Patient's question:
[Two-and-a-half-month illness description: The baby had a fever of 37.8 at night and a bit of a runny nose in the morning. Medical history and effectiveness: Visited the hospital for a sore throat, but there was no inflammation. A few days ago, there was some diarrhea. Desired help: What to do now? How to reduce fever? At home, there is only Motrin.]Doctor's answer:
When the fever drops below 38.5°C, the following methods can be used to reduce it: apply a warm towel to the forehead, and wipe the limbs and the front and back of the chest. However, if you experience what are known as "cold reactions," such as cold hands and feet, shivering all over, 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 need to be reminded that they should never use fever-reducing drugs blindly, as this may delay the treatment. If the fever persists after the above treatments, to prevent high-temperature convulsions, the child should be taken to the hospital immediately for medical assistance.