For fever, minor doscomfort and minor pain it is okay to use either ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Ibuprofen may be slightly better, especially if there is inflamation or muscle, bone, or joint aches, but dosage of ibuprofen is different from acetominophen dosage.
IBUPROFIN (Motrin, Advil, or store brands) comes in liquid 100 mgm per tsp. and 200 mgm tablets to swollow. Follow directions on the bottle for older children. For younger children this is the maximum dose, often half this dose will be effective if the temperature is under 102 degrees (38 C) under the arm:
wt...........10 pounds.............20 pounds............30 pounds...............40 pounds
ACETAMINOPHEN (Tylenol, Liquiprin, Panadol, store brands, etc) comes in dropper liquid for infants, teaspoon liquid, chewable tablets, and swollow pills. Follow directions on the bottle for toddlers and children. For infants the dropper bottle dose is:
wt..................10 pounds.....................20 pounds........................30 pounds
If the fever is over 104 degrees (39.5 C) you can give a tepid bath. Febrile children should be dressed cooly.
If your baby under 3 months of age has a fever, or if the temperature is over 105 degrees at any age, or if there are symptoms you don't expect, please call.
Ted Humphry, M.D.
this information last updated 09/02
give.........1/2 tsp.................1 tsp.................... 1&1/2 tsp................... 2 tsp
Ibuprofin can be repeated every six hours.
give...................1/2 dropper...................1 dropper...................1 1/2 dropper
(dose)..................(40 mgm).....................(80 mgm)...................(120 mgm)
Acetominophen can be repeated every four hours.
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