Paracetamol is a medicine that is used to:
- ease mild to moderate pain – for example, headaches, sprains, toothache or the symptoms of a cold
- control a fever (high temperature, also known as pyrexia) – for example, when someone has the flu (influenza)
How it works
Paracetamol works as a painkiller by affecting chemicals in the body called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are substances released in response to illness or injury. Paracetamol blocks the production of prostaglandins, making the body less aware of the pain or injury.
Paracetamol reduces temperature by acting on the area of the brain that is responsible for controlling temperature.
Use in children
Babies and children can be given paracetamol to treat fever or pain if they are over two months old.
For example, one dose of paracetamol may be given to babies who are two or three months old if they have a high temperature following vaccinations. This dose may be repeated once after six hours.
Check the packet or patient information leaflet to make sure that the medicine is suitable for children and to find out the correct dose. When paracetamol is given to babies or children, the correct dose may depend on:
- the child’s age
- the child’s weight
- the strength of the paracetamol - this is usually in milligrams (mg)
If your baby’s or child’s high temperature does not get better, or they are still in pain, speak to your GP or call NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24.
Glossary
- Pain
- Pain is an unpleasant physical or emotional feeling that your body produces as a warning that it's been damaged
- Fever
- A fever is when you have a high body temperature (over 38C or 100.4F)
- Dose
- Dose is a measured quantity of a medicine to be taken at any one time, such as a specified amount of medication.
- Vaccinations
- Vaccination or immunisation is usually given by an injection that makes the body's immune system produce antibodies that will fight off a virus
Last updated: 11 November 2011
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