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What Could Cause Fever In A Child And Progress To The Parents And Siblings Despite Them All Taking Paracetamol?
Question: Hi Doctor,
about 3 days ago, my 3 years old son developed a fever of about 38.5, a day after i, my wife and my 1 year and 6 months old daughter all developed fever.
The fever is worst on me and my wife, and it's least on my 1 year old daughter
I usually give them Ibuprofen or Paracetamol 2 to 3 times a day and that's sufficient for them, they are otherwise active and playing eating and drinking alot of juices and fruits. my son started coughing yesterday and to night the cough is slightly more but it's dry cough.
Me and My wife symptoms are unbearable though, we have severe body ache, backache, joints ache, even touching my skin is kind of painful or uncomfortable, we also have cold or itchy feeling on our throat when we take a deep breath leading us to cough a dry cough. we also feel dizzy, or weird feeling when walking slight nausea, but no vomiting or diarrhea.
it's even far worse for me because despite taking Paracetamol 1000mg every 3 to 4 hours my fever never goes below 38.5, i took paracetamol 1000mg about 2 hours ago now and my fever went from 38.5 to 39.1 so instead of going down it's going up. also, I have a bad headache.
my questions.
1. is this a bad virus that news talk about or is it a just common flu virus and these symptoms happen in flu viruses?
2. If the symptoms are this bad for me and wife, is it worse for our children? even though they don't seem to show discomforts and are playful when i ask my son do you have pain somewhere he says no?
3.Is this dangerous virus for my children and should i take them to hospital immediately or should I wait for a couple of days?
4.why isn't my fever going down, and what should i do to reduce my fever?
5.Can i take NSAIDs, despite that i have a bad ulcer and i'm taking dexlansoprazole (Dexilent) 60mg daily, or should i avoid NSAIDs?
6.or is this bacterial infection and consider starting antibiotics?
7.we have a cat that we got from outside recently who sneezes alot, could we have got the infection from the cat?
about 3 days ago, my 3 years old son developed a fever of about 38.5, a day after i, my wife and my 1 year and 6 months old daughter all developed fever.
The fever is worst on me and my wife, and it's least on my 1 year old daughter
I usually give them Ibuprofen or Paracetamol 2 to 3 times a day and that's sufficient for them, they are otherwise active and playing eating and drinking alot of juices and fruits. my son started coughing yesterday and to night the cough is slightly more but it's dry cough.
Me and My wife symptoms are unbearable though, we have severe body ache, backache, joints ache, even touching my skin is kind of painful or uncomfortable, we also have cold or itchy feeling on our throat when we take a deep breath leading us to cough a dry cough. we also feel dizzy, or weird feeling when walking slight nausea, but no vomiting or diarrhea.
it's even far worse for me because despite taking Paracetamol 1000mg every 3 to 4 hours my fever never goes below 38.5, i took paracetamol 1000mg about 2 hours ago now and my fever went from 38.5 to 39.1 so instead of going down it's going up. also, I have a bad headache.
my questions.
1. is this a bad virus that news talk about or is it a just common flu virus and these symptoms happen in flu viruses?
2. If the symptoms are this bad for me and wife, is it worse for our children? even though they don't seem to show discomforts and are playful when i ask my son do you have pain somewhere he says no?
3.Is this dangerous virus for my children and should i take them to hospital immediately or should I wait for a couple of days?
4.why isn't my fever going down, and what should i do to reduce my fever?
5.Can i take NSAIDs, despite that i have a bad ulcer and i'm taking dexlansoprazole (Dexilent) 60mg daily, or should i avoid NSAIDs?
6.or is this bacterial infection and consider starting antibiotics?
7.we have a cat that we got from outside recently who sneezes alot, could we have got the infection from the cat?
Brief Answer:
Acute viral respiratory illness
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It seems like all the family members are suffering from the same respiratory viral infection i.e., fever, dry cough or minimal expectoration, severe body ache, backache, joint pain, all pointing towards viral etiology.
1. Acute viral respiratory illness is associated with many respiratory viruses including influenza. All of them produce similar symptoms and a specific viral etiologic diagnosis cannot be made on clinical grounds alone and given many serotypes of the same virus, diagnosis by serum antibody tests is often impractical.
2. Each of these general categories of illness has a certain clinical profile which occurs exclusively in young children and has a characteristic clinical course. The clinical profile varies with the same virus in different age groups.
3. Most of these viral respiratory illnesses are generally mild and self-limited, treatment is not usually necessary. Antihistamines and paracetamol, oral decongestant are usually sufficient. Reduction of activity or rest as needed are all that is required. As your child is playful-it indicates stage of recovery or convalescence. Wait unless very severe symptoms like ear pain or sputum turns yellow.
