Question
My child has a fever emergency! I checked with a thermometer, and it’s 38 degrees, but you can’t take medicine unless it’s above 38.5 degrees. They say to use physical cooling (cooling down), but after trying all methods, the child still hasn’t cooled down. What should I do?
Answer
Firstly, it’s important to know that a child’s fever is usually caused by viral or bacterial infections. You should only give your child oral fever-reducing medication if the temperature is below 38.5 degrees to prevent the child from having a febrile seizure. When the child’s temperature is around 38 degrees, the child has its own body temperature regulation center, so it’s generally recommended to give the child plenty of water and use physical cooling methods. This includes wiping the forehead, armpits, groin, palm of hands, and sole of feet with warm water. If the child’s temperature continues to rise, you can also consider giving oral symptomatic anti-inflammatory medication or oral children’s cold granules as necessary.