Comments on: Acute Pain http://lifeinpain.org/node/66 You are not alone Sat, 19 May 2012 03:48:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Anonymous http://lifeinpain.org/node/66#comment-35 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-35 Antipyretic medications include acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra and others), NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others) and aspirin. They all act by interrupting chemical messengers which act to raise your child's temperature "set point". Aspirin is no longer recommended for children and adolescents because of the association with aspirin use and viral infections (influenza and chicken pox) leading to Reye+Syndrome, a syndrome of acute liver and brain inflammation. Proper dosing of fever medication is very important--if under-dosed it will not be effective, and if overdosed it can be toxic. You should always check the concentration of the medication you are using. For example, Infants' Tylenol Concentrated Drops is 80 mg per 0.8 ml, whereas Children's Tylenol Elixir is 80 mg per ¬Ω teaspoon or 2.5 ml. Under the age of 6 months you should contact your physician regarding fever medication for your child. Guidelines for children over the age of 6 months are as follows: (see "Medicine Cabinet" for calculating a dose based on your child's exact weight) <b>acetaminophen dosing</b> 10-15 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) body weight every 4 to 6 hours as needed <b>ibuprofen dosing</b> 10 mg per kg every 6 to 8 hours Treating a fever does not treat the underlying infection. Nor does response to fever therapy indicate that the infection is less severe. However, it is important to treat fevers to ease your child's discomfort, as well as to lower your child's metabolic rate ( important when asthma and respiratory problems are a concern). Antipyretic medications include acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra and others), NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others) and aspirin. They all act by interrupting chemical messengers which act to raise your child’s temperature “set point”. Aspirin is no longer recommended for children and adolescents because of the association with aspirin use and viral infections (influenza and chicken pox) leading to Reye+Syndrome, a syndrome of acute liver and brain inflammation.

Proper dosing of fever medication is very important–if under-dosed it will not be effective, and if overdosed it can be toxic. You should always check the concentration of the medication you are using. For example, Infants’ Tylenol Concentrated Drops is 80 mg per 0.8 ml, whereas Children’s Tylenol Elixir is 80 mg per ¬Ω teaspoon or 2.5 ml. Under the age of 6 months you should contact your physician regarding fever medication for your child. Guidelines for children over the age of 6 months are as follows: (see “Medicine Cabinet” for calculating a dose based on your child’s exact weight)

acetaminophen dosing

10-15 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) body weight every 4 to 6 hours as needed

ibuprofen dosing

10 mg per kg every 6 to 8 hours

Treating a fever does not treat the underlying infection. Nor does response to fever therapy indicate that the infection is less severe. However, it is important to treat fevers to ease your child’s discomfort, as well as to lower your child’s metabolic rate ( important when asthma and respiratory problems are a concern).

]]>