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- $Unique_ID{BRK00120}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Recommending the Dosage of Acetaminophen for Children}
- $Subject{fever acetaminophen child medicines Infection Infections Children
- Dosage temperature fevers drug aspirin Reye's Reye syndrome syndromes Dose
- dosages medicine blood temperatures drugs aspirins Doses}
- $Volume{A-7,S-7}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- Recommending the Dosage of Acetaminophen for Children
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-
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-
- QUESTION: When my two-year old had a temperature of 102 degrees, I gave him
- the recommended dose (per the label) of one of the popular pediatric OTC
- acetaminophen preparations, which did not seem to work. Can you recommend
- something else?
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: This is an all too common complaint--I hear it in my office at
- midnight, when I meet a hapless parent there, who has been unable to get his
- child's fever down and feels utterly helpless. Acetaminophen is the drug of
- choice in reducing fever in children, especially since we now know about the
- ability of aspirin to cause Reye's syndrome for those under eighteen years of
- age. And it does work, but you must give the proper dosage. Did you give it
- every four hours, as indicated? Did you clearly read the label and give the
- dose recommended for your child's age, or did you under dose, as is the case
- with so many parents? If you followed the instructions exactly, call your
- family doctor and speak with him or his nurse. Dose is dependent on weight,
- not on age. If your child is heavier than the normal two-year-old, his dosage
- should be increased. Acetaminophen reduces fever, if we use it correctly.
- Find out the proper dosage from your physician or his nurse.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-