How is fever treated in children?

According to experts, you shouldn't decide whether to give a child fever-reducing medication based on their body temperature alone. Fever is usually a normal response of the body, not an illness. But you can give the child medication if they are in pain or feeling very unwell.

Medications that are appropriate for children include paracetamol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen. These are available in the form of suppositories or syrup and – for older children – tablets and soluble granules for fizzy or hot drinks. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are the most commonly used medications for children with a fever.

The amount of paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen a child is allowed to take depends on their age and body weight. If the child is less than six months old, it's important to ask a doctor at first. When giving these medications, you need to wait at least 6 to 8 hours between doses. More detailed information can be found in the package insert. If you still have any questions, you can also ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If the child is given the correct dose in the right way, paracetamol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen rarely have side effects when used for a short while over a few days. When used at higher doses or over a longer period of time, both of these drugs can damage the kidneys, and paracetamol (acetaminophen) can also damage the liver. That's why it's so important to use the right dose and also make sure you wait long enough before giving the next dose. It is also important that the child drinks enough fluids.

Antibiotics are usually not needed for fever. But it's important to use them if the fever is caused by a serious bacterial infection.

If the fever still hasn't gone down after three days, it's generally a good idea to seek medical advice.

It is often enough to use just one of the two medications. Research suggests that combining paracetamol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen can lower fever a little better than just using one of these medications on its own. Four hours after taking both medications, somewhat fewer children had a fever again or still had a fever. But it's not clear whether the children generally feel better and have less pain as well.

There is also a lack of research on the possible side effects of combining the two medications. And it is thought that the risk of overdosing is higher if you use both of them.

Another option is to alternate between the two medications (give the child one type first, and then give them the other type a certain amount of time later, and so on). But it's not clear whether doing this has any advantages for the child. If you want to alternate between the medications, you should discuss this with the doctor beforehand.

Some home remedies cool the child's body from the outside. These include wrapping their lower legs in lukewarm wet towels or giving them a lukewarm bath. It is not clear whether this actually helps to reduce the fever, though. You should only use these home remedies if the child has warm feet and hands.

Cold drinks, light clothing and light bedding can have a cooling effect too. You can also fan the child, dab them with a wet sponge or cloth, or open the window. It is important to always make sure the child is comfortable, and that he or she isn't getting too cold. If they're feeling cold, you can give them warmer clothes or cover them with a warm blanket.