Q: My 12 years old son is suffering from fever from the last sixteen days. He does not have any symptoms like body pain, headache or cold, which are normally associated with fever. A few days back, he had to be taken to the hospital as his temperature rose up to 104-degree Fahrenheit. The doctor gave him Paracetamol 500 mg for three days but since things did not improve, the doctor gave him antibiotic Cepodem 200 mg + Derocin (morning and evening) + Paracetamol at 4 hour interval. My son's condition did not improve even then and we changed the doctor who has prescribed vitamin– C tablets for him and suspects that my son is suffering from viral fever. My son's body temperature rises to 101-102 degree Fahrenheit, two to three times a day. He also experiences shivering in the evening, which lasts for 10 to 15 minutes. He has no other difficulty and has got a good appetite. His blood was also tested for jaundice, typhoid and we got his chest X-ray done to rule out pneumonia. All the tests were normal. Now, the doctor has asked us to wait for another three days. I am totally upset and my son is very tense about being absent from his school for so long. What should we do?

A:The treatment your son has received is appropriate. It is important to find out the cause of the fever. There are no shortcuts and if he has to miss school because he is unwell and undergoing investigations reassure him that he will be able to make up his school work when he is better. Sometimes it takes time to get a clear picture of what is happening. Antibiotics given inappropriately usually confuse the issue and rarely cure the fever.