What to Do When a Child Has a Fever of Over 39 Degrees

Question

What should I do if my child has a fever of over 39 degrees?

Answer

When treating a child’s fever, if the body temperature is below 38.5℃, it’s best to opt for physical methods of cooling, such as drinking plenty of water and using lukewarm water and alcohol for sponge baths. As for fever-reducing medications like Paracetamol and Compound Aspirin, they contain ingredients like caffeine and phenacetin, which have significant side effects. Infants have not yet developed a fully functioning nervous system suppression mechanism, so using these medications during a fever can easily trigger seizures. They may also lead to dehydration due to excessive sweating and could cause jaundice due to the accumulation of free bilirubin in the blood. Moreover, these drugs can also harm the digestive system and liver and kidney functions. Therefore, if fever-reducing medication is necessary, it should be used under a doctor’s guidance.