4.You can take paracetamol 500 mg three times a day. A course of the first line antibiotic ( e.g. Azithromycin orally daily for 3-5 days) will be prudent as bacterial complications such as sinusitis (you have bad headache) sometimes develop and fever continues. Antibiotic is prescription drug.
5. Don't take NSAID as you have a history of peptic ulcer.
6. As I have already mentioned, since your fever is not subsiding as expected, you may start a course of antibiotic with consultation of a doctor.
7. It does not seem to be zoonosis or transmitted from a pet cat.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas
Internal Medicine Specialist
Acute viral respiratory illness
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It seems like all the family members are suffering from the same respiratory viral infection i.e., fever, dry cough or minimal expectoration, severe body ache, backache, joint pain, all pointing towards viral etiology.
1. Acute viral respiratory illness is associated with many respiratory viruses including influenza. All of them produce similar symptoms and a specific viral etiologic diagnosis cannot be made on clinical grounds alone and given many serotypes of the same virus, diagnosis by serum antibody tests is often impractical.
2. Each of these general categories of illness has a certain clinical profile which occurs exclusively in young children and has a characteristic clinical course. The clinical profile varies with the same virus in different age groups.
3. Most of these viral respiratory illnesses are generally mild and self-limited, treatment is not usually necessary. Antihistamines and paracetamol, oral decongestant are usually sufficient. Reduction of activity or rest as needed are all that is required. As your child is playful-it indicates stage of recovery or convalescence. Wait unless very severe symptoms like ear pain or sputum turns yellow.
4.You can take paracetamol 500 mg three times a day. A course of the first line antibiotic ( e.g. Azithromycin orally daily for 3-5 days) will be prudent as bacterial complications such as sinusitis (you have bad headache) sometimes develop and fever continues. Antibiotic is prescription drug.
5. Don't take NSAID as you have a history of peptic ulcer.
6. As I have already mentioned, since your fever is not subsiding as expected, you may start a course of antibiotic with consultation of a doctor.
7. It does not seem to be zoonosis or transmitted from a pet cat.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas
Internal Medicine Specialist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Thank you so much Doctor for the detailed response, I was actually thinking to go to Hospital and get IV Paracetamol such as Perfalgan.
at the moment my fever is 39.5 with severe back pain paracetamol 1000mg only reduces to 38.5 XXXXXXX
My son started coughing dry cough last night and i gave him 5ml Zyrtec which stopped the cough atleast for now, even though he is saying his throat is painful when he takes a breath.
Just some follow up questions.
1.My daughter had history of febrile seizure when the temprature reaches about 39 or 38.7. My question is if we see that she has fever of 38.3 for example can we give paracetamol or ibuprofen straight away even if she is hungry or should we make sure she eats well first then give her but we are worried if we wait till she eats the fever might go even higher.
2. I will ask Doctor to give me antibiotic should i consider for the children as well, since we almost have similar symptoms?
thank you so much again
at the moment my fever is 39.5 with severe back pain paracetamol 1000mg only reduces to 38.5 XXXXXXX
My son started coughing dry cough last night and i gave him 5ml Zyrtec which stopped the cough atleast for now, even though he is saying his throat is painful when he takes a breath.
Just some follow up questions.
1.My daughter had history of febrile seizure when the temprature reaches about 39 or 38.7. My question is if we see that she has fever of 38.3 for example can we give paracetamol or ibuprofen straight away even if she is hungry or should we make sure she eats well first then give her but we are worried if we wait till she eats the fever might go even higher.
2. I will ask Doctor to give me antibiotic should i consider for the children as well, since we almost have similar symptoms?
thank you so much again
Brief Answer:
Acute viral respiratory illness
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
1. Febrile convulsions usually occur early in a viral infection, when the temperature is rising rapidly (temp>100.4 degree F or 38 degree C). Administer paracetamol with water 30 min before or 2 hr after meals.
2. Both yourself and your son (who have sore throat) need to take a course of antibiotic now (4th/5th day of illnesses).
However, your local doctor will be the best judge.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas
Internal Medicine Specialist
Acute viral respiratory illness
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
1. Febrile convulsions usually occur early in a viral infection, when the temperature is rising rapidly (temp>100.4 degree F or 38 degree C). Administer paracetamol with water 30 min before or 2 hr after meals.
2. Both yourself and your son (who have sore throat) need to take a course of antibiotic now (4th/5th day of illnesses).
However, your local doctor will be the best judge.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas
Internal Medicine Specialist
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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