Question
An 18-month-old baby has a temperature of 38.3°C but shows no other discomfort symptoms. How should parents handle this situation?
Answer
When a baby’s temperature reaches 38.3°C, you can first use alcohol-based wipes for cooling. Afterward, it’s necessary to further investigate the cause of the fever. Fever can be caused by various factors, the most common being infection, followed by connective tissue diseases, malignant tumors, and others. It is not recommended to use medication immediately. If the baby continues to cry and be restless, it is advisable to seek medical attention for a comprehensive examination. In this case, the fever might be due to bronchitis and would require treatments such as antibiotics, hormones, antihistamines, antivirals, and traditional Chinese medicine to alleviate symptoms. At the same time, it is important to avoid feeding the baby spicy, alcoholic, cold, and other irritating foods and to enhance physical fitness through daily exercise.