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There are numerous types of medications that can be used to reduce a child’s fever or level of pain. Just as with prescription medications, over-the-counter medications are strong drugs and should only be used as recommended. Parents and other caregivers should not give any drug to a child without first consulting a pediatrician or other healthcare professional. This is particularly true of children who are 2 years old or younger.

Some of the more popular medications used to control a child’s pain or fever include:

• Acetaminophen. Used to treat mild-to-moderate pain and fever in children. Because acetaminophen has few anti-inflammatory properties, it is not the best drug for treating inflammatory disorders caused by infections and many types of injuries. In such situations, ibuprofen may be a better alternative.
  
  Dosage is generally dependent on a child’s weight. Special attention must be paid to making sure children get the appropriate dosage of the drug, as acetaminophen overdose – which can be toxic to the liver – is among the most common causes of drug-related deaths in children and adolescents. For this reason, acetaminophen should not be given to children without first consulting a physician. Children should not take acetaminophen for more than five days.
  
  
• Ibuprofen. A pain reliever that also reduces inflammation and fever. Ibuprofen is a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and is used to treat numerous types of pain, including headaches, muscle aches and many other causes of discomfort. A recent Canadian study found that ibuprofen provided better and more efficient pain relief than acetaminophen or codeine for children with acute musculoskeletal injuries. It also is typically considered to be particularly effective for treating high fevers. This drug should not be given to infants younger than 6 months old. In addition, ibuprofen should not be given to children who are dehydrated or who are vomiting repeatedly.
  
  In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it was asking all manufacturers of prescription NSAIDs – including ibuprofen – to include new warnings on labels about certain potential health dangers associated with these medications, such as an increased risk of cardiovascular events and gastrointestinal bleeding that could be potentially life-threatening.
  
  
• Other analgesics. Many analgesics have not been established to be safe when used in children. In other cases, these drugs are considered safe for children of certain age groups. For example, naproxen and ketoprofen are not generally recommended for children under the age of 12.

Aspirin is one popular analgesic that should never be used in children. Derived from salicylate – a naturally occurring substance found in the bark of willow trees – aspirin has been used for more than 100 years to relieve mild-to-moderate pain and to reduce inflammation, fever, redness, swelling and discomfort caused by various medical disorders. It also helps reduce clotting of blood.

Though aspirin can be a powerful and effective drug, it also can be dangerous when used in children. Use of aspirin in children has been associated with Reye syndrome, a rare but extremely serious condition that affects all organs of the body and can be fatal. The danger is most present in children who take aspirin when they have a viral infection, the flu or chickenpox. Symptoms include vomiting, lethargy and behavioral changes (such as increased belligerence).

As a result of this danger, experts recommend that aspirin not be used by anyone under the age of 21, especially if they have a viral illness. In addition, children may be more vulnerable to the side effects of aspirin than adults.