Question
My colleague’s two-year-old son has been suffering from a cough that has lasted for half a month due to a cold, accompanied by a low-grade fever. After hospitalization, the doctor diagnosed it as a subcellular infection. I would like to ask the expert, is subcellular infection a severe disease? Since my colleague is in poor financial condition and has already spent about 2000 yuan, they are very distressed and want to know how to take care of the child now.
Answer
Hello: It is recommended to undergo a detailed examination for confirmation. When a child has a fever, parents should not panic but remain calm and follow these steps:
- Analyze the cause of the fever: Most fevers are caused by infections, common causes including viral infections (such as colds, flu, measles, infantile rash, mumps, etc.) and bacterial infections (such as tonsillitis, scarlet fever, epidemic encephalitis, etc.). Sometimes, parasitic infections or non-infectious diseases (such as heatstroke, dehydration, leukemia, tumors, trauma, or postoperative conditions) may also lead to fever.
- Observe the type of fever: Use a thermometer to measure the armpit temperature and record it. Below 37 degrees Celsius is normal, below 38 degrees is low-grade fever, between 38 and 39 degrees is moderate fever, and above 39 degrees is high fever. Record the duration of the fever and any accompanying symptoms.
- Do not overuse antibiotics: Many families keep antibiotics on hand and give various antibiotics to children when they have a fever. This is inappropriate because antibiotics are usually ineffective against viral infections and may suppress