How to treat high fever in a toddler, antibiotics offering little relief?
Patient: hi ! My 2yrs baby is suffering with high fever around 38.4/5 sometimes it reaches to 39. I already giving adol n now antibiotic ceclor too. but ths is happening every now n then i m really worried n now his head also is very hot wat to do ?I m really worried he is also havin nasal congestion. Doctor: Hi...during fever - the heat will be more perceived at the scalp (head) and tummy part because blood supply is more in those part of the skin. 95% of the kids illnesses are viral and do not require antibiotics. Antibiotics are not required in viral illnesses and they will not help too. Viral illness is self limiting. Fever of few days without any localizing signs could as well a viral illness. Usually rather than fever, what is more important is the activity of the child, in between 2 fever episodes on the same day. If the kid is active and playing around when there is no fever, it is probably viral illness and it doesn't require antibiotics at all. Once viral fever comes it will there for 4-7 days. So do not worry about duration if the kid is active.Paracetamol can be given in the dose of 15mg/kg/dose (maximum ceiling dose of 500mg) every 4-6th hourly that too only if fever is more than 100F. I suggest not using combination medicines for fever, especially with Paracetamol.Regards - Dr. Sumanth