Question

The four-year-old child has a persistent high fever, and the blood test shows it’s bacterial, while the urine test indicates a urinary system infection. The child is currently taking a mixture of ibuprofen suspension. I’ve heard that Paracetamol has fewer side effects and would like to give it to the child. The instructions say ‘half a tablet for children aged 6-12 years’, but there’s no mention for children under 6. Moreover, the instructions state ‘children should take 10-15mg/kg per dose’. My child is four years old and weighs 17kg; should they take 170-255mg?

Answer

The child’s fever is accompanied by a detailed urine test showing bacterial infection. The use of ibuprofen suspension for fever relief is recommended due to its fewer side effects. I suggest using pediatric fever suppositories for better and safer results, along with anti-inflammatory medication such as cephalosporins, which are more effective for this type of illness. Intravenous fluid therapy may also be beneficial. This is my recommendation for the question ‘Should a four-year-old child take half a tablet of Pain Reliever for Fever?’ I hope this helps and wish you good health!