Mommies, here are the most trusted brands of fever medicine for babies in the Philippines.
What can you read in this article?
- How can I tell if my baby has a fever
- Choosing a fever medicine for baby
- 5 trusted brands of fever medicine for babies in the Philippines.
A fever is the body’s normal reaction to an infection. Yet as parents, we still can’t help but worry if our child’s temperature goes over 37 degrees. Especially if it comes with other symptoms like a stuffy nose and fussiness.
However, there are a lot of home remedies and over-the-counter medications that can help us bring our baby’s fever down.
How can I tell if my child has a fever?
Whenever we notice that our child is feeling under the weather and looks unwell, our instinct tells us to touch the baby’s forehead or neck to see if he has a fever. While feeling warm to the touch may indicate a rise in temperature, pediatricians believe that it’s not the best way to tell if a baby has a fever.
.“‘Yong tactile kasi, it’s not reliable because it depends on the skin of the person touching the child," said Dr. Nicole Perreras, a pediatrician and infectious diseases specialist from the Makati Medical Center.
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According to her, the best way to tell if a child has a fever is to check using a thermometer. Any thermometer will do, but the rectal thermometer gives the most accurate reading.
“Kasi ‘yon ang pinaka-accurate in the sense na pinakamalapit siya sa core temperature ng baby," said Dr. Perreras.
A lot of parents make the common mistake of giving their child fever medicine when baby’s temperature is at 37 degrees, when in fact, they don’t really have a fever yet.
According to Dr. Perreras, a thermometer reading between 37.2 to 37.7 means that you should definitely monitor your child’s temperature and symptoms, but as a general rule, “Anything higher than 37.8 is considered fever."
When your baby’s temperature reaches 37.8, it’s time for you to give him his fever medicine and call his pediatrician.
How to choose fever medicine for your baby?
Image from iStock
Aside from wiping with lukewarm water and giving him lots of fluids, medications that can help lower a child’s fever and are safe for the baby are paracetamol and ibuprofen. These are over-the-counter drugs that you can purchase from the nearest drugstore.
Remember, it is a good idea to consult your pediatrician before giving medicine to your child, especially if it is their first time to take it. It’s also important to follow the correct dosage of the medicine, according to the doctor’s prescription for it to be effective.
If you are still worried about the baby, go to his doctor right away to get your little one checked. For common fevers, here are some things you keep in mind when choosing the right medication for baby.
Dosage
Read carefully what the dosage should be according to your child’s age and weight (this is why a pediatrician’s advise is important).
Doctors recommend using a syringe without a needle with the prescribed dosage, making it easier for the baby to drink. Avoid using spoons as they may not be accurate. Most medicines come with a dropper (for infants) or a small cup with measurements to be used when taking these medications.
How to use
How often should the child drink? Every six hours or every 4 hours? Do you continue to give it when his fever subsides? Does your baby need to drink with a full stomach? Read the instructions before giving the baby any medicine. You can also ask your child’s pediatrician about this to be sure.
Accessibility and availability
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Choose a medicine that is easy to buy and you can store in your refrigerator at home. It is good that you always have fever medicine ready at home to avoid going to the drugstore at wee hours of the night when your child has a fever.
Just make sure it hasn’t expired yet. Make it a habit to check your refrigerator regularly to dispose of expired medications.
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Fever medicines for baby in the Philippines
Calpol is also one of the most well-known fever medicine for babies in the Philippines.
Why is it effective?
It is used to relieve a baby’s mild to moderate fever and pain that is brought by a headache, muscle ache, fever after the vaccine, or toothache. The 100mg/mL Suspension Infant Drops is recommended for babies up to 2 years old.
The dose may be based on weight or age; use weight if you know it, otherwise use age. You may also refer to their dosage calculator here.
How to use:
- It can be taken without food on an empty stomach.
- Drink every 4-6 hours.
- Do not take more than 4 doses in 24 hours.
Price
You can buy this in most supermarkets and drugstores at ₱ 159.50 for a 120 mL bottle.
Paracetamol Tempra is known as fever medicine for babies in the Philippines.
Why is it effective?
Their No-Shake Formula has been tested by moms and doctors for 40 years. Its formulation contains 120mg of Paracetamol per teaspoon or 5ml. According to the pack, this is the recommended dosage:
- Infants: 3 months-1 year old: 2.5-5mL (½-1 tsp)
- Children: 1-5 years from: 5-10mL (1-2 tsp)
- Children: 6-12 years old: 10-20mL (2-4 tsp)
How to use:
This should be given 3 to 4 times a day or depending on the doctor’s prescription.
Price
It will be found at the nearest drugstore to you at ₱ 310.00 for a 120 mL bottle
Paracetamol is said to be the best-tasting paracetamol medicine for baby’s fever.
Why is it effective?
It is safe and can be given to a child with a fever due to dengue or after the vaccination. The recommended dosage are as follows:
- 1-2 years old: 1 tsp
- 3-6 years old: 1-2 tsp
- 7-12 years old: 2-3 tsp
- Children> 12 years old: 3-4 tsp
How to use:
- Drink every 4 hours as needed.
- Do not exceed 5 doses in 24 hours.
Price
₱ 118.50 for 120 mg
It is for the relief of mild to moderate ailments such as teething, headaches, earaches, colds and flu, and fever.
Why is it effective?
When paracetamols don’t seem to work, giving your child ibuprofen (at the right dosage) usually does the trick. An important reminder though: do not give Ibuprofen to babies below 6 months of age.
This is the recommended dosage according to the pack:
- Children 1 to 2 years old: 5mL
- and children 2 to 6 years old: 5-10mL
- and children 7 to 12 years old: 10mL
How to use:
- Shake well before use.
- Do not use it more than 4 times a day.
- Do not also take it for more than 10 days unless your doctor tells you to.
Price
You can purchase this from leading drugstores nationwide at ₱ 87.00 for a 60 mL bottle.
There are mothers who prefer Napran over others.
Why is it effective?
Although not as popular as Calpol and Tempra, Napran is also one of the great medicines for fever and as a pain reliever. The dosage is as follows:
- Children 1-5 years old: 2.5-5 mL
- Children 6-12 years old: 5mL or as prescribed by a doctor
How to use:
Drink 3-4 times a day based on dosage height
Price
Some drugstores carry this brand for ₱ 85.00 for a 60 mL bottle.
When to bring your child to the doctor when he has fever
According to Dr. Perreras, fever can be treated at home as long as the baby is acting normal or active, feeding well, and responding to home remedies and medicine.
However, for infants 3 months old and younger, any sign of fever requires medical attention to confirm if there is a serious complication or infection.
These signs also indicate a visit to the doctor:
- The temperature of 39°C and above
- Convulsions, especially if it’s the first time it happens
- Signs of dehydration (less urine, no tears when crying) and resisting fluids
- Not taking his medications
- Rashes in the face and body
- For children 2 years old below, if the fever lasts for over 24 hours
- For children 3 years old and above, if the fever lasts for over 72 hours
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Pain while urinating
If you have any concerns with your child’s fever, don’t hesitate to call his pediatrician.
Read the Filipino version here!
Additional information by Camille Eusebio
Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advise or medical treatment. TheAsianparent Philippines is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend to consult your doctor for clearer information.