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Suggest Treatment For High Fever In A Child
Question: Hello. I am writing because I am very worried. My daughter of 3 years from three days has had a very high fever till 40 celcius and evethough I started the antibiotic she contiuned the same. So i brought her at the hospital and the doctor made all the analysis. He tol me that PCR is very high but that he was not able to tell me where the infection was. At the begining we thought that it was sore infection since there was plaques in the tonsilies. I am very worried. Please tell me something. Thank you
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I can understand your being worried with your daughter being sick.
The C-Reactive Protein (PCR) can become elevated anytime there is infection or inflammation going on in the body, but it does not specify what the cause is.
Her complete blood count is indicative of an acute infection (high neutrophils, low lymphocytes), but again, does not indicate what the cause is.
Here is what I recommend:
A throat swab for 2 reasons:
Check a Rapid Strep Test to check for Strep
Check a Rapid flu to check for influenza
In addition, the swab (a separate one) should be sent for a culture and sensitivity test. The culture shows if a bacteria is causing the infection, and will identify which type of bacteria it is. The sensitivity test will show which antibiotics the bacteria is sensitive to and which antibiotics will not be as effective. The throat culture and sensitivity will help if the infection is located in the throat, but may not help if it is mostly located elsewhere.
Also, if she has a cough, a chest X-ray should be done.
And I think it would be reasonable to draw blood cultures also, if she is acting quite ill.
Is she continuing to be alert and normal behavior?
What other symptoms is she having? Painful urination? Stomach pain?
How long has she been on the antibiotic, and what is the name of it?
Is she able to continue to drink lots of fluids? Because if not, she can get dehydrated quickly with continued fever.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I can understand your being worried with your daughter being sick.
The C-Reactive Protein (PCR) can become elevated anytime there is infection or inflammation going on in the body, but it does not specify what the cause is.
Her complete blood count is indicative of an acute infection (high neutrophils, low lymphocytes), but again, does not indicate what the cause is.
Here is what I recommend:
A throat swab for 2 reasons:
Check a Rapid Strep Test to check for Strep
Check a Rapid flu to check for influenza
In addition, the swab (a separate one) should be sent for a culture and sensitivity test. The culture shows if a bacteria is causing the infection, and will identify which type of bacteria it is. The sensitivity test will show which antibiotics the bacteria is sensitive to and which antibiotics will not be as effective. The throat culture and sensitivity will help if the infection is located in the throat, but may not help if it is mostly located elsewhere.
Also, if she has a cough, a chest X-ray should be done.
And I think it would be reasonable to draw blood cultures also, if she is acting quite ill.
Is she continuing to be alert and normal behavior?
What other symptoms is she having? Painful urination? Stomach pain?
How long has she been on the antibiotic, and what is the name of it?
Is she able to continue to drink lots of fluids? Because if not, she can get dehydrated quickly with continued fever.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you doctor for the promt response. Now she is at the hospital and she is taking a lot if serum. She has been like this from sunday that she has had an eleveted fever. I have taked the strep test before she continue her antibiotic cure. She is taking endavenous ceftriaxone now. Beforw arriving at the hospital she had stomach pain but I think because of the painkiller. She is active and has a normal behavior.
So I have not to be worried, this PCR test is quite normal knowing that she has an acute infection?
Meanwhile I have made X ray and everything was clear.
Thank you very muc
Thank you againh
So I have not to be worried, this PCR test is quite normal knowing that she has an acute infection?
Meanwhile I have made X ray and everything was clear.
Thank you very muc
Thank you againh
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Ceftriazone is a reasonable antibiotic if they do not yet know what the source of the infection is.
They should also make sure to check her urine for infection and look for any other source for infection, if the strep test was negative.
The PCR is very high, but other than telling us that there is an infection or inflammation, it doesn't tell us anything specific. Yes, given how high her fever has been, for several days, it is not unexpected that her PCR would be very high.
