What causes persistent fever in child with pneumonia?
Patient: My daughter, age 7, has had a fever over 101 since Sunday 2/22. She was diagonsed with pnumonia on 2/24 and started antibiotics right away. Her fever and cough have persisted. I would think 7 days into the RX she would be back to OK...Thoughts on what we should do? Doctor: Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM. I can understand your situation and problem. Treatment of pneumonia should be guided according to the causative organism. Since she is still having  cough and fever even after 2 days of antibiotics, better to get done sputum culture and sensitivity. Sputum culture  will find the causative organism and sensitivity  will guide you for antibiotics. So by this we can prevent  haphazard  use of antibiotics. Because  haphazard use can delay the recovery and increase  chances of drug  resistance. So better to consult pulmonologist and get done sputum culture and sensitivity to start appropriate antibiotics.