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Sick Child

For those unexpected injuries or illnesses you’re sure to face, we’re here to help. We offer same-day office visits every day, including weekends at our Baker Center location.

Dr. Mendoza with young patient sitting on exam table

Care when you need it

Same-day and weekend appointments
After hours medical care and advice for urgent needs
Access to MyChart for non-urgent needs
Symptom Checker to help decide what care is needed and how to get relief
For medication dosages based on weight, refer to the handy charts below

Medication dosages

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.)
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Antihistamine)
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

The following tables are intended to give general dosing guidelines for certain medications. If there are questions between the information here and the information on the label, always go by the information on the label.

Fever: A temperature greater than 100.4°F is considered a fever. For infants younger than 2 months old, please do not treat fever at home; instead bring your child in to be seen by a physician. Please use a digital probe thermometer in the first few months of life. These can be used either in the armpit or in the rectum. Please do not use ear, forehead or pacifier thermometers for young infants as they can be unreliable.

Cough and cold medicines: Not recommended for children under the age of 4 years old, as they are not effective and can lead to harmful side effects. Your physician may make exceptions in certain situations but please clear it with them first.

Additional information is available from the Centers for Disease Control.

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.)
Child's weight (pounds)	Infant Drops 50 mg/1.25 mL	Liquid 100 mg/5 mL	Chewable 50 mg tablets	Junior strength 100 mg tablets	Adult 200 mg tablets
12-17	1.25 mL	2.5 mL	--	--	--
18-23	1.875 mL	4 mL	--	--	--
24-35	2.5 mL	5 mL	2	--	--
36-47	3.75 mL	7.5 mL	3	--	--
48-59	5 mL	10 mL	4	2	1
60-71	--	12.5 mL	5	2.5	1
72-95	--	15 mL	6	3	1.5
96+	--	20 mL	8	4	2

Ibuprofen notes

Age limit: Don’t use under 6 months of age unless directed by your child’s pediatrician, because safety has not established and doesn’t have FDA approval. Avoid multi-ingredient products in children under 6 years of age.

Dosage: Determine by finding child’s weight in the first column of the dosage table.

Measuring the dosage (should be in metric units): Dosing syringes are more accurate than household utensils. Use the syringe or device that comes with the medication. If not available with the medication, medicine syringes are available at pharmacies. Household spoons are not reliable. Note: 1 level teaspoon equals 5 mL and that ½ teaspoon equals 2.5 mL.

Ibuprofen drops: Ibuprofen infant drops come with a measuring syringe

Adult dosage: 400 mg

Frequency: Repeat every 6-8 hours as needed.

Provided by: healthychildren.org

Precautions

Please wait at least six hours between doses.
Please do not take more than four doses in a 24-hour period.
An overdose can be dangerous to the stomach and kidneys; make sure the dosage is correct.
Keep all medications out of the reach of children.

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Antihistamine)
Child's weight (pounds)	Liquid 12.5 mg/5 mL	Chewable 12.5 mg	Tablets 25 mg	Capsules 25 mg
20-24	4 mL	--	--	--
25-37	5 mL	1	1/2	--
38-49	7.5 mL	1.5	1/2	--
50-99	10 mL	2	1	1
100+	--	4	2	2

Diphenhydramine notes

Age limit: Avoid diphenhydramine under 6 years of age unless instructed by healthcare provider. Non-sedating alternatives (eg, loratadine, cetirizine, fexofenadine) are available over-the-counter and are safer for young children.

Dosage: Determine by finding child’s weight in the first column of the dosage table

Measuring the dosage: Syringes and droppers are more accurate than teaspoons. If possible, use the syringe or dropper that comes with the medication. If you use a teaspoon, it should be a measuring spoon. Regular spoons are not reliable. Also, remember that 1 level teaspoon equals 5 mL and that ½ a teaspoon equals 2.5 mL.

Children’s Benadryl Fastmelts: Each fastmelt tablet contains the equivalent of 12.5 mg of Diphenhydramine HCL and dosed the same as chewable tablets

Adult dosage: 50 mg

Frequency: Repeat every 6 hours as needed

Risk of side effects: May cause drowsiness and paradoxical excitatory. Use caution when driving or operating heavy machinery after dosing due to potential for sedation and decreased alertness. This is especially relevant for teen drivers.

Provided by healthychildren.org

Precautions

Please wait at least six hours between doses.
Please do not take more than four doses in a 24-hour period.
Please do not drive or operate dangerous equipment after taking diphenhydramine.
An overdose can be very sedating; make sure the dosage is correct.
Please do not combine with other medicines that could contain diphenhydramine, or other medicines that could be sedating.
Keep all medications out of the reach of children.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Child's weight (pounds)	Syrup: 160 mg/5 mL (5 mL=1 tsp)	Chewable 80 mg tablets	Chewable 160 mg tablets	Adult 325 mg tablets	Adult 500 mg tablets
6-11	1.25 mL	--	--	--	--
12-17	2.5 mL	--	--	--	--
18-23	3.75 mL	1.5	--	--	--
24-35	5 mL	2	1	--	--
36-47	7.5 mL	3	1.5	--	--
48-59	10 mL	4	2	1	--
60-71	12.5 mL	5	2.5	1	--
72-95	15 mL	6	3	1.5	1
96+	20 mL	8	4	2	1

Acetaminophen notes

Caution: In 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended liquid, chewable, and tablet forms of acetaminophen be made in just one strength. Since that time, manufacturers and retailers of pediatric acetaminophen have voluntarily worked to change the amount of acetaminophen in these medicines to one standard amount (160 milligrams [mg]). Some manufacturers have recently made chewable tablets into a single strength of 160 mg. Infant drops are no longer available. Liquid syrup acetaminophen is available as 160mg/5mL. Pediatric acetaminophen products on store shelves can continue to be used as labeled.

Age limit: Do not use acetaminophen under 12 weeks of age unless directed by your pediatrician because fever during the first 12 weeks of life should be documented in a medical setting. If a fever is present, your baby needs a complete evaluation. (Exception: Fever from an immunization in a child 8 weeks of age or older. If present, please consult with your pediatrician.) Avoid multi-ingredient products in children under 6 years of age.

Dosage: Determine by finding child’s weight (in pounds) in the top row of the dosage table.

Measuring the dosage (in metric units): Dosing syringes are more accurate than household utensils. Use the syringe or device that comes with the medication. If one does not come with the medication, ask the pharmacist for a medicine syringe. Household spoons are not reliable.

Oral disintegrating tablets: These are dissolvable tablets that come in 80 mg and 160 mg (junior strength)

Suppositories: Acetaminophen also comes in 80, 120, 325 and 650 mg suppositories. The rectal dose is the same as the dosage given by mouth.

Extended-Release: Avoid 650 mg oral extended-release products in children.

Frequency: Repeat every 4-6 hours as needed. Don’t give more than 5 times a day.

Provided by healthychildren.org

Precautions

Temperature greater than 100.4°F (38°C) is considered a fever. For infants younger than 2 months of age, please do not treat fever at home; instead bring your child in to be seen by a physician.
Please wait at least four hours between doses.
Please do not take more than five doses in a 24-hour period.
An overdose can be dangerous to the liver; make sure the dosage is correct.
Do not combine with other medicines that could contain acetaminophen.
Keep all medications out of the reach of children.

Sick Child

Care when you need it

Medication dosages

Ibuprofen notes

Precautions

Diphenhydramine notes

Precautions

Acetaminophen notes

Precautions

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