Question
The child is exactly 1 year old and has had a fever for 2 days before experiencing a high fever again. Now it’s 38 degrees, with a slightly flushed face, and stuffy nose with runny nose. The mucus is white and not particularly thick. The child is not eating much and the nose has been wiped so much it’s red. There’s a feeling of many dried mucus in the nose, which is yellowish. What kind of assistance is needed: What should be done for a child with a cold, fever, stuffy nose, and runny nose?
Answer
For children with a cold and fever, the normal body temperature can vary slightly among individuals. Generally, the normal body temperature range under the armpit is 36℃ to 37℃, and when the underarm temperature is below 37.4℃, it can be considered as feverish. It’s not necessary to cool down the child’s fever during a cold unless the body temperature drops below 38.5℃, which poses a risk of brain cell damage or if the child has a history of febrile seizures, in which case heat-relieving medication should be administered early. Otherwise, there’s no need to rush for fever reduction treatment. Because temperature drop is a natural defense response of the body, it can enhance antibody production, increase phagocyte activity, and sometimes it is even beneficial for diagnosis and prognosis prediction.