Cheat Sheet: Medicine And Your Child
Child Temperatures
Normal = 98.6°F (37°C)
Fever = 100°F (38°C) or higher
Call the doctor when your child is...
...Younger than 6 months old with a temperature of 100°F (38°C) or higher
...Older than 6 months old with a temperature of 102°F (39°C)
Call the doctor also when your child…
...Is extremely cranky or fussy
...Is extremely sleepy or unresponsive
...Keeps wheezing or coughing
...Keeps vomiting or having diarrhea
...Has a fever that lasts for more than 48 hours
Thermometers
Common medicines
CC = mL (milliliter)
PAY ATTENTION TO THE DOSAGE LIMIT ON PACKAGING. Giving your child more than the limit can cause serious injury. Do not give cough medicine to children under four unless you are told to by your doctor.
Tylenol is acetaminophen. Acetaminophen reduces fever and pain, but overdose can cause severe liver and kidney damage. CAUTION: Many medications add Tylenol to their product, so be sure to count this into the daily dosage limit for your child. Read the list of ingredients to check if it includes "acetaminophen".
Motrin and Aleve are both ibuprofen. Ibuprofen reduces pain. Side effects and overdose can cause severe liver and kidney damage.
Aspirin and Bayers are both acetylsalicylic acid. Acetylsalicylic acid reduces fever and pain. Overdose causes Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious disease that causes liver and brain injury.
Antibiotics are given to treat infections. They must be taken on time and finished as prescribed to prevent the infecting bacteria from mutating and getting stronger. Call your doctor if your child develops diarrhea or a white fuzz (such as on the tongue) that cannot be scratched off.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010; U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2012)
Normal = 98.6°F (37°C)
Fever = 100°F (38°C) or higher
Call the doctor when your child is...
...Younger than 6 months old with a temperature of 100°F (38°C) or higher
...Older than 6 months old with a temperature of 102°F (39°C)
Call the doctor also when your child…
...Is extremely cranky or fussy
...Is extremely sleepy or unresponsive
...Keeps wheezing or coughing
...Keeps vomiting or having diarrhea
...Has a fever that lasts for more than 48 hours
Thermometers
- Mercury versus digital: digital thermometers are less accurate but A LOT safer. Mercury thermometers contain mercury, a toxic poison. If broken, mercury can leak.
- When from the armpit: IF your thermometer does not have an adjustable setting between oral (mouth) and armpit, you must ADD ONE DEGREE FAHRENHEIT to the number you read on your screen. Armpits are cooler than mouths.
- When taking an oral temperature, make sure to keep the thermometer snug under the tongue. Make sure your child is not biting down on it.
- Rectum (buttocks) temperatures are dangerous and uncomfortable. This method can injure the inside of the buttocks, and used thermometers can spread germs.
Common medicines
CC = mL (milliliter)
PAY ATTENTION TO THE DOSAGE LIMIT ON PACKAGING. Giving your child more than the limit can cause serious injury. Do not give cough medicine to children under four unless you are told to by your doctor.
Tylenol is acetaminophen. Acetaminophen reduces fever and pain, but overdose can cause severe liver and kidney damage. CAUTION: Many medications add Tylenol to their product, so be sure to count this into the daily dosage limit for your child. Read the list of ingredients to check if it includes "acetaminophen".
Motrin and Aleve are both ibuprofen. Ibuprofen reduces pain. Side effects and overdose can cause severe liver and kidney damage.
Aspirin and Bayers are both acetylsalicylic acid. Acetylsalicylic acid reduces fever and pain. Overdose causes Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious disease that causes liver and brain injury.
Antibiotics are given to treat infections. They must be taken on time and finished as prescribed to prevent the infecting bacteria from mutating and getting stronger. Call your doctor if your child develops diarrhea or a white fuzz (such as on the tongue) that cannot be scratched off.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010; U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2012)