PlanetRx - Learn More - Product Advice - Children's Pain & Fever

Treat your child with special care

When a child is in pain, most parents want to help relieve it as quickly as possible. But it's helpful and important to understand the cause of the pain first: whether it's associated with an illness, injury, or fever.

For all sorts of little bumps and bruises, child-strength pain relievers can work well. But if there is a fever, you need to understand it in order to treat your child in the most beneficial way. First, determine the child's exact temperature, then consider why it may be elevated: a cold, flu, chickenpox, mumps, measles, strep throat.

Seek appropriate medical advice to treat each of these conditions. If your doctor instructs you to simply lower the fever, only administer acetaminophen or ibuprofen to your child. NEVER use aspirin or other salicylates in children with flu-like symptoms or fever.

Demystifying Fever

A fever can be uncomfortable for the child and of concern to a parent. Fevers occur when pyrogens, or fever-producing substances, are produced by the body or introduced into the body. Bacteria and viruses cause the production of pyrogens too, causing a fever when your child is sick. Consult a physician if any of the following occur:

A baby under the age of 3 months has a temperature of more than 100? F.
An infant older than 3 months has a rectal temperature of more than 104? F.
A child with a history of seizures is showing the first signs of fever.
Fever lasts longer than 24 hours in a child under age 1.
A child over age 1 has had a fever for more than 72 hours.
Neck stiffness, confusion, intense irritability, lethargy, or seizure accompany the fever.

Drugs Appropriate for Children

Few over-the-counter pain relievers are approved for children. If a child is suffering from a fever, only administer acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Never give children or teenagers suffering from flu-like symptoms or fever aspirin or any other salicylate -- it can cause the rare, but fatal, Reye's syndrome. Children suffering any form of liver damage must be steered away from using acetaminophen; it has been known to cause liver damage.

Loving and Comforting Care

Fevers don't always need to be treated with medication. Some things that you can do include the following:

Keep a child comfortable and rested.
Give him or her plenty of fluids -- at least one additional ounce per hour of liquids such as soft drinks, fruit juice, or water.
Give a sponge bath with tepid water; do not douse with ice water.

Analgesics (Acetaminophen)

Drugs that work to relieve pain, fever and inflammation. Acetaminophen makes nerve endings less sensitive to pain. Many analgesics reduce fever in addition to pain, hence they are referred to as antipyretics. Acetaminophen is a very safe analgesic often used in children's products. Unlike the other nonprescription analgesics, acetaminophen has no anti-inflammatory properties; however, it is less likely to cause stomach irritation.

Analgesics (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs work by inhibiting the formation of prostaglandins, substances that cause inflammation and pain -- thus making nerve endings less sensitive to pain. Prostaglandins also play a role in causing fever. Ibuprofen is a very safe analgesic/antipyretic often used in children's products. Part of the NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) class of analgesics, it is often found in children's products.

Ingredient		Description
Analgesica (Acetaminophen)
Acetaminophen	?	Safe and effective for treating minor aches, pains, and fever. Consult a doctor before taking this drug if you have liver or kidney disease.
Analgesics (NSAIDs)
Ingredient		Description
Ibuprofen	?	Effective in relieving moderate pain and fever. Should not be used by people with gastrointestinal or bleeding disorders.

FDA-Approved Uses

Pain and fever relievers

For the temporary relief of minor aches and pains associated with a cold, flu, sore throat, headache, or toothache. Also for the reduction of fever.

Recommended Dosage

Drug	Adults & Children Over Age 12	Max. Daily	Children Ages 6 to 12	Max. Daily	Children Under Age 6	Max. Daily
Analgesic (Acetaminophen)
Analgesic (Acetaminophen)	650 mg every 4 to 6 hrs	4000 mg	Refer to package or consult a physician		Refer to package or consult a physician
Analgesic (NSAID)
Drug	Adults & Children Over Age 12	Max. Daily	Children Ages 6 to 12	Max. Daily	Children Under Age 6	Max. Daily
Analgesic (NSAID)	200 to 400 mg every 4 to 6 hrs	1200 mg	Refer to package or consult a physician		Refer to package or consult a physician

Warnings

Analgesic (acetaminophen)

Consult a physician before using or do not use if you have:

Alcoholism
Allergy to acetaminophen or any component in acetaminophen products
Kidney impairment
Liver impairment

Or if you:

Plan to use more frequently or at higher than recommended doses
Still have a fever after three days
Using to treat symptoms for more than five days in children

Or if you are taking:

Chronic alcohol use: may increase the risk for acetaminophen-induced liver damage
Isoniazid (Nydrazid): may increase the risk for acetaminophen-induced liver damage
Phenobarbital (Luminal): may increase the risk for acetaminophen-induced liver damage
Phenytoin (Dilantin): may increase the risk for acetaminophen-induced liver damage
Sulfinpyrazone (Anturane): may increase the risk for acetaminophen-induced liver damage
Warfarin (Coumadin): use of high dose acetaminophen might increase the risk of bleeding

Analgesic (ibuprofen)

Consult a physician before using or do not use if you have:

Allergy to NSAIDs, aspirin, or iodides
Anemia
Blood clotting disorders
Heart disease
High blood pressure
Kidney impairment
Liver impairment
Preexisting infection might be masked by NSAIDs
Psychiatric disorder; NSAIDs may aggravate it
Ulcers or other gastrointestinal problems

Or if you:

Are administering to a child under age 15
Are bedridden or incapacitated
Are in sunlight for prolonged periods, as photosensitivity may occur
Are on a low-salt diet
Develop blurred vision or other eye problems during treatment; consult a physician
Experience headaches with drug usage that do not diminish as dose is lowered
Experience severe abdominal pain or cramps
Plan to use for an extended period of time or at a higher dose

Or if you are taking:

Cyclosporin (Neoral, Sandimmune): may increase kidney damage
Digoxin (Lanoxin): may increase digoxin levels and effect when ibuprofen is also used
Furosemide (Lasix): may decrease furosemide levels
Lithium (Lithobid): may increase lithium levels or effect
Methotrexate (Folex): may increase methotrexate levels and effect
Other NSAIDs: increases ibuprofen side effects
Phenytoin (Dilantin): may increase phenytoin levels or effect
Probenecid (Benemid): may increase ibuprofen levels and side effects
Salicylates, such as

Aspirin (Ecotrin): may decrease ibuprofen levels and increase ibuprofen side effects
Choline salicylate (Arthopan): may decrease ibuprofen levels and increase ibuprofen side effects