Question
A 5-month-old baby has an upper respiratory infection, with a fever that recurs within a week, accompanied by coughing and phlegm. Today, the baby received an intravenous injection of symptomatic anti-inflammatory medication, but now the baby can’t eat or drink milk. The doctor advised to drink more water, but the child refuses to drink. I can only force-feed water. How much water should be fed at one time and within how long should it be administered to be appropriate for forced feeding? Moreover, what should be done if the child refuses to eat?
Answer
For a 5-month-old baby with upper respiratory infection and recurrent fever, it is recommended to conduct a detailed blood test and C-reactive protein test to determine whether it is a viral infection. There is no fixed standard for the amount of water to drink. Drinking more water during a cold is to replenish the increased water loss due to fever and to help the body’s metabolism. If the baby refuses to drink water, it is not advisable to force-feed, as this may cause coughing. Additionally, the baby’s appetite may be affected when sick, and at this time, you can consider giving a child digestion oral liquid. Usually, after the condition improves, appetite will gradually recover.