Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: Tonsillitis, high fever, cough with vomiting after a cold. Medications failed to control the symptoms, and the child was given ceftriaxone and honeysuckle for eight days. After stopping the medication for three days, the tonsils became abscessed, and the condition returned. The child was then given amoxicillin and honeysuckle. The child is always prone to these symptoms whenever he has a cold, and medications never seem to control the condition effectively. Could you please advise if there are any other treatment options besides intravenous fluids? What are the long-term health risks of frequent intravenous treatments for children?Duration of the current illness: 15 days
Doctor's answer:
When the fever is below 38.5°C, the following methods can be used to reduce the temperature: apply a warm towel to the forehead, and wipe the limbs and the front and back of the chest and back. However, if you experience cold reactions such as cold hands and feet, shivering all over the body, or purplish lips while performing these self-cooling measures, you should immediately stop this method of cooling.When the fever is above 38.5°C, drug-induced cooling is also a common method to reduce fever. Children can take antipyretic medications such as Acetaminophen, Tylenol, or Panadol, but the method and dosage must strictly follow the doctor's instructions. It is important to remind mothers never to use fever-reducing drugs blindly, as this may delay the treatment.
If the fever persists after the above treatments, to prevent high fever seizures, the child should be taken to the hospital immediately for medical assistance.