The baby has had a fever for several days, and it keeps coming back. What should I do?

Apr 17, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng

Introduction

Fever generally refers to an elevated body temperature. If a baby has had a fever for several days with recurring episodes, causal treatment is usually possible. Common causes include viral colds, infantile急疹 (roseola), acute suppurative tonsillitis, chronic bronchitis, and pneumonia. Children frequently experiencing fever should promptly visit a hospital to determine the exact cause and follow the doctor's guidance for appropriate treatment to control the condition and avoid delaying medical care.

Fever generally refers to an elevated body temperature. If a baby has had a fever for several days and the fever keeps recurring, it is usually possible to treat the underlying cause. Common causes include viral colds, roseola infantum, acute suppurative tonsillitis, chronic bronchitis, and pneumonia.

1. Viral Cold

A severe viral cold increases inflammatory mediators, which repeatedly stimulate the body's temperature-regulating center, easily causing recurring fever and coughing. If the axillary temperature does not exceed 38.5°C, physical cooling methods such as fever patches or warm water sponge baths may be used. If the axillary temperature exceeds 38.5°C, medications such as paracetamol sustained-release tablets, ibuprofen suspension, or ibuprofen sustained-release tablets may be taken according to medical advice.

2. Roseola Infantum

This is a contagious disease caused by infection with different types of human herpesvirus 6. The main symptoms include fever, rash, and sore throat. The fever often lasts for a prolonged period and tends to recur. Drinking plenty of water, maintaining a light diet, and appropriately using fever-reducing medications such as ibuprofen suspension, ibuprofen granules, or paracetamol granules under a doctor's guidance can help alleviate symptoms.

3. Acute Suppurative Tonsillitis

Caused by bacterial infection, this respiratory disease leads to inflamed and swollen tonsils, significantly reduced immune function, and impaired function of the body's temperature-regulating center, resulting in persistent fever. Other accompanying symptoms include sore throat and difficulty swallowing. Antibiotics such as cefaclor granules or cephalexin granules, as recommended by a doctor, can help reduce fever and improve the condition.

4. Chronic Bronchitis

If the inflammation of chronic bronchitis has not been completely resolved and is repeatedly triggered by bacterial or viral infections, medications such as antiviral granules, amoxicillin capsules, or cefaclor granules may be used under medical guidance to eliminate inflammation and improve recurring fever.

5. Pneumonia

If the patient has pneumonia and the lung infection has not been fully cured, medications such as ribavirin granules, azithromycin tablets, or roxithromycin tablets may be used under medical guidance to reduce inflammation and alleviate fever symptoms.

Children who frequently develop fevers should promptly visit a hospital to identify the exact cause and follow the doctor's instructions for appropriate treatment to avoid delaying recovery.

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