Question

A child has a runny nose followed by a fever. They took fever-reducing medicine, but the fever persists and is high. The child’s guardian wants to know if it could be avian influenza.

Answer

The child may have pediatric roseola, characterized by a sudden drop in fever and the appearance of pink maculopapular rashes 3 to 4 days after the onset of fever. There is no need to worry excessively; when the fever subsides and rashes appear, it indicates that roseola is in its later stage. It is important to provide the child with ample fluids to facilitate sweating and urination, and maintain a light diet, such as drinking more congee, and temporarily avoid eating minced meat. Pediatric roseola is a self-limiting disease that does not require antibiotics for treatment. Simply enhance care and provide symptomatic treatment; the child will recover automatically within a few days.