A high temperature in a newborn is always alarming. The kid is defenseless, cannot complain of pain and discomfort, and parents do not always understand how to help a child. At the same time, in children of the first year of life, an increase in temperature does not always require the use of drugs, but in some cases they cannot be dispensed with. From the article you will learn what antipyretic drugs are and how to use them correctly.
Antipyretic: dosage forms
Temperature medicines for newborns are produced in 2 forms:
- Solid – rectal suppositories. The advantage is the ease of administration, subject to simple rules, the absence of unnecessary dyes, flavors that can cause allergies. Minus – the need to store antipyretic suppositories in the refrigerator, slower action than liquid drugs.;
- Liquid – syrups, suspensions. The main advantage of such drugs is a quick effect – the active substance penetrates into the bloodstream faster than in the case of rectal suppositories. However, to obtain a taste more pleasant for the child, manufacturers add sweeteners to the preparations that can provoke diathesis. But the funds are more convenient to store – it is not necessary to put them in the refrigerator.
Approved antipyretic drugs effectively and safely help to cope with the temperature, if the instructions are followed.
Application rules
Liquid preparations are given using special pipettes or syringes that come with the kit. It is permissible to give medicine to a newborn from a spoon, but it is quite problematic. Many parents are faced with the fact that the child spits out the medicine, so they prefer rectal suppositories.
For the introduction of a candle, the child is placed on its side, the legs are raised to the tummy and the suppository is carefully inserted into the anus. To facilitate the process, you can use oil or baby cream. Sometimes children are capricious and resist, but many mothers note that lighting a candle is much easier than giving syrup.
Remember that antipyretics are symptomatic, not course or preventive therapy. They are not given on schedule, but used strictly if necessary to lower the temperature. In this case, the total duration of admission should not exceed 3 – 5 days. It is necessary to maintain the intervals between the use of drugs for at least 4 – 6 hours in order to exclude an overdose.
At what temperature to give antipyretic drugs
In newborns, thermoregulation mechanisms are imperfect. Body temperature depends on the environment, clothing, air humidity. Overheating, wrapping up often leads to the fact that the thermometer readings show values above normal. In hot weather, when in a stuffy room, or if the child is dressed too warmly, the temperature can rise to 37.5 – 37.9 degrees. In this case, no antipyretic drugs are required – you need to exclude the source of overheating and make a second measurement after 20 – 30 minutes.
It is important to understand that the age norms of temperature in infants and adults are different. Up to 1 year of age, indicators up to 37.5 are considered normal, provided that the child is vigorous, active, eats well, he has no problems with stool and urination. Taking unnecessary drugs only harms a healthy child.
When the temperature rises to 38 degrees and above, it is advisable to call a doctor in order to objectively assess the condition of the baby and prescribe medications if necessary. For viral and bacterial infections, it is not recommended to give antipyretic drugs at values of 38 – 38.2 degrees. By increasing the temperature, the child’s body activates the immune system and fights against pathogens, therefore, taking medications is justified only if there is a risk of complications.
Antipyretic drugs are needed in the following cases:
- The temperature rises to 38.5 degrees and above. With such indicators in newborns, the respiratory system suffers, there is a load on the heart, blood vessels, and the nervous system. The risk of febrile seizures increases, manifested by loss of consciousness and twitching of the limbs;
- At a temperature of more than 38 degrees, if there is pallor or excessive redness of the skin, the child is lethargic, capricious, refuses to eat. Such symptoms indicate that the crumbs have begun intoxication, and the body needs help.
You should be extremely careful about an increase in temperature in a newborn if encephalopathy, pathologies of the nervous, cardiovascular system, as well as a hereditary tendency to seizures have been diagnosed. In this case, taking antipyretics is justified already when the thermometer reaches 37.8 degrees.
