Fever in Children and Tempra
My baby got an anti-flu shot last Friday, and now she’s running a fever (around 38.8 deg C). The general rule is, give Tempra (paracetamol) every 4 hours if the temperature is at least 37.7 deg C. But there’s something else you need to remember…
Are you giving Tempra or Tempra Forte?
The Tempra drops are usually 120 mg/5mL, with the maximum dosage of up to 600 mg per day. But this is usually given to children aged 12 to 24 months. My baby is older than 2 years.
Then there’s Tempra Forte (250 mg/5mL), and the dosage the last time was for 5ml, per dose (every four hours, if the temp is at least 37.7 C).
That’s one of the confusing things about getting medicine from drugstores. The friendly pharmacist asks for what age, you tell her the age of your child, you hurriedly glance at the contents of the plastic bag and see “Tempra”, and then you dash out of the store (after paying, of course) and go about doing your other errands.
And then you tiredly plop onto your couch at home, find out your child has fever, administer the needed paracetamol, and then…
Yes, that’s when you notice you’re giving plain Tempra instead of the forte version. Of course, you can try giving 10mL, but it really is better to consult with your child’s pediatrician. Better yet, go and get the correct type of Tempra.
According to Tempra – Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, the recommended dosage for children in the 2 to Under 4 years age group is: “160 mg every 4 to 6 hours to a maximum of 800 mg in one day.”
So if we’re using the 120 mg/5mL type of Tempra, then give 6.6mL.
If we’re using the 250 mg/5 mL Tempra Forte, then each dose should be 3.2 mL (since my baby was taking more than that, then body weight must be a factor since my baby’s weight is above average.
Fortunately, there is a guide to giving Tempra based not just on the child’s age, but also on the weight: Pain and Fever Medication: Tempra Drops.
For children weighing 16 to 21.9kg, the recommended dosage is 7.5mL (assuming the medicine is 160 mg/5 mL). That comes out to 240 mg, or 5 mL if using Tempra Forte (and 10 mL if using Tempra 120 mg / 5 mL).
Take note: Do not exceed more than 5 doses daily for a maximum of 5 days.
In the end, it is better to consult your doctor or pediatrician.
