How to use paracetamol to reduce fever safely for children
The dosage of fever-reducing medicine for children is calculated according to weight, for example, a 10 kg child should take 150 mg of paracetamol at a time.
Doctor Nguyen Thi Thanh, Department of Internal Medicine 1, Children's Hospital 2, said that drugs containing paracetamol have the effect of reducing fever and relieving pain. Paracetamol for children is usually prepared in the form of powder packets and suppositories, with the content of 80 mg, 150 mg and 250 mg. Suppositories are used when children have a high fever and cannot drink, or are vomiting.
Children 1-5 months old weighing 4-6 kg use a dose of 80 mg. Children 6-12 months old weighing 7-12 kg use 150 mg. Children 2-9 years old weighing 12-24 kg use a dose of 300 mg. Children weighing 10 kg take one packet of 150 mg paracetamol powder.
"Absolutely do not overdose on paracetamol as it can deplete the liver's glutathione, leading to liver cell destruction," Dr. Thanh advised. Adults should also not give fever-reducing medicine to children under 3 months of age without a doctor's prescription.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung, former head of the Department of Pediatrics, Bach Mai Hospital, said that the usual daily dose of paracetamol is 10-15 mg/kg for one dose and a maximum of 60 mg/kg in one day. Each day, take no more than 4-6 times, with a 4-6 hour interval between doses.
When a child has a fever of about 38.5 degrees Celsius (measured by armpit thermometer), medication should be used to reduce the fever. Children with liver disease, jaundice due to biliary obstruction... should not use medication at home and must follow the doctor's prescription. When taking medication, if there are signs of fatigue, digestive disorders such as diarrhea, vomiting, pale skin, lethargy, the medication should be stopped immediately and a doctor should be consulted for timely treatment.
The medicine must be within its expiry date. Follow your doctor's instructions about the safe time between two doses to avoid overdose.
In the family medicine cabinet, parents need to stock up on two different types of fever-reducing medicine: powder packets and suppositories (if there are small children in the house). Powder packets are usually sweet, have a fruity aroma, suitable for children's preferences, and are effective in reducing fever quickly, only about 15-30 minutes after taking.
According to Dr. Phan Hong Sang, Deputy Head of the Department of Intensive Care and Anti-Poisoning, Obstetrics and Pediatrics Center, Phu Tho General Hospital,Fever is not a disease but a symptom of many causes., mostly due to infection. Children often have fevers, but not all of them are serious and dangerous illnesses. Sometimes, fever is a good sign because medically, fever shows that the body is fighting infection by activating the immune system. Therefore, parents should not worry too much, just need to clearly identify the cause of the fever to take care of the child properly and effectively.
"If a child overdoses on fever-reducing drugs, they are at risk of liver and kidney damage, respiratory failure, circulatory failure, and even death if not treated promptly," said Dr. Sang. A typical case is a 2-year-old boy in Phu Tho who is in critical condition after taking 500 mg of paracetamol fever-reducing drugs at a dose of 4 tablets a day for 4 consecutive days.
Doctors advise that children with fever lasting more than 3 days, fever-reducing drugs are ineffective or are allergic to the drug, or have a fever of 40-41 degrees, should be taken to the hospital for examination. In particular, children with hepatitis, jaundice due to biliary obstruction... are prohibited from using medicine at home.
Parents should keep medicines out of sight and reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet. Nursing mothers should consult their doctor before taking any medicine, as some medicines can pass into breast milk and cause poisoning in breastfed babies.