Fever-reducing drugs are an important help for mothers when their children have a fever or are very hot. Although using fever-reducing drugs can help mothers a lot and are easily available, did you know that fever-reducing drugs for children can cause side effects?
Infants, young children, and older children are at an age where their bodies are not yet fully developed and therefore may be at a higher risk of side effects from medication than adults and adolescents. Therefore, the use of fever-reducing or fever-reducing drugs in children should be done with knowledge and caution to reduce the risk of side effects from drugs. This article has methods for selecting and using fever-reducing drugs safely for mothers to read.
How to Choose and Use Fever-Reducing Medicines for Children Safely
To select and use fever-reducing medicine for children effectively and safely, you should know the following:
1. Do not use fever-reducing drugs on your own in infants under 3 months of age.
Mothers who have young children from birth to 3 months should not give fever-reducing medicine to their babies by themselves because young children are at higher risk of side effects from medicines than older children. Also, treatment for newborns to 3 months involves more details. Therefore, if the baby has a fever or is not feeling well, ยูฟ่าเบท http://ufabet999.app the mother should take the baby to see a doctor for proper examination and treatment.
2. Do not use fever-reducing drugs unnecessarily.
For children aged 3 months to 3 years with a low-grade fever, especially children aged 3–6 months, mothers should avoid using fever-reducing drugs unnecessarily. They may try methods to reduce the fever without using drugs, such as wiping the body, drinking the right amount of water, and getting enough rest. However, if the child’s fever does not go down, is more cranky than usual, is weak, lethargic, uncomfortable, or has other unusual symptoms, they should see a doctor.
3. Use antipyretic medication as prescribed by your doctor.
When taking a baby who is older than 3 months to see a doctor, the doctor may prescribe a fever-reducing medication for children, such as Acetaminophen or Paracetamol . Mothers should use the medication as prescribed by the doctor, both in terms of quantity and frequency of use. They should not decrease or increase the amount and dose on their own. If symptoms do not improve after use, they should see a doctor again.
4. Choose fever-reducing medicine according to the child’s age.
Fever-reducing medications for children can be divided into two main types. The first type is a group of fever-reducing drugs, such as paracetamol, which are safer. The second type is a group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin. Doctors may prescribe drugs in this group for children 6 months and older.
These two groups of drugs have different effects, methods of use, and side effects. Therefore, mothers should always consult their doctors and pharmacists before using them.
5. Use medicine according to your weight.
As children get older, the limits on medication may become more flexible and the risk of side effects may be reduced. However, for children under 2 years of age, mothers should always consult a doctor before using any medication. For children 2 years of age and older, mothers may be able to buy their own medication for their child, but they should still consult a pharmacist before using it to be on the safe side.
In Thailand, the most common fever-reducing medicine for children is paracetamol in liquid or syrup form. The dosage depends on the child’s weight. Parents should calculate the dosage to be approximately 10-15 milligrams per child’s weight (kg).
Examples of paracetamol syrup usage are as follows:
- Paracetamol 120 and 125 mg per teaspoon is suitable for children weighing 12–15 kg.
- Paracetamol 160 mg per teaspoon is suitable for children weighing 16–24 kg.
- Paracetamol 250 mg per teaspoon is suitable for children weighing 25–40 kg.
The dosage can be adjusted according to the child’s weight. Doctors and pharmacists may recommend giving the child medicine every 4-6 hours as appropriate. Do not give the child medicine more than 5 times a day. Mothers should read the label of the medicine before using it every time.
Because each brand of fever-reducing medicine for children may have different amounts of drugs or drug concentrations, resulting in different amounts of drugs used. In addition, mothers should regularly check their child’s weight to ensure the most effective use of the drug and reduce the risk of side effects.
6. Use medication administration equipment appropriately.
Most children’s fever-reducing medicines are liquid medicines. Therefore, the equipment for administering medicines can be divided into 2 types as follows:
- Medicine spoon: Mothers should use the spoon that comes with the liquid medicine because it will help the child receive the correct amount of medicine. They should also avoid using other spoons such as food spoons to feed medicine because the child may receive more or less medicine than normal, which may make the treatment ineffective or increase the risk of side effects.
- Syringe: Thai people call it a syringe. It is a syringe without a needle. Mothers who use a syringe to give medicine to their children should look carefully at the size of the cylinder and always look at the number indicating the amount on the tube because syringes have both ounces (Ounce: oz) and milliliters (Milliliter: ml) units, which can confuse mothers.
In addition, after feeding your baby medicine, mothers should always clean the feeding equipment and let it dry.
7. Using drugs in the fever-reducing group may be safer.
Antipyretics, such as acetaminophen or paracetamol, may have a lower risk of dangerous side effects than NSAIDs. Another reason why antipyretics are safer is because NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin , affect blood clotting. If there is a wound or injury, it can increase bleeding. It may also cause Reye’s syndrome.
In addition, Thailand has an outbreak of dengue fever every year. Therefore, if NSAIDs are given to children with fever without knowing that it is a symptom of dengue fever, it may cause dangerous side effects and complications.
Therefore, if the exact cause of your child’s illness is unknown or the illness occurs during a dengue outbreak, avoid using NSAIDs and take your child to see a doctor for proper examination.
8. Use suppositories to reduce fever as another option.
Fever can be caused by many things and may occur with other symptoms. Therefore, if your child is vomiting, unable to take medicine, or has difficulty taking medicine, you may choose to use a rectal suppository instead of a liquid medicine. Doctors and pharmacists may recommend that you use a suppository in children 6 months of age and older. The appropriate dosage depends on the child’s weight, just like the liquid medicine.
In Thailand, paracetamol suppositories come in two sizes, with examples of their use as follows:
- Paracetamol suppositories 125 mg are suitable for children weighing 12–15 kg.
- Paracetamol suppositories 250 mg are suitable for children weighing 25–40 kg.
Mothers should always read the drug concentration and other details before use.
9. See a doctor.
Although fever-reducing medications are a good help, if these symptoms occur, mothers should take their children to see a doctor.
- Symptoms do not improve after taking antipyretic drugs, fever returns, or fever persists for more than 3 days.
- An infant under 3 months of age has a fever higher than or equivalent to 38°C when measured orally or rectally.
- Children aged 3–12 months have a fever higher than or equivalent to 39°C when measured orally or rectally.
- Other symptoms include loss of appetite, crying without tears, the baby not urinating for 8 hours, or vomiting.
In addition, there may be other symptoms that may occur. If the mother finds any abnormal symptoms that may be a serious sign, such as continuous diarrhea, rash, skin swelling, shortness of breath, or seizures, she should take her child to see a doctor.