Does my child have a fever?
A temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher is a fever
Children often feel warm to the touch when they have a fever. To confirm that your child has a fever, use a thermometer to measure your child's body temperature. A temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher means that your child has a fever.
Fever itself is not a disease or illness. Fever is a signal that something is going on in the body. How your child looks and acts are more important than how high their fever is.
What medications treat fever?
When should I treat a fever with medication?
You should use medication to keep your child comfortable. You should not base your judgment on how high the fever is but rather on how your child is feeling. If your child has a fever but is still playing, drinking well and is happy, it may not be necessary to use medication to treat their fever.
Medications used to treat a fever
Download a two-page PDF about acetaminophen and ibuprofen dose recommendations for children with fever or pain.
Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are two medications that are commonly used to treat fever in children. It is best to use only one of these medications to treat a fever. You can choose which one you prefer to use, but both work equally well.
The correct dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen for a child is based on their body weight. An estimated dose is usually provided on the medication package. Note that acetaminophen and ibuprofen have different doses and different lengths of time between doses. Also it may take up to an hour for the medication to start helping.
Depending on the medication, options may include drops, liquids, chewable tablets and powder packs. All product forms (e.g., different strengths of liquid, different strengths of tablets) may be safely used in different age groups.
If you are using tablets, your child’s dose may not be exactly equal to a whole tablet. In this case, a tablet can be cut in half to make up a dose that is safe for your child according to their weight.
Acetaminophen (e.g., Tempra, Tylenol, Pediatrix or generic brands)
Acetaminophen may be used by mouth to reduce fever or pain in children. Give each dose every 4 to 6 hours as needed, up to a maximum of 5 doses per day.
| Acetaminophen dose for child's weight Dose range: 10-15 mg/kg/dose |
Infant drops | Children's liquid | Children's chewable tablet (may dissolve in water if child can't chew) | Children's easy dissolve powder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mg in 1 mL | 160 mg in 5 mL | 160 mg tablets | 160 mg per packet | |
| 3.0-3.9 kg (6-8.5 lbs) |
40 mg (0.5 mL) |
NR* | NR* | NR* |
| 4.0-5.4 kg (8.5-11 lbs) |
60 mg (0.75 mL) |
NR* | NR* | NR* |
| 5.5-7.9 kg (12-17 lbs) |
80 mg (1 mL) |
80 mg (2.5 mL) |
NR* | NR* |
| 8.0-10.9 kg (17.5-24 lbs) |
120 mg (1.5 mL) |
120 mg (3.8 mL) |
NR* | NR* |
| 11.0-15.9 kg (24-35 lbs) |
160 mg (2 mL) |
160 mg (5 mL) |
160 mg (1 tablet) |
1 packet |
| 16.0-21.9 kg (36-47 lbs) |
NR* | 240 mg (7.5 mL) |
240 mg (1½ tablets) |
NR* |
| 22.0-31.9 kg (48-70 lbs) |
NR* | 320 mg (10 mL) |
320 mg (2 tablets) |
2 packets |
| 32.0-44.0 kg (71-95 lbs) |
NR* | 480 mg (15 mL) |
480 mg (3 tablets) |
3 packets |
| For children over 44 kg (95 lbs), refer to adult dosing | ||||
*NR = Not recommended to avoid dosing errors
Ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin or generic brands)
Ibuprofen may be used by mouth to reduce fever or pain in children. Give each dose every 6 to 8 hours as needed, up to a maximum of 4 doses per day.
