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Pain and Fever in Kids

Pain and Fever in Kids

Every parent’s worst nightmare is their child suffering in pain and even more so when they have a temperature, too. Children, like adults, can experience pain with no fever, and vice versa. However, in children, parents need to take care in treating them.

Common causes of pain in children

There are a range of reasons why children and babies (also known as paediatrics) can be in pain. The most common are headaches, abdominal pain or stomach ache and musculoskeletal pain. Musculoskeletal pain includes joint pain and so-called growing pains for which there seems to be no specific cause.1
Also, babies and children experience pain from the following:2

  • bumps and scrapes (lacerations) from accidents that can range from minor to more serious trauma, for example, burns, broken bones and cuts
  • illnesses such as sore throat (tonsilitis, pharyngitis), tooth- and earaches (otitis media) and other illnesses
  • medical procedures like vaccinations that include needle pricks or other operations

 

How do you know that your baby is in pain?

Infants cry to express a whole range of needs, so when your baby cries, it isn’t always a sign of pain. Indications of paediatric pain includes:

  • changes in crying patterns, often together with
  • changes in behaviour, e.g., when a bottle or nappy (diaper) change or a cuddle doesn’t soothe the baby
    • if the baby is usually quiet but begins to niggle and fuss
    • if the baby becomes unusually still and quiet, avoiding eye contact with you
  • crying while breastfeeding can indicate earache or infection
  • long stretches of intense crying, at the same time each day can indicate colic
  • If a baby often draws his/her legs up to the abdomen, this could be colic or a more serious medical condition3

Pain in toddlers and small children

Usually, by the time babies become toddlers and small children, they are already beginning to use words to express pain. For example. “Ouch!” “Ow!” “Sore!” or “Eina!”. Often, they will hold, rub or point to the part of the body that is sore: if they have an earache, they often rub the sore ear.4

Often, children experiencing pain also have a temperature.

 

What causes fevers in children?

We have already noted that when a child is sick, s/he can have a temperature. When a child is generally healthy, a mild temperature is not usually a cause for concern – it’s the body’s own way of fighting mild infections.5

Fevers in infants and babies under three months

New mums often worry that their babies and children get cold. Instinctively they know that their new-born babies can’t regulate their body temperatures the way older children and adults can and often dress them too warmly. This means that when a baby is over-dressed and bundled up in too many blankets, s/he can develop a fever.

However, the first sign of a serious infection in infants is temperature. So, if your baby has a fever, get him or her checked out by a health professional.

Fevers in older babies and small children

Other than an infection, babies and small children may also develop a low-grade fever after they have been vaccinated. Often, teething can cause a mild fever.6

However, if your baby is teething and his/her temperature is higher than 37.8°C (100°F), take the baby to the clinic, hospital or doctor’s surgery.

Treating your child or baby for mild to moderate pain and fever

The most common over the counter medicine recommended for treating mild to moderate paediatric pain and fever, is ibuprofen and paracetamol. Cipla’s Cipladon 500 comes in a soluble fizzy, sweetened flavour which is perfect for dosing children who are eight years old and above. However, children of six and older can also take Cipladon 500 if s/he meets the weight requirements outlined below.

Remember, dosing your child is very different from dosing yourself.

  1. If your baby has a fever, get him or her checked out by a health professional.
  2. If your baby is younger than 2 months old, and/or weighs less than between 4 and 7kg –
  3. do not give him or her paracetamol unless it is prescribed by a pharmacist or health professional.7

 

Paracetamol for treating your child

Before you give your child medicine, make sure that you will be giving them the correct dose. Here is a useful guide to how much paracetamol to give your child, and how often.8

Age

How often?

Influenza (Flu)

1 to 3 months 2.5ml (60mg) Max 2 times in 24 hours
3 to 6 months 2.5ml (60mg) Max 4 times in 24 hours
6 to 24 months 5ml (120mg) Max 4 times in 24 hours
2 to 4 years 7.5ml (180mg) Max 4 times in 24 hours
4 to 6 years 10ml (240mg) Max 4 times in 24 hours
6 to 8 years 5ml (250mg) Max 4 times in 24 hours

Also bear in mind that weight influences the dosage of paracetamol. For children from one month old to 18 years, the dosage is as follows:9

  • 15 mg per 1kg per dose to a maximum of 1000 mg every four hours
  • A maximum of 75 mg per 1kg per day (without exceeding 4000 mg) for 48 hours
  • After 48 hours a maximum of 60 mg/kg per day without exceeding 4000 mg

Cipladon 500

Cipladon 500 means no more tablet spitting and offers sugar free pain relief for children who are 8 and older, as well as children who meet the weight requirements.

The advantages of Cipladon 500

  • Cipladon 500 is not a pill: it’s an effervescent tablet that dissolves in water. This makes for easy peasy dosing, leaving less room for mistakes.
  • Cipladon 500 is not a sugary syrup that has a nasty medicine-like after taste because it is sweetened with aspartame (low-calorie sweetener) which tastes like sugar.
  • Cipladon 500’s makes a fizzy drink that ensures your child takes the exact dose s/he needs, leaving minimal room for dosage errors.

Disclaimer: The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

Sources:


  1. Lehman PJ, Carl RL. Growing Pains. Sports Health. 2017;9(2):132-138. doi:10.1177/1941738117692533 [online] Available from <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5349398/> 24/04/2022
  2. Sheila Jacobson, MBBCH FRCPC, Common medical pains, Paediatrics & Child Health, Volume 12, Issue 2, February 2007, Pages 105–109. [online] <https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/12.2.105> 24/04/2022
  3. Symptoms of Pain in Children Medically Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on July 22, 2021. [online] Available from <https://www.webmd.com/children/recognizing-symptoms-children-pain> 26/04/2022
  4. Symptoms of Pain in Children Medically Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on July 22, 2021. [online] Available from <https://www.webmd.com/children/recognizing-symptoms-children-pain> 26/04/2022
  5. Pain in Children. Journal of Practical Pain Management [online] Available from <https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/pain/pain-children> 24/04/2022
  6. Fevers. Nemours Kids Health [online] Available <https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/fever.html> 24/04/2022
  7. Paracetamol for children National Health Services [Online] Available from <https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-children/> 26/04/2022
  8. Paracetamol for children. Health Services Executive. Ireland [Online] Available from <https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/paracetamol-for-children/> 26/04/2022
  9. How much paracetamol should I give my child? Health Navigator New Zealand [online] Available from <https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/tools/p/paracetamol-dose-calculator/> 26/04/2022

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