Question
A one-month-old baby has been feeling phlegm in the throat for the past two days, occasionally coughing but unable to cough up the phlegm. Yesterday, the cough was accompanied by a runny nose, and the baby cried continuously at night. This morning, the body temperature was measured at 38.5 degrees. The child has been lacking in energy. What should I do? Thank you!
Answer
There are many causes of fever in infants, which can be divided into infectious and non-infectious, with infectious being more common. Fever is a common symptom and it is essential to determine the cause first. Treatment should be directed at the cause, as high fever can lead to febrile seizures in infants. Therefore, it is necessary to control body temperature using both medication and physical methods. It is best to use medication under medical guidance.