my 14 month old woke up crying and is shivering. Her temperature at present is 36.3. She has had a bit of a loose tummy but I think she may be teething. Her brother also has a cold so she may be starting a viral infection. must i give her medicine for fever as she is shivering or must i wait to see if her temperature rises??
Hello, Fever of a few days without any localizing signs could as well a viral illness. Usually, rather than fever, what is more important is the activity of the child, in between 2 fever episodes on the same day.  If the kid is active and playing around when there is no fever, it is probably viral illness and it doesn't require antibiotics at all. Once the viral fever comes it will there for 4-7 days.  So do not worry about the duration if the kid is active. Paracetamol can be given in the dose of 15\u00a0mg/kg/dose (maximum ceiling dose of 500\u00a0mg) every 4-6th hourly that too only if fever is more than 100F. I suggest not using combination medicines for fever, especially with Paracetamol. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care Chat Doctor.