg/1.25 ml |
SUSPENSION
100 mg/5 ml |
CHEWABLES
50 MG |
CHEWABLES
100 MG |
| 6-11 months | 12 - 17 lbs. | 1 dropper | - | - | - |
| 12-23 months | 18 - 23 lbs. | 1 1/2 droppers | - | - | - |
| 2 to 3 years | 24 - 35 lbs. | - | 5 ml | 2 tablets | 1 tablet |
| 4 to 5 years | 36 - 47 lbs. | - | 7.5 ml | 3 tablets | 1 1/2 tablets |
| 6 to 8 years | 48 - 59 lbs. | - | 10 ml | 4 tablets | 2 tablets |
| 9 to 10 years | 60 - 71 lbs. | - | 12.5 ml | 5 tablets | 2 1/2 tablets |
| 11 years | 72 - 95 lbs. | - | 15 ml | 6 tablets | 3 tablets |
| 12 years & over | 96 lbs. & over | - | - | 8 tablets | 4 tablets |