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Child Having High Fever, Chills And Headache. Prescribed With Paracetamol For Viral Infection. How To Manage Fever?

Posted on Mon, 10 Sep 2012

Question: My son suffering with High Fever,Chills, Severe headace. Had 3rd attach of fever in the last one month. Doctor suspecting of Viral infectioin. Paracetamol is only able to keep the fever done for 4 hours. How to manage the fever till morning when we go again to see the doctor?

Answered by Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (1 hour later)

Hi,

Thanks for posting the query .

After going through your query, I would like to comment the following:

1. Your son seems to be suffering from childhood asthma with recurrent respiratory infections.

2. Since cough is not there and the respiration is normal, the respiratory infection does not seem to be severe. Also if the chest x XXXXXXX has not show complete resolution, then a repeat course of antibiotics may be required.

3. For the high grade fever:
- You can repeat paracetamol in a dose of 10 mg per kg at 4 to 6 hourly intervals.
- Continue cold tepid sponging of whole body to reduce the body temperature.
- Keep you child hydrated. Give in oral fluids/ water. Avoid giving tea or coffee.
- If inspite of above measures the fever continues to increase, then you need to take your son to the emergency medical department.

4. If the diagnosis is viral then the management is mostly symptomatic and it will subside by itself.

5. After the control of this episode. Please visit a pulmonologist and get the management of asthma tailored as per you child's asthma severity and clinical assessment.

6. Also after this episode, do consult your physician regarding annual influenza vaccine for your child.

I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer any follow up queries.

Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.

Regards

Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (33 hours later)

Hi Dr. XXXXXXX

Appreciate the quick response, We were able to manage the night with Ibujesic Plus 8 ML instead of Crocin & seems Ibujesic is able to manage the fever for 8-10 hours.

The next day visit to family doctor was made - He diagnosed infection ( Puss) in throat & started antibiotic "Cefpodoxime 100" for 5 days.

My Follow on Question:-

As suggested by you, i would like to go in for the Annual Influenza can you pls let me know the Name of Annual Influenza Vaccine and best time to get it adminstred, ofcourse i will get it done thru the doctor only.

Also will the Pneumococcal vacine help in my son's case, since he has not vacinated for same, can we go in for that now as he is 7 years old currently ?

Thanks & Regards
XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (2 hours later)

Hi,

Thanks for reverting.

After going through your follow up query, I would like to comment the following:

1. It’s nice to know that your son's fever was controlled. Ibugesic is a NSAID (paracetamol.

2. Since he has been diagnosed with throat infection, he needs to complete a course of antibiotics. It is possible that more than 5 days of therapy with antibiotics is required to clear the infection.
3. Influenza vaccine (flu shots) is available as Influgen injection. You can get it prescribed and administered by your treating physician.

4. Pneumococcal vaccination can also be given to your son. It is available as Pneumovax23. You can get it prescribed and administered by your treating physician.

5. Remember that the vaccination should only be administered once the infection is treated.

I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer any follow up queries.

Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.

Regards

Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli

Follow up: Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (6 hours later)

Thanks for your quick revert.

You have mentioned that Antibiotic more than 5 days might be required for clearing the complete infection.

Is it safe to give so much that much antibiotic - 3 full course in a span of 35 days

He was first adminstered Augmentin DS for 8 ML for 5 days on 25th Dec2011 as he was suffering from Viral Infection.

Then on 4th XXXXXXX 2012, he was adminstered Augmentin DS 8 ML for 7 days due to mild Pneumonia, which got completed on 12th XXXXXXX 2012.

Now he has been again advised "Cefpodoxime 100" for 5 days.

What is the upper limit to which Antibiotics can be prescribed to a patient. ?

Any precautions we need to take and what the possible side effects?

Answered by Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (1 hour later)

Hi,

Thanks for the follow up.

Basically the duration of antibiotic course depends on the indication for which it is started. Since you have mentioned pus in throat hence antibiotics upto 2 weeks may be required.

For very severe infections like lung abscess, antibiotics of minimum 3 weeks are required.

In therapeutic doses side effects are seldom seen. However sometimes nausea , vomitting or diarrhoea may be seen. If it develops then the dose may be modified or antibiotic changed.

An antacid medication should be taken daily till antibiotic course to prevent possible acidity in the stomach.

I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer any follow up queries.

Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.

Regards

Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB

Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D