Question
The baby has a persistent fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius, occasional coughing, and vomiting. After taking antipyretics, the fever persists, and on the second day, runny nose begins, coughing worsens, and sometimes accompanied by vomiting. The fever continues into the third and fourth days, with symptoms similar to the second day. After coughing, there is a wheezing sound, and the stool is green.
Answer
A baby’s fever is the body’s response to fighting off viruses, with the rise in body temperature intended to kill off invasive pathogens. Fever is often a symptom of illness, so parents should not use antipyretics blindly as this may interfere with the doctor’s diagnosis of the cause of the fever. When bringing the baby for a follow-up visit, it is important to focus on the cause of the fever rather than the temperature. Finding the cause of the fever is more important than rushing to bring down the fever in a baby with a fever.