Question
The child looks quite energetic, but has a fever between 37 and 38.5 degrees with a little runny nose and feverishness. How should it be handled?
Answer
For a child with a fever between 37 and 38.5 degrees, accompanied by a bit of runny nose and feverishness, you can use fever-reducing patches. If it’s the first time the child has had a high fever, it’s advisable to observe the situation first to see if a doctor needs to be consulted. If the fever is likely due to a viral infection, traditional Chinese medicine can be used; for bacterial infections, penicillin or other antibiotics may be prescribed. During the treatment, physical cooling methods or medication for fever reduction can be adopted, using the fever-reducing medicine every 4 to 6 hours, but caution should be exercised not to overuse it. Generally speaking, a common fever will last for about five days. During treatment, the child should drink plenty of water and eat light foods, avoiding spicy, irritating foods, and puffed snacks. I hope these suggestions are helpful to you, and wish your child a speedy recovery.