What should I do if a child has a fever of 39°C?

Sep 05, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng

Introduction

In general, a child's fever of 39°C may be caused by factors such as excessive clothing restricting heat dissipation, excessive heat production after strenuous activity, acute upper respiratory tract infection, acute tonsillitis, or acute pneumonia. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention, identify the underlying cause, and then improve the condition through general treatment, medication, or other approaches under a doctor's guidance.

Generally, a child's fever of 39°C may be caused by excessive clothing or bedding hindering heat dissipation, excessive heat production after strenuous activity, acute upper respiratory tract infection, acute tonsillitis, acute pneumonia, and other reasons. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention, identify the cause, and improve the condition under a doctor's guidance through general treatments, medications, and other methods. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Excessive clothing hindering heat dissipation: Wearing too many clothes or being covered with heavy blankets can prevent the body from releasing heat normally, causing body temperature to rise to 39°C. Immediately reduce the amount of clothing, choose loose and breathable cotton garments, ensure good indoor ventilation, and maintain room temperature between 22-26°C to aid heat dissipation.

2. Excessive heat production after strenuous activity: Prolonged running, jumping, or playing can accelerate a child's metabolism, producing more heat than can be dissipated, resulting in a fever of 39°C. Have the child stop all activity, rest in a quiet environment, and drink an appropriate amount of warm water to stay hydrated and help expel excess heat.

3. Acute upper respiratory tract infection: Often caused by infections such as rhinovirus or influenza virus, these viruses stimulate the immune system and cause high fever, often accompanied by nasal congestion and runny nose. Fever-reducing medications such as paracetamol suspension drops, ibuprofen suspension, or infant Chai Gui antipyretic granules should be used according to medical advice.

4. Acute tonsillitis: Inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infection of the tonsils can lead to high fever of 39°C, often accompanied by sore throat and swollen tonsils. In cases of bacterial infection, medications such as amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium granules, cefixime granules, or pediatric throat-flattening granules may be used according to medical advice.

5. Acute pneumonia: Inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infection in the lungs leads to high fever, often accompanied by coughing and rapid breathing. Medications such as cefaclor dry suspension, ambroxol and clenbuterol oral solution, or pediatric phlegm-resolving and cough-relieving granules should be used as directed by a physician, with nebulizer therapy added if necessary.

Monitor the child's temperature regularly and record changes during the fever. Feed the child small amounts of water frequently to prevent dehydration. Avoid spicy and greasy foods, and choose easily digestible foods such as steamed egg custard or soft noodles to help the child regain strength.

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What methods can quickly reduce fever in children?

In general, a child's fever may be caused by factors such as excessive environmental temperature leading to insufficient heat dissipation, immune response after vaccination, upper respiratory tract infection, acute gastroenteritis, or bacterial pneumonia. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention, identify the underlying cause, and then improve the condition through physical cooling methods, medication, and other treatments under a doctor's guidance. Additionally, it is important to ensure the child's daily diet is light and easily digestible, avoiding oily and spicy foods.

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At what temperature will a child experience convulsions due to fever?

In general, there is no fixed temperature threshold at which a child will experience seizures during fever. Most often, seizures occur when body temperature rapidly rises above 38.5°C. However, some children may experience seizures even if their temperature does not reach 38.5°C. This primarily relates to individual physical condition and the speed at which body temperature rises. When a child has a fever, parents should closely monitor temperature changes and administer antipyretic medication promptly if the temperature exceeds 38.5°C.

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Which areas should be massaged to reduce fever in children?

Fever, also known as pyrexia, can be accompanied by massage therapy to assist in reducing body temperature in children. However, the appropriateness of massage should be considered based on individual circumstances. Commonly used acupoints for fever reduction include clearing the heavenly river water (Qing Tian He Shui), pushing the Kan Palace (Tui Kan Gong), rubbing the Taiyang point, clearing the lung meridian (Qing Fei Jing), and pressing and rubbing the Hegu point. Proper techniques may help alleviate symptoms of fever. If there are any concerns, it is recommended to seek medical advice in advance.

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How to handle a child's fever of 38°C

In general, a child's fever of 38°C may be caused by factors such as high environmental temperature leading to insufficient heat dissipation, increased body heat production after vigorous activity, acute upper respiratory tract infection, infantile emergency rash (roseola), acute gastroenteritis, and other reasons. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention, identify the underlying cause, and then improve the condition through general treatment, medication, or other approaches under the guidance of a physician.