Question
A baby girl is 7 days shy of her first birthday. In the morning, she had a fever of 38.4 degrees, accompanied by bad breath and blue eyes. She has had issues with indigestion in the past, so she has been receiving pediatric acupuncture treatment and taking Chai Gui and Er Tu Ling powders. After taking the medicine, she fell asleep for a while but woke up feeling unwell and was prone to crying and fussing. At 4 pm, she was given more Xiao Chai Gui, and her body temperature rose to 39 degrees. She had intermittent fevers at night, but they did not exceed 39 degrees, and she asked whether she should go to the hospital for an emergency visit.
Answer
When a baby has a fever and shows symptoms like cold hands and feet, it usually indicates that the body temperature has not yet reached its peak. If the baby sweats and feels hot, it may be in the phase of high fever or a rising body temperature. If the baby continues to have a high fever for 2 to 3 days without improvement, and is accompanied by symptoms such as headache, nausea, seizures, or a poor mental state, it is advisable to go to the hospital for a detailed examination. If the temperature does not exceed 39 degrees, you can closely monitor the baby’s condition. However, if symptoms worsen or do not improve, medical attention should be sought promptly. Additionally, if the baby refuses to wear a fever-reducing patch, other methods of cooling can be tried, and attention should be paid to whether the baby is sweating to help lower the temperature.