Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose:My grandson is 16 months old and has a high fever. The doctor diagnosed tonsillitis, and after taking fever-reducing and anti-inflammatory medication, the inflammation has largely subsided. However, his temperature rises back to 38.5 to 39 degrees Celsius 8–10 hours after taking the medicine, and this has been happening for 8 days. He has been to the hospital multiple times, but further examinations have not revealed any issues. He is restless all day, eating very little or not at all. I don’t know the reason, and I’m wondering if there’s any solution. I sincerely seek expert advice—thank you very much!
Duration and onset of the current illness
8 days
Medical history:
He has had fever before and has taken medication.
Doctor's answer:
Hello: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that the main cause of fever in children is due to the invasion of external pathogens, which accumulate in the surface of the body and lead to a struggle between the pathogen and the body's resistance. For treating children's external-febrile conditions, general treatment often involves massage techniques such as clearing the lung meridian, rubbing the solar plexus, clearing the Heavenly River, and pushing the spine.The lung meridian is located on the knuckles of the little finger. During massage, the clearing technique is used, which involves pushing from the fingertip toward the root of the finger, continuously 200 to 300 times. The solar plexus is situated at the depression behind the outer corner of the eyebrows. The rubbing technique is applied by pressing and rubbing this point with the tips of both middle fingers, continuously 30 to 50 times. The Heavenly River is located on the front of the forearm. The massage is performed using the index and middle fingers, pushing from the wrist toward the elbow, continuously 100 to 200 times. Pushing the spine involves using the index and middle fingers to straightly push down the spine from top to bottom, continuously 100 to 200 times. Through these techniques, meridians can be unblocked, heat cleared, and the surface cleared, thereby achieving the goal of reducing fever.
For long-term low-grade fever in children, TCM considers it to be a result of yin deficiency caused by prolonged illness, leading to internal heat. Treatment can involve massage techniques such as rubbing the inner labor palace, clearing the Heavenly River, pressing and rubbing the ST36 (Zusanli), and pushing the Yongquan. The inner labor palace is located on the palm. The rubbing technique is applied, continuously 100 to 200 times. Clearing the Heavenly River is performed the same way as described above. The ST36 (Zusanli) point is located slightly outside the anterior crest of the tibia. The thumb is used to press and rub this point, continuously 50 to 100 times. The Yongquan point is located at the center of the sole of the foot. The thumb is used to push straight toward the toes, continuously 50 to 100 times. Through these massage techniques, organ function can be regulated, heat guided downward, and internal heat cleared.
Massage techniques are simple, painless for the child, and have no side effects. Parents can perform them themselves. In small...