Suggest Treatment For Fever, Throat Irritation And Running Nose

Posted on Mon, 20 Jul 2015

Question: My 9 month old son has fever since the last 3 days (the XXXXXXX it has reached was 102F). He has been prescribed babygesic as well as another SOS medicine (myphthal, i guess but i am not sure the name is right). He also has some irritation in his throat and a running nose for the last 3 days. We think it is throat irritation since he is puts his fingers deep in his mouth as if to clear some block. The symptoms have not changed a lot over the last 3 days. Is there a reason to worry?

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Looks like viral illness - do not use Meftal or Meftal-P

Detailed Answer:
Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic.

Fever of few days without any localizing signs could as well a viral illness. Usually rather than fever, what is more important is the activity of the child, in between 2 fever episodes on the same day. If the kid is active and playing around when there is no fever, it is probably viral illness and it doesn't require antibiotics at all. Once viral fever comes it will there for 4-7 days. So do not worry about duration if the kid is active.

Paracetamol can be given in the dose of 15mg/kg/dose (maximum ceiling dose of 500mg) every 4-6th hourly that too only if fever is more than 100F. I suggest not using combination medicines for fever, especially with Paracetamol.

Meftal-P contains Mefenamic acid which is a NSAID. It carries the risk of gastritis and renal problems in the long run. Please do not use Meftal-P.

Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,

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

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (4 minutes later)

The entire pattern is as follows:

1. Monday morning fever and vomitting
2. Doctor advised babygesic and relent syrup
3. Monday evening heavy vomitting and signs of rapid breathing. Doctor - nebulization
4. Tuesday morning - nebulization continues. Fever persists. Doctor - mefthal
5. Tuesday evening - nebulization continues. Fever reaches 102F
6. Wednesday morning - Fever at 101. nebulization continues

Between the 6 hr gap of babygesic, the baby is active and does not really show signs of sickness apart from sticking his fingers deep in his mouth and self gagging (but no vomitting)

Please let me know if these are causes of concern.

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
In between 2 fever episodes if kid is fine - Don't worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi...In between 2 fever episodes if kid is fine - Don't worry.

Putting of fingers in mouth and self gagging is because of the throat irritation he might be having due to the upper respiratory symptoms. Nothing to worry about that also.

The pattern you have quoted above is fitting into classical viral illness. They are not of concern. But only one concern is that - some kids tend to have seizures during very high fever - called Simple Febrile Seizures. If that happens please rush to the nearest emergency immediately.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth

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

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (21 hours later)

Thanks for the response.

Post your suggestion, we have stopped mefthal-p. After yesterday afternoon, my son showed signs of improvement (temperature dropping to 99F) and slightly more comfort in general activity.

However, fever grew in the evening and reached 101.9F late in the night and early morning. He vomitted in the morning, after he was fed. At this moment the fever is back to normal again.

When should an alarm be raised in such a situation - where fever has persisted for 3 days?

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Viral illness may stay for 5-7 days - Do not worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi... As I have already suggested in my first interaction with you - If the kid is active and playing around when there is no fever (That is - in between 2 fever episodes on the same day), it is probably viral illness and it doesn't require antibiotics at all.

Once viral fever comes it will there for 4-7 days. So do not worry about duration if the kid is active.

In another 48 hours he will be fine.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

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