Question
My seven-year-old niece has been running a persistent fever, and we suspect she might have encephalitis. What kind of medical treatment is needed?
Answer
The most common causes of fever in children are infections, fever lasting over 48 hours, or symptoms such as coughing, vomiting, and developmental delays. In cases where encephalitis is suspected, a hospital visit is necessary for blood tests to check for bacterial, viral, or mycoplasma infections, and appropriate medication treatment is provided based on the test results. Additionally, the doctor may listen to the lungs or conduct a chest X-ray to determine if pneumonia is present. If the fever persists for an extended period, it is also considered whether there is an Epstein-Barr virus infection. In suspected cases of encephalitis, a lumbar puncture examination is also required to obtain results for relevant medication treatments.