Patient's question:
My colleague has a male baby who is almost two years old. He developed a cough due to a cold, which has lasted for about half a month. The first three days, he had a low fever and was hospitalized at night. He has been undergoing treatment ever since. Today, the doctor said it was a subcellular infection. Could you please ask the expert, "Is a subcellular infection a serious condition?" Because my colleague is not financially well-off and has already spent about 2,000 yuan, he is very distressed. Please ask the expert how the baby should be cared for now.First follow-up question: Thank you for the expert's answer. The child's chest X-ray showed no problems, and now there isn't much phlegm, and the cough isn't very severe. The only issue is the fever, which keeps ranging between 38.5—
Doctor's answer:
Hello: It is recommended to conduct a thorough examination and diagnosis. If your child has a fever, parents should remain calm and not panic. Avoid haphazardly treating the situation without proper order. Instead, please follow these steps in sequence:1. Analyze the cause of the fever: Most fevers are caused by infections, with viruses being the most common, such as colds, influenza, measles, roseola, and epidemic mumps. Bacterial infections are the second most common, including tonsillitis, scarlet fever, and meningitis. Parasitic infections can also cause fever, such as malaria and kala-azar, but these are relatively rare. Non-infectious fevers may include heatstroke, dehydration, leukemia, tumors, trauma, or post-surgical conditions. There are also diseases that impair heat dissipation, such as generalized ichthyosis and hypohidrosis. Of course, it may sometimes be difficult to distinguish, but once the situation is clarified, it can provide reference for the doctor.
2. Observe the type of fever: Use a household thermometer to accurately measure the axillary temperature and keep a record. Below 37 degrees Celsius is considered normal, below 38 degrees is a low-grade fever, between 38 and 39 degrees is a moderate fever, and above 39 degrees is a high fever. Additionally, observe the duration of the fever and any accompanying symptoms.
3. Do not overuse antibiotics: Many households keep antibiotics on hand, and as soon as a child has a fever, they immediately administer various antibiotics. This is not appropriate. First, most antibiotics are ineffective against viruses and can instead suppress the body's immune function. Second, fever itself is a normal response of the body's defense mechanisms to eliminate pathogens. If you use medication to kill bacteria and viruses, it will affect the proliferation of phagocytes and