Patient's question:
[Two-and-a-half-month illness description: Baby had a fever of 37.8 at night, a bit of runny nose in the morning. Treatment history and effectiveness: Went to the hospital to check the throat, no inflammation. A few days ago had some diarrhea. Help needed: What to do now, how to reduce fever. Only have Motrin at home.]Doctor's answer:
When the fever drops below 38.5°C, the following methods can be used to reduce body 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 what are known as "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), Paracetamol (Panadol), etc. The method and dosage of medication must strictly follow the doctor's instructions.
Mothers should be reminded never to use fever-reducing drugs blindly, as this may delay the treatment. If the fever persists after the above measures, to prevent high-temperature convulsions, the child should be taken to the hospital immediately for medical assistance.