Temperature reducing and pain relieving medicineBabies can run a very high temperature quite quickly, and a dose of a temperature reducing medicine (antipyretic) plus tepid sponging is usually very effective at bringing the temperature down quickly. Paracetamol is usually recommended for babies over three months who experience discomfort or a raised temperature. (It should only be used under three months on medical advice.) It comes in various forms: as a sweet, fruit-flavoured suspension, as a soluble effervescent tablet or as oral drops. Ensure you buy a preparation suitable for infants, rather than children. Follow the instructions carefully and do not give for more than two days without medical advice, as high doses or prolonged use can affect the liver. Ibuprofen can be used for the reduction of fever and pain relief for babies and toddlers over a year old. It is also available as a suspension over the counter from your chemist. It should not be given to babies aged under one year or those weighing less than 7kg (16lbs), and it is also unsuitable for those with asthma. As asthma may not yet be obvious in babies, this medicine should be used with extreme caution, particularly if there is a family history of asthma.
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