Premier Pediatrics Fever Action Plan
If your child is younger than 2 months with a rectal temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), go to an emergency department
immediately.
If your child is between 2 and 3 months old and their temperature (taken any way) is greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, call your baby’s primary care provider
immediately.
If your child is older than 3 months, call the primary care provider right away
if:
- Your child is crying inconsolably.
- Your child is difficult to awaken.
- Your child has been in a very hot place, such as inside a hot car.
- Your child has other symptoms such as a severe headache, stiff neck, or other severe pain.
- Fever is accompanied by a rash.
- Your child is taking steroids or has an immune system problem, such as cancer.
- Your child looks or acts very sick.
- Your child has severe vomiting or diarrhea.
- Your child is not up to date on their vaccines.
- Your child has a seizure (convulsion).
How to Dose Fever-Reducing Medications
If your child is less than 6 months of age:
- Give a dose of Acetaminophen(Tylenol) based on your child’s weight and according to the Acetaminophen Dosing Chart.
Acetaminophen can be given every 4 hours as needed.
- DO NOT GIVE IBUPROFEN TO CHILDREN UNDER 6 MONTHS OLD
- After 45 minutes of giving Tylenol, if your child’s fever is not coming down, call your pediatrician.
- DO NOT give your
child Aspirin, as it has been linked to a serious, potentially fatal disease, called Reye
syndrome.
If your child is over 6 months of age:
- Give a dose of Ibuprofen(Motrin or Advil) according to the Ibuprofen Dosing Chart.
- Check your child’s temperature in 45 minutes. If it is not coming down, you can give a dose of Acetaminophen(Tylenol) based on the Acetaminophen Dosing
Chart.
- Check your child’s temperature again in 45 minutes. If your child’s fever is not coming down at that point, call your pediatrician.
- Ibuprofen(Motrin or Advil) can be given every 6 hours as needed.
- Acetaminophen(Tylenol) can be given every 4 hours as needed.
- Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen are different compounds so it does not matter how closely those medications are given to one another. Just make sure that the Ibuprofen
doses are 6 hours apart and the Tylenol doses are 4 hours apart.
- DO NOT give your child
Aspirin, as it has been linked to a serious, potentially fatal disease, called Reye syndrome.
WHEN TO TREAT A FEVER IN A HEALTHY CHILD OVER 6 MONTHS OF AGE:
100-102F - Low Grade
Fever; does not always need to be treated unless child uncomfortable
102-104F - Moderate
Fever; treat fever and monitor
104-105F - High
Fever; always treat and some patients need to be seen
Over 105F - should be
examined by a medical professional