If You Have a Fever During Chuseok Holiday, Check This First... "Go to the Emergency Room If High Fever Persists"

This Chuseok holiday, a medical crisis is unfolding, and parents can be greatly alarmed if their child falls ill. Families with young children should familiarize themselves in advance with how to respond to major emergencies.

Children and parents waiting for medical treatment at a pediatric and adolescent clinic in Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to pediatric specialists on the 15th, emergency situations related to children's health require attention to visible fever. Fever is an immune response that occurs when viruses or bacteria invade the body, defined as a body temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher. If the temperature reaches 39 to 40 degrees or above, it is considered a high fever. If a fever appears, it is most important to observe the child's overall condition. In cases of pneumonia or bronchiolitis, symptoms such as cough, phlegm, wheezing, and rattling sounds accompany the fever. If no other symptoms accompany the fever, urinary tract infection can be suspected. It is not always necessary to give antipyretics just because the child has a fever. However, if the child is struggling with the fever or has underlying conditions, alternating antipyretics with different ingredients can be tried.

Commonly used acetaminophen should be administered at 10?15 mg/kg every 4?6 hours, up to 5 times a day, while ibuprofen should be given at 5?10 mg/kg every 6?8 hours. Prolonged or excessive use can cause kidney or liver dysfunction, so it is best to follow the prescribed dosage and intervals. The medication usually takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour to take effect, so do not immediately give another dose if the fever does not drop quickly; it is advisable to wait about an hour and only give another dose if the temperature remains the same or rises compared to before.

For infants under 100 days old or newborns, it is advisable to visit a hospital immediately if they have a fever. This could be a bacterial infection such as pneumonia or urinary tract infection that requires antibiotic treatment.

Attention should also be paid to febrile seizures that occur with high fever. Simple febrile seizures usually occur within 1?2 days after the fever starts and typically last less than 15 minutes. Febrile seizures in normally developing children usually improve on their own once the fever subsides, so the child should be laid down comfortably and allowed to rest. However, if the febrile seizure lasts more than 15 minutes, recurs within 24 hours, or severe breathing difficulties with cyanosis occur, it can potentially cause brain damage, so immediate emergency room visit is necessary. At this time, recording the child's highest fever temperature, fever intervals, and response to antipyretics can help with diagnosis when visiting the hospital.