What is the reason for a child's cold and persistent low fever?

Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
Updated on November 03, 2024
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During a cold, children may experience a low fever or even persistently high fever. A persistent low fever indicates that the child has not fully recovered from the illness, reflecting the recovery phase, or that the fever-reducing method being used may be inappropriate.

In addition to administering oral cold medications based on the child's symptoms during a cold, oral antiviral medications can also be given to treat the illness jointly. Simultaneously, timely fever reduction measures should be implemented for children. A low fever, typically defined as a body temperature below 38.1°C, does not require oral fever-reducing medications. One can encourage the child to drink more water, frequently feed warm water, or repeatedly wipe the body with warm water, all of which can effectively reduce fever. If the low fever persists, it may be necessary to take the child to the hospital for a blood test to determine the appropriate medication for treatment based on the actual situation.

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Childhood colds refer to a general term for upper respiratory infections in children, including wind-cold colds, wind-heat colds, acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, and more. They are caused by infections from various pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, etc., and symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. When children experience a cold accompanied by nausea and vomiting symptoms, it is referred to as a gastroenteric type of cold, and treatments can include antiemetics and adjustments to gastrointestinal function. However, it is also important to consider whether there are surgical conditions. If the child exhibits abdominal distension, poor mental state, or frequent vomiting, it is advisable to go to the hospital for examinations such as X-rays to rule out symptoms like intestinal obstruction.

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What should I do if a child has a stuffy nose at night due to a cold?

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What should I do if a child has a cold and an earache?

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How should a child's cough be treated after a cold?

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Is rectal administration good for children with colds?

Rectal administration of medicine is not a treatment method used in formal hospitals; it is typically used for sedation or certain gastrointestinal disorders, requiring enema treatment. In some smaller clinics, enemas and rectal administration of medication might be used to treat children's fever and colds, which is an irregular treatment method and is best avoided. This may cause damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa and lead to disorders such as diarrhea. Therefore, formal hospitals do not recommend using rectal administration to treat common issues like children's colds and fevers. Moreover, this method could potentially lead to side effects from the medication, affecting body functions.