What is a fever?
- A fever is a temperature over 38.5C/101.5F.
- A fever is one of the ways the body fights infection. If your child is flushed, irritable and/or listless, s/he may have a fever.
- Your child’s temperature should be taken rectally if s/he is under five years of age, and by mouth if s/he is over five years of age.
If your baby is under three months of age, and has a fever, please visit your local Emergency Department, or call you family doctor.
What should I do if my child has a fever?
- See your family doctor, if your child’s fever lasts more than 24 hours.
- Offer your child clear fluids (juice, Kool-Aid, popsicles). Your child may not be hungry, but make sure s/he keeps drinking.
- Dress your child in light clothing.
- Check your child’s fever every four hours and give acetaminophen as directed.(See chart below).
Acetaminophen Dosage Chart
| Weight | Dose | Dose | Drops 80mg/1ml |
Oral Liquid 160mg/5m |
Tablets 80mg ea. |
Junior Tabs 160mg ea. |
| lbs | kg | |||||
| 0 – 3 months of age See Family Doctor or come to Emergency |
||||||
| 12-17 | 5.5-7.9 | 80 mg | 1ml | 2.5 ml | - | - |
| 18-23 | 8.0-10.9 | 120 mg | 1.5 ml | 4 ml | - | - |
| 24-35 | 11.0-15.9 | 160 mg | 2 ml | 5 ml | 2 | 1 |
| 36-47 | 16-21.9 | 240 mg | 3 ml | 7.5 ml | 3 | 1.5 |
| 48-59 | 22-26.9 | 320 mg | - | 10 ml | 4 | 2 |
| 60-71 | 27-31.9 | 400 mg | - | 12.5 ml | 5 | 2.5 |
| 72-95 | 32-43.9 | 480 mg | - | 15 ml | 6 | 3 |
Acetaminophen should not be given more often than every 4 hours and NOT more than 5 doses per day
If your child has a fever:
- do not sponge your child in alcohol.
- do not overdress your child. If your child starts shivering, add extra clothing but remove it after the shivering stops.
- do not overheat your child’s room.
- do not give your child aspirin, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
- do not give any medication unless told by your doctor.
You should see your family doctor, or go to your local Emergency Department, if:
- your child’s fever lasts more than 24 hours.
- Your child is more sleepy than usual.
- your child refuses to drink or is vomiting.
- your child does not have wet diaper every six hours.
- your child has a headache or sore neck.
- your child is in pain.
- you are worried about your child’s condition.
