Suggest treatment for fever in a child
Patient: Hi thank you. My 7 years old has had a low fever for 10 days..he turns pale some time during periods of time and get emotional from time to time saying he feels tired. But then gets back to normal behavior. But low fever of 99 to 99.6 stay the same through the day. He has low appetite but eats. He has developed a cough since yesterday. What could it be? Should I be concerned. It has had happened in the past. When I mentioned to his pediatrician my concern last year, he listened to his heart and said it was nothing. Should I persue and get a second opinion or is it normal for a child to get low fever for a while from time to time? Thank you. Doctor: It is quite normal for children to suffer from fever from time to time and most often it is due to a viral infection. Last year the doctor had probably found the chest (lungs) to be clear (not the heart). You can definitely go for a second opinion but all I would say that you need not be concerned. Just give paracetamol to bring down the temperature. You may give steam inhalation which would be helpful in diluting cough if any.