Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: Last month, there was a similar situation where the child had a cough and some fever. The child was fine until suddenly screaming, followed by confusion, white eyes, and cold hands and feet. They were immediately taken to the hospital for intravenous fluids and recovered. Today, it happened again. The cough lasted for 2 days, with no fever during the day but a high temperature of 39.3°C at night when measured at the hospital. What could have caused this? Is it related to the fever and cough? Does it affect the brain? How should it be prevented in the future? If it occurs again, how should it be handled? Are any auxiliary examinations needed?Duration and course of the current illness: After becoming ill, the child was conscious again 30 minutes after being taken to the hospital.
Doctor's answer:
Hello: Encountering high fever in children aged 6 months to 3 years, where the body temperature is above 38.5℃. Active fever-reducing methods should be adopted. Fever reduction can be broadly categorized into two types: physical fever reduction and medicinal fever reduction.Physical Fever Reduction:
1. Sponging: This is divided into two types: alcohol sponging and warm water sponging. Common medical alcohol should be mixed with an appropriate amount of warm water. Use a soft cloth dipped in the alcohol mixture, with a temperature around 37℃ being ideal. Apply it to the child’s palms, soles of the feet, armpits, groin, and other areas. When using warm water sponging, the water temperature should be slightly higher than the body temperature. It can be used for both washing and sponging. However, the duration should be short, and the body should be quickly dried and dressed to prevent recooling and worsening the condition.
2. Ice Pack: Fever and convulsions can have a certain impact on the brain. Therefore, when a child has a high fever, an ice bag should be used to rest on the head or applied to the forehead to lower the head temperature and protect the brain.
Medicinal Fever Reduction:
1. Aphen Tablets: Aphen tablets, also known as Aluphen tablets, consist of two medications. Aspirin is a common drug for fever reduction and pain relief, while phenobarbital is a commonly used sedative for calming the mind and stopping convulsions. Aphen tablets are suitable for children aged 1–5 years. For children aged 8–9 months, half a tablet should be taken; for children aged 1.5 years, one tablet; for children aged 3 years, 1.5 tablets; and for children aged 4–5 years, two tablets. It should be noted that fever-reducing medication is only applicable when the body temperature is above 38.5℃. If the temperature remains above 38.5℃ continuously, it can be used every 4 hours. After taking the medication, the child should drink more water, as only after sweating can the body temperature be reduced in a feverish child.