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What Causes Persistent Fever In A Child?

Posted on Thu, 3 Nov 2016

Question: Hi doctor My 4 years old son is having high fever 103/104 from the past 4 days. We have admitted him in the hospital 3 days ago. He was given Minoref for one day later added Oflaxacin also.
But still fever spikes did not control occurring high fever for every 5 hours. Fever coming down after giving mefthagesic ds.
We are getting tensed about what is happening. Please advise what needs to be done.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Likely to be viral.

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 and antibiotics are ineffective in such cases. Irrespective of use of antibiotics, it usually spontaneously resolves in 5-7 days. Till then the spikes may continue.

I will request you to upload the reports of the tests done. It will help me to understand the situation.

If your child has fever with temperature more than 100°F, you need to give paracetamol or acetaminophen (P-250, Crocin or Tylenol) to bring down. If paracetamol is not effective in bringing down the temperature, you need to use Meftal-P (mefenamic acid) which is more effective. (prescription medicine).

I would await your response.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (2 hours later)

Thanks for the reply doctor. I have uploaded the reports.
Could you please tell me whether we should do malaria test also get done? Because he is getting shivered when the temperature is high (103/104).

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Bacterial infection

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.

I have checked the attached reports. There seems to be evidence of a bacterial infection and your doctor has done the right thing by prescribing antibiotics. Chills and rigors are commonly seen due to urinary tract infection so you can get a routine microscopy done along with the blood test for malaria that you seek.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (15 minutes later)

Thanks once again. One last question, the fever spikes are coming at regular intervals and not responding to antibiotics that are currently given. What could be the reason for that. Is there any need to change the antibiotics?

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please be patient.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.

Fever spikes do not respond to antibiotics. They respond to paracetamol or mefenamic acid. Antibiotics bring down the underlying infection and sometimes it may take some time before the fever stops coming back. Unless your child has a sick and toxic look and is lethargic, I do not think that antibiotics need to be changed. It is only if the fever lasts for more than 7 days that you would need to get the situation reviewed by your doctor.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (3 minutes later)

Thank you sir.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Glad to be of service

Detailed Answer:
Feel free to write back directly to me if you ever have a health related query in the future. I would be there to assist you.

Regards

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. Chakravarthy Mazumdar