Home Symptoms Fever in children

Fever in children — what to take?

Fever in children is common and almost always benign. It is rarely an emergency — but in infants under 3 months, any fever requires immediate medical evaluation.

Also known as: baby fever infant fever child temperature
2 recommended OTC medicines
8,931 pharmacies available

In short: Fever in children is almost always a natural response of the body to infections and, in most cases, is not an emergency. To ease discomfort, parents usually turn to pediatric antipyretics — paracetamol or ibuprofen in age-appropriate forms. On HartaFarmacii you can compare the price of these OTC options across the major pharmacies (Dr. Max, Tei, Catena, HelpNet), with prices updated daily. This information is for guidance only and does not replace a medical consultation; see a doctor if any fever appears in an infant under 3 months.

Data verified on from public sources (OpenStreetMap, chain websites, ANM/MS) — updated daily.

OTC — no prescription

What can you take for fever in children?

Ibuprofen pediatric

Nurofen pentru copii · Ibuprofen Sandoz pediatric

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Informational only — HartaFarmacii is not an approved medical site. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine. Don't self-medicate. Emergencies: 112.

When to see a doctor

If any of these signs appear, see a doctor — OTC treatment is not enough:

  • Any fever in an infant under 3 months
  • Fever above 39.5°C
  • Lethargy, profound drowsiness
  • Refusal to eat, dehydration
  • Petechial rash (does not blanch under pressure)
  • Febrile seizures
  • Neck stiffness, confusion
  • Shortness of breath, cyanosis

Temperature thresholds

Axillary above 37.5°C or rectal above 38°C = fever. Axillary measurement is the most commonly used; rectal is the most accurate in infants. Tympanic thermometers are quick but less accurate.

OTC treatment

Paracetamol:

  • 10-15 mg/kg every 4-6h, maximum 4 doses/day, maximum 60 mg/kg/day.
  • Safe from birth.
  • Forms: drops, syrup, suppositories.

Ibuprofen:

  • 5-10 mg/kg every 6-8h, maximum 40 mg/kg/day.
  • From 3 months (under medical advice below 6 months).
  • Avoid in dehydration, chickenpox, severe asthma.

Alternating paracetamol + ibuprofen — possible for persistent fever that does not subside, at 3h intervals. Write down the times.

Complementary measures

  • Generous hydration (water, milk, ORS).
  • Light clothing.
  • Room temperature 20-22°C.
  • Damp compress on the forehead, armpits (NOT with ice or alcohol).
  • Do not force feeding.

Warning signs — pediatric emergency

  • Any fever in an infant under 3 months.
  • Fever above 39°C that does not respond to antipyretics.
  • Lethargy, profound drowsiness.
  • Prolonged refusal to eat, dehydration.
  • A rash that does not blanch under pressure (petechiae — suspected meningitis).
  • Febrile seizures (especially atypical ones).
  • Shortness of breath, cyanosis.
  • Neck stiffness.
  • Fever lasting more than 3 days with no clear cause.

Medical disclaimer: the information in this guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist. For diagnosis and treatment, consult a healthcare professional.

Medicines compared

Medicines used for fever in children

This list is for guidance only, generated automatically from the DCI/category match. It is not a medical recommendation — consult your doctor before starting any treatment.

This list is not a medical recommendation. Consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Night-time, weekends, public holidays

24/7 pharmacies for fever in children

Fever in children doesn't keep office hours. If you need a medicine at 2 a.m. or at the weekend, open the map with the 24/7 filter switched on and look for the nearest on-duty pharmacy. Large cities have dozens of pharmacies open around the clock — below you have direct access to the list for each city, with address, phone number and verified opening hours.

Call before you set off, especially at night — on-duty rotas change and stock of some prescription medicines can be limited between deliveries.

Search the pharmacy

Medicine categories for fever in children

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for fever in children

Open the interactive map and allow location access — you will immediately see pharmacies sorted by distance, each with its opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. If it is night or the weekend, switch on the 24/7 filter to keep only the on-duty ones. For fever in children many medicines are available over the counter, so you can go straight to the pharmacy without a prescription, but check availability on the price comparator first to avoid wasted trips.

If you have a preferred active substance (for example paracetamol or ibuprofen), search for it in the comparator before you leave — you will see which chain has it cheapest near you and whether it is in stock. If you have a repeat prescription, save your preferred pharmacy as a favourite in the app and turn on opening-hours notifications — it saves unnecessary trips, especially if treatment for fever in children goes on for a while.

See also

Related symptoms and conditions

Symptom

Fever

Fever (>37.5°C axillary or >38°C rectal) is a natural response of the immune system to infection. It is not a disease but a symptom — what matters is finding the cause and lowering the fever only when it bothers the patient.

 Symptom

Common Cold

The common cold is caused by over 200 viruses (rhinovirus in 30-50% of cases). It lasts 7-10 days, does not respond to antibiotics, and there is no specific vaccine. Treatment is symptomatic.

 Symptom

Flu

The flu (influenza) is a serious, seasonal viral respiratory infection (November-March in Romania) that affects 5-10% of the population each year. It spreads through respiratory droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces.

Frequently asked questions

What else would you like to know?

Paracetamol or ibuprofen for a child?
Both are effective. Paracetamol from birth, ibuprofen from 3 months. Choose based on tolerance and individual response.
Can I alternate them?
Yes, for persistent fever, alternate every 3h. Write down the times so you do not exceed the MDD for each one.
At what temperature should I give an antipyretic?
If the child is comfortable, you can wait. For fever above 38.5°C or obvious discomfort — yes. The goal is comfort, not forced normalization.
Febrile seizures — what do I do?
Turn the child onto their side, do not put anything in their mouth. Time the duration. Under 5 min — call the ambulance afterward; over 5 min — call the ambulance immediately.

See also

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