How to bring down the temperature of newborns up to a month
The official instructions for antipyretic drugs for newborns indicate that the intake is possible only after 1 month of life. Therefore, if a baby under 30 days of age has a fever, try to do without medication. What measures can be taken:
- Undress your baby so that the skin naturally cools and breathes. Warm and tight clothing often causes severe overheating and a rapid rise in temperature;
- Wipe off the crumbs with water slightly warmer than room temperature. This measure allows you to reduce the thermometer by 1-2 degrees without antipyretics. Short-term bathing in water no more than 37 degrees is allowed;
- Give more fluids. Offer a breastfed baby more often, and water for an artificial person.
If the temperature cannot be brought down, and the condition of the crumbs worsens, it is allowed to take antipyretics, allowed for children 1 to 12 months. It is advisable to call a doctor for the child to establish a diagnosis and select a drug.
Recommended antipyretics for children under one-year-old
Antipyretic drugs for newborns differ in the active substance. In babies, candles, syrups, and suspensions based on paracetamol are more often used, from 3 months medicines with Nurofen are allowed.
The most common remedies are:
- Paracetamol-based rectal suppositories. From 1 month, “Panadol”, “Tsefekon D”, “And Efferalgan” are allowed. In children aged 1-3 months, a dosage of 50 mg is used (only “Cefekon D” is suitable), a child of 3-12 months needs 100 mg suppositories;
- Liquid preparations with paracetamol. Suspensions “Panadol”, “Children’s paracetamol”, syrups “Efferalgan”, and “Maxikold”. Medicines are prescribed at the rate of 10-15 mg/kg of the child’s body weight per dose. Newborns from 1 month of the presented antipyretic drugs are allowed only “Efferalgan”, the rest – from 3 months;
- Rectal suppositories with ibuprofen. Nurofen suppositories are allowed from 3 months of age. Each candle contains 60 mg of ibuprofen. With a newborn weighing 6-8 kg, half the dose is given, for a child weighing up to 12 kg – a whole candle;
- Suspension “Nurofen” (based on ibuprofen). This antipyretic drug is approved for use in infants over 3 months of age weighing more than 5 kg;
- Homeopathic rectal suppository “Viburcol”. Suitable for combination therapy with the main antipyretic drug. They help to more effectively eliminate unpleasant symptoms during teething and ARVI. Can be used from birth.
Age and daily dosages should not be exceeded. If you need to use an antipyretic drug more than 4 times a day, alternate drugs with paracetamol and ibuprofen, and change the dosage forms themselves. For example, if after 3 hours after using the Tsefekon D candles the temperature rises to high levels again, use Nurofen syrup. Remember that alternating medications is only possible after 3 months of life. In any case, try to minimize the use of drugs, as they put a serious strain on the newborn’s body.
Additional methods
Always use a proven and safe heat-relieving agent other than medications to maximize your benefits. Key recommendations:
- Ventilate the room and humidify the air. The room should not be stuffy and dry. Maintain a temperature no more than 22 degrees. It is advisable to purchase a humidifier. If it is absent, you can place bowls of water in the room;
- For compresses, it is unacceptable to use vinegar or alcohol. Such “grandmother’s” methods have long been regarded by pediatricians as very dangerous and toxic – they can cause vasospasm, chemical burns, vapor poisoning;
- In the absence of vascular spasm, when the legs and arms are warm, compresses and rubdowns with water at room temperature can be made. In this case, in no case do not allow the crumb to freeze. If the legs and arms are cold, this means that vasospasm has appeared, and rubdowns are contraindicated since the opposite effect will occur and the risk of seizures will increase;
- At elevated temperatures, it is better to undress the child and cover it with a light diaper during sleep. It is important to ensure that the baby does not overheat, but also does not overcool. Observe the measure in everything.
For any ailments and temperature reactions, frequent warm drinks are an excellent helper. Such a measure is never superfluous since dehydration is extremely harmful for babies. There are a lot of antipyretic drugs. It is advisable to choose the ones that are best for your child – they do not cause allergies and other negative reactions. Buy 2 – 3 types of drugs so that the temperature rise in the baby does not take you by surprise.
