High fever in children: adenovirus might be main cause, doctors urge not to panic

By Mahima Devkota, Kathmandu, July 25: With the increased number of fever in children, doctors have suspected of adenovirus as the main cause.

Adenoviruses are common viruses that typically cause mild cold- or flu-like illness.

According to Dr. Ram Hari Chapagain, senior consultant at the Kanti Children's Hospital, a far higher number of children with viral fever have visited the hospital, in the OPD and the emergency, in the last few days compared the number of same cases in the same period in the previous years.

Typically, children come with a problem of fever in the winter season, however, this year, the number of children visiting hospitals as well as the nature of fever has increased in comparison to previous years. This may be because of Adenovirus, which gives high fever, along with symptoms like sore throat, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, pink eye, acute gastroenteritis, Dr. Chapagain said.

He said, "We have observed that children are brought to hospitals this time around because of fever above 102 degrees whereas they would be brought for fever below 100 degrees. However, no other serious symptoms are observed in children with fever till now, therefore, we request parents to follow the basic fever treatment requisite and not to panic."  

If fever does not go down even after 12 -14 days of receiving treatment, then only it becomes a matter of serious concern. When additional symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach ache, difficulty in breathing, eye pain along with high fever prolong, it is highly recommended that the parents must consult the doctors immediately.

However, many guardians are coming to hospital on a repetitive basis in a panic due to constant high fever between 100- 103 degrees. As a result, patient's inflow in the hospital has risen.

Dr. Yuba Nidhi Basaula, director of the Kanti Children's Hospital, said, "50 percent of the children who come to the hospital for OPD services have viral fever. While comparing the data of patients visiting hospital on July 24, it can be observed that the number of visitors this year has shot up. As many as 988 children visited the hospital on July 24, while 347 had visited on the same day last year."

According to hospital data, a total of 182 children were admitted in emergency this year on July 24, while only 81 were admitted the previous year. Likewise, 136 visited the medicine department on July 24 last year whereas 559 visited on July 24.

According to the data of the hospital administration, about 900 patients come to the OPD daily and 300 patients to the emergency room on average.

The director of the Kanti Children's Hospital said that some samples are sent to the National Public Health Laboratory for testing with regard to Adenovirus, and the report is expected within a few days.