Unexplained persistent fever in children

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Le Thanh Cam - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
Children often have high fever due to weak immune system. High fever is a symptom that shows that there is something wrong with the health, so if the child has a prolonged fever for no apparent reason, parents need to understand and determine how to handle this situation.

1. Is persistent fever of unknown cause dangerous in children?

High fever is a common symptom in children. Fever is a natural response of the body when the body is attacked by a virus or bacteria.
However, it is not a persistent fever in children that is caused by a virus attack. After vaccination, when teething, children may also have a fever, so parents need to monitor and notice changes to find out the cause of the baby's fever.
The normal child's temperature will fall between 36.5 and 37.5 degrees Celsius. When the temperature is higher than 38 degrees Celsius, the child has a fever. From 38.5 to 39 degrees, parents should give the child medicine to lower the fever, Do not let the child have a fever too high to 41 degrees because it can lead to a state of convulsions, if left in a convulsive state for a long time, it can cause injury. The brain is very dangerous.

2. Possible causes of prolonged fever in children

Fever due to external influences:
Fever due to wearing too warm clothes: Children's body temperature is often higher than adults. Newborns have not yet been able to regulate body temperature. When parents wear clothes that are too warm, they will have a fever. Fever due to vaccination: This is a common symptom in most young children after being vaccinated against diseases such as diseases such as: Tetanus, measles, whooping cough,... Teething fever: When teething, children often have fever, accompanied by fussiness, crying a lot, anorexia in a short time. Fever can also occur while teething. Fever due to heatstroke: Hot weather, high temperature not only adults but also children are prone to high fever. Fever due to disease:
Fever due to flu Fever caused by ear infection: A child with a high fever due to an ear infection will have accompanying symptoms such as anorexia, earache, pus discharge, and unclear hearing.

For children who are still young and cannot speak, there will be strange expressions such as often pulling their ears, picking their hands in their ears.
Dengue fever: Children appear small red dots on the skin (hemorrhage), nosebleeds... fussy, tired, abdominal pain, cold limbs, black stools when defecating. Measles fever: In addition to prolonged high fever, children also have other signs such as runny nose, cough, red eyes, by the 4th day of fever, the baby's skin appears a rash, especially on the face. Fever due to pneumonia: wheezing, cough, refuses to eat or breastfeed with infant, pale feet, high fever Typhus : High fever with rash all over the body Fever from meningitis: The child has pneumonia Meningitis fever usually goes away with the following symptoms: stiff neck, bulging fontanelle, vomiting, lethargy and sensitivity to sunlight. Fever due to blood infection: The child has a persistent high fever accompanied by vomiting, shortness of breath, refusing to eat, ...

3. Treatment of persistent fever of unknown cause in children

When a child has a fever, parents can temporarily reduce the child's fever at home in the following ways:
Replenish water: Give the child plenty of water to drink to make up for the lost fluid due to fever. For newborns, mothers should increase the frequency of breastfeeding to increase resistance. Wear loose and airy clothes: mothers should dress the baby in clothes suitable for the ambient temperature, but with cool, absorbent materials. Absorbs sweat well to cool down the child's body. Take fever-reducing medicine for children or put fever-reducing tablets in the anus. Cool the child's body with warm water. Gently wipe in the armpits, groin. You should change the water and wash warm towels continuously to reduce the baby's body temperature. When warm water is wiped into the body, it will evaporate, helping to dilate blood vessels, thereby reducing fever.

4. What should be given to the child when the child has a prolonged fever of unknown cause?

Children should eat more foods rich in protein, low in fat such as eggs, milk, ... Should give children soup, porridge or cereals for easy digestion Eat soft fruits such as papaya, rich in vitamin C such as oranges If the child still has a high fever of over 39 degrees Celsius for no apparent reason, parents should take the child to the nearest medical facility. Vinmec International General Hospital with a system of modern equipment and international standards, along with a team of highly qualified and experienced doctors and nurses, parents can take their children to the Pediatric Clinic to receive medical care. examination, examination and treatment. In addition, when there is a need for consultation and examination at the hospitals and clinics of Vinmec Health system nationwide, please contact the Website for the best service.

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