1: Fever Management Flashcards
When should fever be managed?
Fever > 102 F or persistently > 101 F
Name 6 guidelines for non-pharm fever management.
- Hydration
- Teach parents fever does not always need to be controlled
- Appropriate clothing and ambient temperature
- Tepid water bath
- Do not allow shivering
- No alcohol or ice baths
What is the 1st drug of choice for fevers?
Acetaminophen
What is the fever dosing for acetaminophen and what are the max doses by age?
- Acetaminophen 10-15 mg/kg/dose q4-8 hrs
- No greater than 4 (to 5) doses in 24 hrs
- 12 + years old max 4 grams/day
- < 12 years old max 2.6 grams/day
What concentration should be used with acetaminophen?
160 mg/5 ml for children and infants, not 100 mg/ 1 ml.
When can parents begin using ibuprofen for fever?
6 months+
What is the fever dose for ibuprofen and the max dose?
- Fever < 102.5°F (39°C) 5mg/kg/dose
- Fever > 102.5°F (39°C) 10mg/kg/dose
- Do not exceed 40mg/kg/day (except in JRA)
Caution with acetaminophen in what population?
Concurrent renal / hepatotoxic meds.
Caution with ibuprofen in what population?
Asthmatics who may be NSAID sensitive.
Which med is marketed for fever but does not have good evidence yet for fever control?
Naproxen sodium
T/F Alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen q 3 hours is a recommended method for persistent / uncontrolled fever.
False. No evidence to support it, but still widely used in practice.
What is the general dose for acetaminophen vs ibuprofen?
- A: 10-15 mg/kg
- I: 5-10 mg/kg
What is the dosing interval for acetaminophen vs ibuprofen?
- A: 4-6 hours
- I: 6-8 hours
What is the time to peak plasma concentration for acetaminophen vs ibuprofen?
- A: 30 minutes
- I: 60 minutes
What is the time to maximum temp reduction for acetaminophen vs ibuprofen?
- A: 2 hours
- I: 3 hours