| Ibuprofen dose for child's weight and age Dose range: 5-10 mg/kg/dose DO NOT GIVE to children UNDER 6 months of age unless recommended by your health-care provider |
Infant drops | Children's liquid | Children's chewable tablet (may dissolve in water if can't chew) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 mg in 5 mL | 100 mg in 5 mL | 100 mg tablets | |
| 5.5-7.9 kg (12-17 lbs) 6 months or older |
50 mg (1.25 mL) |
50 mg (2.5 mL) |
NR* |
| 8.0-10.9 kg (17.5-24 lbs) |
75 mg (1.8 mL) |
75 mg (3.75 mL) |
NR* |
| 11.0-15.9 kg (24-35 lbs) |
NR* | 100 mg (5 mL) |
100 mg (1 tablet) |
| 16.0-21.9 kg (36-47 lbs) |
NR* | 150 mg (7.5 mL) |
150 mg (1½ tablets) |
| 22.0-26.9 kg (48-59 lbs) |
NR* | 200 mg (10 mL) |
200 mg (2 tablets) |
| 27.0-31.9 kg (60-70 lbs) |
NR* | 250 mg (12.5 mL) |
250 mg (2½ tablets) |
| 32.0-44.0 kg (71-95 lbs) |
NR* | 300 mg (15 mL) |
300 mg (3 tablets) |
| For children over 44 kg (95 lbs), refer to adult dosing | |||
*NR = Not recommended to avoid dosing errors
For information on how to safely use acetaminophen or ibuprofen tablets by mouth for children please see this information sheet.
Using a tablet splitter or crusher
A tablet splitter or crusher may be purchased from your local pharmacy. Crushing or splitting the tablets does not change how well the medication works.
If the tablets are being taken by mouth:
- If needed, cut the tablet to make up a dose for your child.
- The dose may then be crushed with a pill crusher.
- The resulting powder can be mixed with 1 or 2 teaspoons of water, milk or other soft food (such as applesauce or yogurt) to give to your child.
How do you give acetaminophen and ibuprofen together?
If using only one of these medications is not helping to make your child feel more comfortable or bring down their fever, you can try giving the two medications together. This may help make your child feel more comfortable because acetaminophen and ibuprofen help to treat fever in different ways. These medications are safe to take at the same time, or within a short amount of time of one another.
Doses of acetaminophen should be given 4 to 6 hours apart. Doses of ibuprofen should be given 6 to 8 hours apart. There are limits on how much of each medication can be given in a 24-hour period. Please look at your medication bottle for daily dosage limits or ask your pharmacist.
When you are giving acetaminophen and ibuprofen to your child it is important to keep track of which medication you have given, how much you have given and when you gave it.
Here is an example of how to give acetaminophen and ibuprofen together
|
Here is a chart to explain the above example:
| Time | Temperature (example) | Give ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin) | Give acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol, Tempra) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 p.m. | 39.0°C (102.2°F) | X | |
| 1:00 p.m. | 38.5°C (101.3°F) | X | |
| 2:00 p.m. | 38.0°C (100.4°F) | Cannot give any medication at this time | |
| 3:00 p.m. | 38.4°C (101.1°F) | Cannot give any medication at this time | |
| 4:00 p.m. | 38.5°C (101.3°F) | Cannot give any medication at this time | |
| 5:00 p.m. | 38.2°C (100.8°F) | X | |
| 6:00 p.m. | 38.5°C (101.3°F) | X | |
Important reminders when giving medication for fever
Always check your child’s temperature before giving medication for fever. If your child does not have a fever, they do not need the medication. Remember that if a child has a fever but is still playing, drinking well and is happy, they may not need medication to treat the fever at that time.
It is important to keep track of when you have given medication to your child, especially if you are giving doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen together.
Many children’s cough and cold medications contain acetaminophen or ibuprofen. However, these types of medications are not recommended for children. It is better to use available acetaminophen or ibuprofen preparations that are not mixed in with cold or cough medications.
Whether or not you are treating your child’s fever, if you are concerned that your child is not well please seek medical care.
Overdose information
Keep medications out of your child's sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much medication, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free.
- Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
- Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.
Disclaimer: The information in this sheet is accurate at the time of printing. It provides a summary of information and does not contain all possible information about the medications named on the sheet. If you have any questions or want more information, speak to your health-care provider.