Question
What should I do if my child has sinusitis caused by a cold and keeps running a fever?
Answer
The child has been experiencing symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, high fever at night, decreased appetite, and cough for six days. Previous treatment measures included routine blood tests, which came back normal, and a sinusitis scan. The child has been taking cephalexin dispersible tablets and nasal lavage syrup for four days, but there has been no significant improvement in the condition. For such symptoms, the first consideration is an infection caused by respiratory viruses, specifically whether it is an upper or lower respiratory tract infection, which can be difficult to distinguish based on symptoms alone. A definitive diagnosis requires clinical assessment and the use of imaging methods such as chest X-rays or pulmonary CT scans. Common antiviral medications include ribavirin, virucide, as well as traditional Chinese medicine like honeysuckle and isatis root. Symptomatic treatment includes various traditional Chinese herbal fever-reducing medicines, fever-reducing powders, and fever-reducing drugs. Antibiotics include penicillin, erythromycin, quinolones, and cephalosporins. Under the guidance of a doctor, these medications can be used as needed. The current medication treatment is primarily symptomatic; once the infection is controlled, the fever will naturally subside.