Question
A 7-year-old boy has been suffering from a persistent fever of 40 degrees. After taking fever-reducing medication, his temperature does drop, but it rises back to 40 degrees a few hours later. Other symptoms include lymphadenitis, leukocytosis, a dark yellow and slippery tongue coating, pharyngeal abscess, nasal congestion, loose stools, and diarrhea. What could be the possible causes of this recurrent high fever, and how should it be treated?
Answer
It is currently not possible to determine the exact cause of the child’s recurrent high fever. It is recommended to conduct a routine blood test to determine if there is a bacterial or viral infection present. Simply taking fever-reducing medication is not a fundamental treatment approach; treatment should be targeted at the underlying cause. High fever usually does not occur in the absence of inflammation or viral infection.