What should I do if a child has a persistent fever?
Jul 21, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Introduction
A child's persistent fever may be caused by factors such as excessive clothing leading to insufficient heat dissipation, inadequate fluid intake, viral colds, bacterial tonsillitis, pneumonia, and other conditions. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention, identify the underlying cause, and then improve symptoms under a doctor's guidance through general treatment, medication, and other approaches. During a child's fever, ensure proper indoor ventilation and maintain the room temperature between 24–26 °C.
Generally, a child's fever not subsiding may be caused by excessive clothing leading to insufficient heat dissipation, inadequate water intake, viral cold, bacterial tonsillitis, pneumonia, and other reasons. It is recommended to seek timely medical consultation, identify the cause, and improve symptoms under the guidance of a doctor through general treatments, medication, etc. A specific analysis is as follows:
1. Excessive clothing causing insufficient heat dissipation: Children have weak temperature regulation ability. Wearing too many clothes or thick blankets hinders heat dissipation, resulting in persistent fever, possibly accompanied by forehead sweating. Reduce clothing and bedding, keep indoor ventilation, wipe the neck, armpits, and other areas with lukewarm water to help dissipate heat, and avoid excessive perspiration that may worsen discomfort.
2. Insufficient water intake: During fever, the body's metabolism accelerates, consuming more water. Inadequate hydration affects heat dissipation, making it difficult for the temperature to drop, accompanied by dry lips. Administer small amounts of warm water, light salt water, or oral rehydration salts frequently, and drinks such as rice water or juice can also help replenish fluids and promote sweating for cooling.
3. Viral cold: Viral infection causes a systemic inflammatory response, leading to persistent fever, often accompanied by coughing, runny nose, fatigue. Ensure the child rests adequately and gets sufficient sleep. When body temperature exceeds 38.5°C, follow medical advice to administer antipyretic medications such as paracetamol suspension drops, ibuprofen suspension, or pediatric paracetamol chlorpheniramine maleate granules. Combine with physical cooling methods to alleviate symptoms.
4. Bacterial tonsillitis: Bacterial infection leads to inflamed and pus-filled tonsils, causing persistent high fever accompanied by sore throat and difficulty swallowing. Follow medical advice to use antibiotics such as amoxicillin clavulanate potassium dry suspension, cefaclor dry suspension, or azithromycin dry suspension. Gargling with warm salt water can help relieve throat discomfort.
5. Pneumonia: Inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infection in the lungs results in persistent fever that is difficult to resolve, accompanied by coughing, wheezing, and rapid breathing. Hospitalization is required. Use anti-infective drugs according to the cause, such as ceftriaxone sodium injection, ribavirin injection, or ambroxol injection, and combine with nebulization inhalation to relieve coughing.
During the child's fever, ensure good indoor air circulation and maintain the room temperature between 24-26°C. Provide light and easily digestible food, such as millet porridge and vegetable soup, and avoid greasy foods. Closely monitor the child's mental state and temperature changes, recording the duration and intervals of fever to provide reference for doctors' diagnosis.
