Flu Medicine for Kids: Common Medications & Dosing Instructions

Flu medicine for kids can include pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, fever reducers, and antihistamines. These help relieve common flu symptoms like body aches, sore throat, headache, fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and cough.

In addition to medication, it’s important to make sure your child gets plenty of rest. Drinking fluids and eating foods with a high water content can also help prevent dehydration and support a faster recovery.

Flu medicine for kids should only be taken under the guidance of a pediatrician, with the correct dosage prescribed based on the child’s age, weight, and symptoms.

Common medications

A pediatrician may recommend different types of flu medicine for kids based on symptoms, such as:

1. Fever and chills

Fever is one of the most common flu symptoms and can be relieved with fever reducers (antipyretics) such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. The dose should always be determined by a pediatrician based on the child’s weight.

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol Infants’ Drops 100 mg/mL or Tylenol Children’s Suspension 32 mg/mL): Can be given as drops or syrup every 6 hours, with the dose adjusted to the child’s weight;

• Ibuprofen (Children’s Motrin Suspension 100 mg/5 mL or Advil Children’s Suspension 100 mg/5 mL): Suitable for children 6 months and older. It should be administered every 6 to 8 hours, following a weight-based dose.

Besides medication, you can help lower fever by removing excess clothing, giving your child a lukewarm bath, and encouraging plenty of fluids.

2. Body, throat, and head pain

The flu can cause muscle aches, sore throat, and headaches, which can be treated with the same pain relievers and fever reducers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These medicines not only reduce fever but also relieve pain.

For sore throats, a pediatrician may recommend an antiseptic and analgesic throat spray for children over 6 years old, such as Chloraseptic Kids Sore Throat Spray, which help soothe throat pain and irritation.

3. Cough

Cough is another common symptom of the flu and can be either dry or productive (with mucus). When the cough produces mucus, hydration is often more effective than medication, since coughing helps clear mucus naturally.

Cough suppressants are generally not recommended for young children, as coughing is a natural defense mechanism. However, in specific cases, a pediatrician may prescribe medications such as:

• Guaifenesin (Robitussin Children’s Cough + Chest Congestion): An expectorant syrup that helps loosen mucus, suitable for children 4 years and older;

• Dextromethorphan (Delsym Children’s 12-Hour Cough Relief): A cough suppressant that can be used in children over 4 years old, as directed by a pediatrician.

These medications should only be used under medical supervision to ensure the right treatment based on the type of cough, age, and weight of the child.

4. Nasal congestion

For nasal congestion or a runny nose, a pediatrician may recommend saline nasal sprays or drops to help clean the nasal passages and thin mucus. Products like Ocean for Kids Saline Nasal Spray can be safely used for this purpose.

If congestion is severe, the pediatrician may prescribe antihistamines or nasal decongestants, such as:

• Desloratadine (Clarinex): An antihistamine that helps relieve allergy-related congestion. The dose varies based on the child’s age;

• Loratadine (Claritin): Another antihistamine commonly used in children over 2 years old, with dosing adjusted by weight;

• Oxymetazoline (Children’s Afrin): A nasal decongestant spray that can be used twice daily, in the morning and at night, for short-term relief only (no more than 3 consecutive days).

In some cases, a pediatrician may recommend a combination product containing both an antihistamine and a decongestant, such as Children’s Dimetapp Cold & Allergy, suitable for children over 6 years old, with dosing based on weight and age.