Patient's question:
Patient Age: Ten yearsCondition Description: Feeling hot all over, chills, talking nonsense
Past Treatment and Effect: No fever-reducing medicine, applied cold compresses
Help Needed: How to reduce the fever first?
Doctor's answer:
Low-temperature room method: Place the child in an environment with a room temperature of about 24°C to allow the body temperature to gradually decrease. To facilitate cooling, the child should wear as little clothing as possible to allow the skin to come into contact with the outside air. If possible, air conditioning can be used to lower the room temperature. This method is suitable for infants under one month old, especially in summer. As long as the baby's clothes are left open and placed in a shaded area, his body temperature will gradually decrease. If the baby has a fever accompanied by chills or shivering, the low-temperature room method should not be used.Heat (Heat patches): Heat patches are a relatively new product and have become very popular. However, their actual cooling effect is generally average and not as exaggerated as advertised. Applying a heat patch to the baby's forehead may make the baby's head feel a bit more comfortable, and it may also ease the parents' worries. It is likely to be harmless.
Ice packs: The advantages and disadvantages of this method are still highly debated. Some experts believe that the drawbacks of ice packs outweigh the benefits because applying ice may cause the baby's capillaries to constrict, hindering heat dissipation and potentially raising the body temperature further. This is especially true if the baby also has chills or shivering, in which case ice packs should not be used.