I am glad that she is now on an intravenous line, as this will help with possible dehydration. A young child with a fever can become dehydrated quickly.
That she has normal behavior is a good sign.
As a mom, I can very much understand how stressful this is to have happening. I hope her fever and infection will resolve quickly now and she will soon be better.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Ceftriazone is a reasonable antibiotic if they do not yet know what the source of the infection is.
They should also make sure to check her urine for infection and look for any other source for infection, if the strep test was negative.
The PCR is very high, but other than telling us that there is an infection or inflammation, it doesn't tell us anything specific. Yes, given how high her fever has been, for several days, it is not unexpected that her PCR would be very high.
I am glad that she is now on an intravenous line, as this will help with possible dehydration. A young child with a fever can become dehydrated quickly.
That she has normal behavior is a good sign.
As a mom, I can very much understand how stressful this is to have happening. I hope her fever and infection will resolve quickly now and she will soon be better.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you again. It is true that I am very worried because it is the first time that she is so sick. The culture seems to be negative. Today we took the results. The doctors tell that it might be a bacterial infection but that they dont know what exactly. Tonight at the hospital she has been better because the fever has been raised only once. 38 celcius.
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
That is a better temperature, but is still a fever.
Given how long this has been going on, I am wondering if an infectious disease specialist has been consulted by the medical team?
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
That is a better temperature, but is still a fever.
Given how long this has been going on, I am wondering if an infectious disease specialist has been consulted by the medical team?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Doctor! Through all the consults with the doctors They dont specify the cause of this infection. At the begining if the antibiotic therapy she reacted real good so the fever increaes only after 14 hours but through the day this distance became more close. From the 4 -the of the day. The fever increased about 38,3 grade in midnight. She has taken only 4 doses of antibiotc.
Do you think that this is normal?
I dont understand why the doctors dont give me a specific answer, seems like they dont know where all this infection cames from.
Please tell me if I should be worried, I have reas that PCR is so high when is something serios.
I am so scared, she is only 3 years old.
Please help
Do you think that this is normal?
I dont understand why the doctors dont give me a specific answer, seems like they dont know where all this infection cames from.
Please tell me if I should be worried, I have reas that PCR is so high when is something serios.
I am so scared, she is only 3 years old.
Please help
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello -
If she has been on the antibiotic for 24 hours, and if it is helping (in other words, if it is effective for this infection), you should start to see some regular improvement. Not that the fever will necessarily be all gone now, but it should not be rising as high as it was before. She should overall be gradually improving now.
I am a family practice doctor (general practice), and I think it might be a good idea to repost your question and write in the first line of your question "FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE/PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST ONLY". Then ask them to refer to your previous question (in other words this one with me) for them to see all of the history you provided so far. You can continue to communicate with me on this question but I would feel more comfortable if you also repost and ask for an infectious disease pediatrician for their opinion too.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello -
If she has been on the antibiotic for 24 hours, and if it is helping (in other words, if it is effective for this infection), you should start to see some regular improvement. Not that the fever will necessarily be all gone now, but it should not be rising as high as it was before. She should overall be gradually improving now.
I am a family practice doctor (general practice), and I think it might be a good idea to repost your question and write in the first line of your question "FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE/PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST ONLY". Then ask them to refer to your previous question (in other words this one with me) for them to see all of the history you provided so far. You can continue to communicate with me on this question but I would feel more comfortable if you also repost and ask for an infectious disease pediatrician for their opinion too.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello I am writing
Brief Answer:
Question
Detailed Answer:
Hi xxxxxx - I just see part of a question above. Do you want to write the rest of it, please?
Of were you trying to repost to ask an infectious disease/pediatrician? To do that, repost a brand new question but write that it is for "pediatric infectious disease only".
Question
Detailed Answer:
Hi xxxxxx - I just see part of a question above. Do you want to write the rest of it, please?
Of were you trying to repost to ask an infectious disease/pediatrician? To do that, repost a brand new question but write that it is for "pediatric infectious disease only".
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
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