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• Acetaminophen should be given every four to six hours with no more than five doses within 24 hours.
• Ibuprofen should be given every six to eight hours with no more than four doses within 24 hours. Never give ibuprofen to children under 6 months old.
• Do not give fever reducers to infants under 3 months old without checking with your doctor.
• Never give aspirin to a child.
• More concerning than fever alone are symptoms including dehydration (marked by fewer than three wet diapers in 24 hours), fever lasting longer than five days and a baby not waking up to feed.

A separate study to be presented at the meeting showed that approximately one in 10 U.S. children uses one or more cough and cold medications during a given week.

While pediatric cough and cold medications are widely marketed in the United States, little had been known about how frequently often they are used. This new finding, made by researchers from Boston University's Slone Epidemiology Center, is important given recent revelations that cough and cold medication use can lead to serious adverse effects, including death.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about fevers in infants and children.

-- Kevin McKeever

SOURCE: Johns Hopkins Children's Center, news release, May 5, 2008