Question
How to handle a baby with a high fever and diarrhea?
Answer
Based on past treatment experiences, doctors have diagnosed the baby with a common fever and prescribed antipyretic medication. However, parents hope to learn how to further assist their baby, especially during the teething period. Additionally, due to the baby’s young age and underdeveloped immune system, they are more susceptible to infections, and the course of the disease may progress rapidly. This can be complicated by factors such as excessive phlegm, indigestion, and distress, making the condition more complex. Treatment usually involves categorizing based on wind-cold or wind-heat, but it is important to avoid excessive use of pungent-warming or bitter-cold herbs. For babies with excessive phlegm or indigestion, treatment should focus on clearing lung heat and cooling blood or promoting digestion and resolving phlegm. For babies who are overly distressed, calming the mind and settling the spirit or calming the liver and stopping wind should be considered. For pediatric colds, parents often rely too heavily on antibiotics and intravenous fluids, but it should be understood that most initial colds are viral and antibiotics should not be used blindly. Fever is the body’s response to fighting viruses, so unless there is a clear bacterial infection, excessive intervention should be avoided. In treatment, it is important to ensure the baby drinks plenty of water, gets adequate rest, and avoid giving medications that could harm the baby’s health, such as those containing aspirin. When choosing medications, it is important to select those with minimal side effects and seek professional medical assistance when necessary.