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What Causes Fever And Cough?

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Posted on Mon, 14 Apr 2014
Question: My granddaughter, age 4, has been sick with a fever and coughing since last Sunday. We took her to Urgent Care because we were on vacation and they gave her zpak generic . She wasn't any better on Wednesday so we took her to the ER. They did a chest X-ray and said her lungs looked ok just finish the med. she took her last pill today and is still running a 102+ fever. She is hardly eating, will drink a little Kool Aid as a last resort. The med gives her diarrhea after taking it. I am lost as to what to advise them to do. She has basically had this cough since the first of February when she tested positive for the Flu virus and they gave her Tamiflu.
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Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (3 hours later)
Brief Answer: Following suggestions... Detailed Answer: Hi, I have gone through the medical history of your granddaughter and I will try to guide you in finding out what is causing her fever not to get down. If the zpack did not succeeded in lowering her high fever, there are 2 explanations: - it was not the antibiotic of choice, should change antibiotic and for longer use - she is not having a bacterial infection, but a viral infection that persists. At this point, you should send her and checked by a pediatrician (pulmonologist) in order to rule out Flu virus. Her ears should also get checked as might need local therapy (ear drops). With regards to the cough, I'd ask: - is she having phlegm also? If yes, should start a mucolytic. - if no phlegm, then, can start an anti-histamine drug to ease coughing I always advise my patients to: - drink plenty of fluids (water, juices, tea) - let her get more rest - have aerosol therapy (with sea salt) - raise her head from shoulders to ease her breathing preventing coughing - give her 1 teaspoon of olive oil and another teaspoon of honey in the morning. Hope it helped! Let me know if you have further queries! Dr.Albana
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 7302 Questions

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What Causes Fever And Cough?

Brief Answer: Following suggestions... Detailed Answer: Hi, I have gone through the medical history of your granddaughter and I will try to guide you in finding out what is causing her fever not to get down. If the zpack did not succeeded in lowering her high fever, there are 2 explanations: - it was not the antibiotic of choice, should change antibiotic and for longer use - she is not having a bacterial infection, but a viral infection that persists. At this point, you should send her and checked by a pediatrician (pulmonologist) in order to rule out Flu virus. Her ears should also get checked as might need local therapy (ear drops). With regards to the cough, I'd ask: - is she having phlegm also? If yes, should start a mucolytic. - if no phlegm, then, can start an anti-histamine drug to ease coughing I always advise my patients to: - drink plenty of fluids (water, juices, tea) - let her get more rest - have aerosol therapy (with sea salt) - raise her head from shoulders to ease her breathing preventing coughing - give her 1 teaspoon of olive oil and another teaspoon of honey in the morning. Hope it helped! Let me know if you have further queries! Dr.Albana