4 Mistakes Parents Make While Giving Paracetamol to Children

Dr. Sandip Gupta

This video covers four mistakes parents often make when giving fever medicine, i.e. paracetamol, to children. Mistake 1 — Not giving it because the child hasn't eaten. This is wrong. Paracetamol can be given to a child even on an empty stomach. When the fever is high the child does not want to eat; giving paracetamol brings the fever down, and then the child usually eats. Mistake 2 — Not giving it because you are about to see the doctor. This is also wrong. Record the temperature and give the child paracetamol — the fever will come down, which also makes it easier for the doctor to examine the child. If you have noted the temperature, the doctor knows how high the fever was, and along with the child's other symptoms the doctor can make the diagnosis properly. Mistake 3 — Not checking the strength. Whenever you give paracetamol, check its strength. Paracetamol comes as a drop and as two different syrups. One syrup has 50 mg in 1 ml; the other has 24 mg in 1 ml. The drop is a very high concentration — it has 100 mg in 1 ml. So all of them have different strengths. Check the prescription to see which strength the doctor has prescribed, and take that strength. Mistake 4 — Giving fractions of a tablet. Parents often give half a tablet, one-third of a tablet or three-quarters of a tablet to a child. This should not be done. Children under 10 years should be given paracetamol in syrup form, in the correct ml according to their weight. Relevant for: parents asking whether paracetamol can be given on an empty stomach; parents unsure whether to give fever medicine before visiting the doctor; parents confused between paracetamol drops and syrups and their different strengths; parents asking how to read mg per ml on a fever medicine bottle; and parents who give a fraction of an adult tablet to a child and want to know the correct form and dose. Disclaimer: This video is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child is different — please consult your pediatrician for the correct strength and dose for your child's weight, and check the strength printed on your bottle before giving any dose.