Suggest Treatment For Fever, Cough And Chest Congestion In A Child

Posted on Mon, 20 Feb 2017

Question: Hello Doctor, My daughter is 2.5yrs. She has 102 fever along with chest congestion and cough. She had ice cream 3 days before where this all started. We gave crosin, but temp is not coming down. Do u suggest meftal-p ( 3or 4 ml) to bring down temp.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Meftal P is more effective than Crocin

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through the details and understand your concern. Most often such symptoms are due to viral infections.

If your child has fever with temperature more than 100°F, you need to give paracetamol or acetaminophen (P-250, Crocin or Tylenol) to it bring down. If paracetamol is not effective in bringing down the temperature, you need to use Meftal-P (mefenamic acid) which is more effective.The minimum gap between two doses of Crocin is 4-6 hours. The doses of Crocin and Meftal P are independent of each other. Minimum gap between doses of Meftal P is 6-8 hours. However, I do not think that they would be needed to be used simultaneously. Also use tepid sponging.

If she has cough or nasal discharge give him some antiallergic like cetirizine once daily for next few days.

Please be patient, it should spontaneously resolve in 5-7 days.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (14 minutes later)

Dear Dr Diptanshu thanks for your prompt reply. We will follow your guidance as said, with metal-p, since here fever is not coming down. However, additonaly as I said she has chest congestion without cold and running nose. Do you suggest Azithromycin suspension 100 or 200mg for clearing whooping cough.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Steam inhalation is the mainstay of treatment.

Detailed Answer:
No, I do not suggest Azithromycin. Antibiotics are ineffective in viral infections.

You need to give steam inhalation to your child. It helps in reducing the congestion. Just sit with your child on your lap and place the source of steam before you. The water vapor will be in the air and automatically the child will breathe it in. Water vapor will reach deep inside and would help in diluting the cough and thus would provide relief. Use Nasoclear Saline Nasal Drops in case of nose block.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar