Patient's question:
In the past two days, the child's face has been red, and the temperature has been around 37 degrees Celsius. Is it a cold or indigestion causing the elevated temperature?Doctor's answer:
Normal body temperature is between 36-37.4℃. Fever is mostly a symptom of infectious diseases. When a child has a fever, it is crucial to have them examined as soon as possible to confirm the diagnosis and treat the underlying cause. Generally, if a child's temperature is below 38.5℃, they are in good spirits, showing no discomfort, or if they are infants under 2 months old, medication for fever reduction should be used with caution, and physical cooling methods can be adopted. Physical cooling methods include: drinking more water, removing excessive clothing, and ensuring the child is in a cool (but not cold) and well-ventilated environment. Additionally:1. Drink more warm water, fruit juice, and vegetable broth.
2. Apply fever reduction patches to the forehead and use warm water to bathe (continuously wipe the forehead, neck, armpits, groin, and other areas where major blood vessels pass through, as well as limbs, for about 20 minutes).
Medication for fever reduction should be used in the following cases:
1) When a child's temperature is below 38.5℃, they are lethargic, irritable, or in pain.
2) High fever above 39℃, as it can easily lead to convulsions in children.
3) High fever in infants under 6 months, as their condition can change rapidly.
In these cases, medication for fever reduction should be administered promptly. When the temperature is above 38.5℃ or below 38.5℃, oral medication should be used. Choose one method. If the fever occurs frequently, it can be used intermittently every 4–6 hours (use with caution), and no more than 4 doses of the same medication should be taken in a day. Wishing the child a speedy recovery.