What causes fever in children?

Posted on Mon, 18 May 2015

Question: My 1 year old daughter has a fever for about 14 hours and has not stool ed the whole day. I try to give her 2 ml of infant advil every 4 hours or so cold baths. It only seems to lower her temp. What should I do. Should I carry her to the er.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (45 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It seems to be a case of viral infection.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

Moft often fever in children is due to viral cause. The first thing I would suggest is not to panic. In case of viral infections, irrespective of the use of antibiotics, it takes 5-7 days to recover. You have to give tylenol to bring down the temperature. Also give tepid sponging. Please do not use cold water for the baths. Use lukwarm water or at least water at body temperature. If the child is otherwise active and fine, I would not worry. The child needs to be rushed to the ER if she grows lethargic.

I would not worry if the child does not pass stool for a few days provided the stool is not hard and pellet like. In case that happens, plenty of green leafy vegetables is to be given.

Hope that helps.

Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das

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

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (4 minutes later)

Can this be cause by her teething.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Children tend to put anything and everything in the mouth

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.

Teething would not directly cause an infection. But it is possible that in such an age the child puts anything and everything in the mouth and that could indeed have been the source of infection.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 minute later)

Thanks Tylenol and carry her to the doctor to get Antibiotics

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Antibiotics are ineffective in a viral infection and need not be given

Detailed Answer:
Thanks again for writing back.

In case of viral infections antibiotics are ineffective. Antibiotics are only effective in case of bacterial infections. I would suspect a viral infection is the child is active and fine and not lethargic. The child needs to be treated with antibiotics only if there are alarming signs like lethargy.

Regards

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