{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Giving Children Fever Medicine Too Often Can Backfire, Pediatrician Warns",
  "summary": "Pediatrician Dr. Gunjan Patel from Jaunpur warns that repeatedly dosing children with fever medicine without medical advice can be dangerous, and stresses correct dosage and timely doctor consultation.",
  "content": "Doctors are seeing a sharp rise in fever cases among children as the weather keeps changing, and in Jaunpur, many parents are responding by giving repeated doses of fever medicine without ever consulting a doctor. Pediatrician Dr. Gunjan Patel warns that this habit can put a child's health at serious risk. Her advice to parents is simple: don't panic the moment a fever shows up, seek timely medical advice instead, and avoid medicating children on your own.\n\nA fever is a signal, not an illness\nDr. Patel explains that fever by itself is not a disease. It is simply a sign that the body's immune system is fighting an infection. Trouble starts when parents see even a mild fever and begin dosing their child with medicine every two to three hours. That approach is wrong, she says, because it raises the risk of overdose, and an overdose can damage a child's liver and kidneys.\n\nWarning signs that need a doctor right away\nAccording to Dr. Patel, certain situations call for immediate medical attention. If a child's temperature is very high, if the child stays constantly lethargic, struggles to breathe, keeps vomiting repeatedly, or has seizures, parents should get to a doctor without delay. Simply repeating the dose again and again just to bring the fever down is not a solution, she says.\n\nDosage should come from a doctor, not a guess\nMedicine should always be given in the exact amount and at the exact intervals a doctor prescribes, Dr. Patel says. The right dose depends on the child's age and weight, so giving medicine based on a rough guess can end up doing more harm than good.\n\nWhat to keep in mind while the fever lasts\nDr. Patel advises parents to keep giving the child enough water, ORS, coconut water or other fluids through the fever so the body doesn't get dehydrated. Dress the child in light, comfortable clothing and keep the room at a normal temperature. If the fever runs very high, lukewarm water compresses can also be used, but only on a doctor's advice.\n\nNever self-prescribe antibiotics for viral fever\nThe pediatrician also cautioned that antibiotics should never be given on one's own in cases of viral infection. Antibiotics should only be taken when a doctor recommends them, since the wrong medicine can create serious problems down the line.\n\nA little caution can prevent a much bigger problem\nDr. Gunjan Patel says that a little vigilance from parents can spare children a lot of trouble. If a fever continues for two to three days, or if the child's condition appears to be worsening, parents should reach out to the nearest hospital or a pediatrician without any delay. Timely, correct treatment remains the most effective way to keep children safe and healthy.\n\nWhat this means for you\nWhat this means for you:\n\n• Across India: With fever cases rising due to changing weather, parents everywhere are urged to follow correct dosage and doctor's advice instead of repeatedly medicating children, to avoid overdose-related liver and kidney damage.\n• In Jaunpur: With fever cases climbing locally, parents in Jaunpur are advised to contact the nearest hospital or a pediatrician immediately if warning symptoms appear.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Why shouldn't a child be given medicine as soon as fever appears?\nBecause fever itself isn't a disease, it's a sign the body is fighting infection, and giving medicine too often raises the risk of overdose.\n\n2. What symptoms mean a child needs a doctor right away?\nIf the temperature is very high, the child is constantly lethargic, struggling to breathe, vomiting repeatedly, or having seizures, a doctor should be contacted immediately.\n\n3. How is the correct medicine dose for a child decided?\nAccording to Dr. Gunjan Patel, the dose is set by a doctor based on the child's age and weight, and guessing the dose can be dangerous.\n\n4. How should a child be cared for during a fever?\nGive enough water, ORS or coconut water, dress the child in light clothing, keep the room at a normal temperature, and use lukewarm compresses only on a doctor's advice if the fever is very high.\n\n5. Can antibiotics be given for a viral fever?\nNo, antibiotics should only be given on a doctor's recommendation, since giving them on one's own can cause serious problems later.\n\n6. Who gave this advice?\nPediatrician Dr. Gunjan Patel from Jaunpur gave this advice to parents.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/health/bachchon-ko-bara-bara-bukhara-ki-dava-dena-para-sakata-hai-bhari-doktara-ne-bataya-sahi-tarika-4515",
  "category": "Health",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-04",
  "tags": [
    "fever",
    "child health",
    "pediatrician",
    "Dr. Gunjan Patel",
    "medicine overdose",
    "Jaunpur",
    "antibiotics",
    "parenting tips"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}