What to do if a 10-year-old child has a fever

Generally speaking, fever refers to an elevated body temperature. A 10-year-old child may develop a fever after physical exercise, emotional excitement, common cold, pneumonia, tonsillitis, or other causes. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention and follow the doctor's guidance for treatment, which may include general care and medication. Specific explanations are as follows:

1. After exercise

During physical activity, muscle contractions and accelerated metabolism generate more heat than the body can dissipate, possibly leading to elevated body temperature. It is important to rest adequately, drink sufficient water, and physical cooling methods can be used, such as wiping the forehead, neck, and armpits with a wet towel.

2. Emotional excitement

Excessive emotional excitement can stimulate the central nervous system, triggering a series of physiological responses, potentially increasing metabolism and heat production, thus causing fever. It is recommended to calm the child first and help them relax, along with applying physical cooling measures.

3. Common cold

The common cold is mainly caused by viral infection. The virus spreads through the respiratory tract and invades the respiratory mucosa when the body's immunity is weakened, triggering an inflammatory response that may lead to the aforementioned symptoms. It may also be accompanied by symptoms such as coughing and runny nose. Medications such as ribavirin granules, acyclovir tablets, and children's cough syrup may be used under the doctor's guidance.

4. Pneumonia

Pneumonia may be caused by bacterial or viral infection of the lung tissue. Pathogens multiply extensively in the lung tissue, triggering an inflammatory response, leading to fever in children. It may also be accompanied by symptoms such as rapid breathing and chest pain. Patients may use medications such as azithromycin dry suspension, ambroxol oral solution, and ceftriaxone sodium for injection under the doctor's guidance.

5. Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is mainly caused by bacterial or viral infections. Inflammatory mediators stimulate the immune system to produce endogenous pyrogens, which act on the body's temperature-regulating center, causing the temperature set point to rise, thereby inducing fever. Symptoms may also include difficulty swallowing and swollen tonsils. Medications such as penicillin G sodium for injection, Shuanghuanglian oral liquid, and Qingre Jiedu oral liquid may be used under the doctor's guidance.

Maintaining good lifestyle habits, appropriate exercise and diet, emotional stability, and paying attention to changes in environmental temperature can help prevent fever.