Question
What should I do if my baby has persistent fever after stomach ailment?
Answer
Persistent fever in babies can be a symptom of a cold, possibly due to viruses, bacteria, or their metabolites stimulating the body to release excessive endogenous substances such as prostaglandins, which then act on the body’s temperature regulation center. I recommend the following measures: firstly, antiviral treatment, which can be administered orally in the form of traditional Chinese medicine with a cooling and detoxifying effect, such as Dahongliang; secondly, antibiotic treatment, which can be taken in the form of penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics, but the treatment duration should exceed three days; thirdly, symptomatic treatment, such as fever (above 38 degrees Celsius), can be treated with a combination medication containing ibuprofen (such as Anrikai) or nimesulide to lower the fever. However, these drugs have a short half-life and cannot maintain a whole night of cooling effect. It is recommended to use a pediatric suppository before bedtime to prevent sudden temperature spikes during the night from causing high fever convulsions.