Question
A child has had a fever for two consecutive nights, with the daytime condition being relatively good, accompanied by cough and phlegm, occasionally with a runny nose. The child has been given pediatric paracetamol and chlorphenamine granules and amoxicillin. Could it be the flu?
Answer
The flu is characterized by symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, and general malaise, with body temperatures reaching 39-40°C. It may also be accompanied by chills, shivering, and generalized muscle and joint pain, weakness, decreased appetite, and other systemic symptoms. Commonly, there is a sore throat, mild cough, and possibly nasal congestion and runny nose, as well as discomfort behind the sternum. Based on the description, the child’s symptoms are mainly related to viral infection from the common cold and do not require amoxicillin. It is recommended to increase fluid intake and use oral ibuprofen suspension for fever reduction and treatment.