Question
A 10-year-old child has been experiencing persistent low fever, with a body temperature ranging from 36.5 degrees to rising to 37 to 37.3 degrees at night. The child’s mental state is normal during deep sleep, has poor appetite, no significant weight change, and the illness has lasted for about a month. Accompanying symptoms include fever and cough. Past treatment and effects include detailed examination showing low white blood cell count, intravenous anti-inflammatory treatment, and cold treatment.
Answer
The persistent low fever described by the child may be caused by various factors, including physiological low fever and chronic infections. Physiological low fever may be due to factors such as exercise, crying, wearing too many clothes, or high indoor temperature, which can cause the child’s metabolism to increase and produce excessive heat. In chronic infections, tuberculosis-induced low fever is the most common, followed by tonsillitis, urinary tract infection, or chronic infection. Other possible causes include bacterial or viral infections, protozoan infections, and rickettsial infections, which can all lead to prolonged symptoms of low fever. It is recommended that for a 10-year-old child whose digestive system is not yet mature, oral corticosteroid medications should not be used for treatment. I personally suggest using physical treatment methods, such as removing the child’s clothing and using a towel soaked in water at about 37 degrees Celsius to rub the entire body or take a bath. This can dilate the child’s skin blood vessels, dissipate body heat, and also absorb heat when water vaporizes. I hope these explanations can put you at ease and wish the child a healthy recovery.