Andie Chen and Kate Pang had an unexpected start to the Chinese New Year this year, when their 3-year-old son Aden had to be rushed to the hospital and got warded in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Andie wrote about it on Facebook, “Aden froze in the middle of the road and started shaking, we tried asking him what’s happening but he was unable to talk. The only words he could utter was “Can’t breathe””
Andie Chen and Kate Pang panic
Apparently, the incident happened while the family were in Taiwan to celebrate Chinese New Year with Kate’s family.
Little Aden was running a high fever and his body broke out in aggressive hives.
Kate tells Lianhe Wanbao, “On Chinese New Year’s Eve, he started having a rash and was feeling itchy all over his body. His fever was 39°C, and we quickly rushed him to the ICU.”
“The doctors gave him a shot, he started feeling a lot better.”
They then went back to Kate’s father’s house for the reunion dinner. Things got worse on the way back to their apartment.
PHOTO: FACEBOOK / KATE PANG
Worried dad Andie recalls, “Aden froze in the middle of the road and started shaking, we tried asking him what’s happening but he was unable to talk. The only words he could utter was “Can’t breathe””
They quickly rushed him to the ICU again where he was given two more injections, and put on the drip.
“He battled the virus till 4 in the morning before the doctor allowed us to bring him home to rest,” says Andie.
Daddy Andie has revealed that he suffers from asthma, and Aden has it too, although in a much milder form. That is why he got really worried when the child said that he was unable to breathe.
Andie thought something had triggered an asthma attack.
He writes, “I was calming the wife while holding on to my boy that was the proudest achievement in my life.”
“I hope I felt like a rock to them cos underneath I was dead worried that it’s an asthma attack and we won’t make it in time.”
Well, thankfully, the little one seems to be feeling much better now. We hope he recovers soon!
In case of high fever in children
Mums and dads, we all get worried when the little ones come down with fever.
When your child has fever, consult your doctor immediately if he/she:
- is feeding poorly, vomiting or lethargic.
- is very young, especially less than 3 months old.
- has difficulty breathing.
- is drowsy.
- has diarrhoea or has abdominal pain and discomfort.
- has rash or purple spots that look like bruises on the skin (that were not there before your child got sick)
- shows signs of dehydration like decreased urine output.
- has blue lips, tongue, or nails
- has stiff neck.
- suffers from a seizure.
- The soft spot on the child’s skull is bulging.
PHOTO: FACEBOOK / KATE PANG
Home comfort measures
- Infants younger than 2 months old should not be given any medicine for fever without being checked by a doctor. If your child has any medical problems, check with the doctor to see which medicine is best to use.
Never give aspirin to children.
In older kids, as a first line of medication, paracetamol can be given 4 – 6 hourly (Do not use in infants less than 3 months). Again, if you are unsure about the dose, it is best to consult your doctor first.
- Sponging may help if the temperature is more than 39.5°C.
Use tap or lukewarm water to sponge. Do not use cold water, ice baths, or alcohol. Remove clothing, cover the child with towel, sponge and dry his face.
Apply the cool compress to forehead, nape of neck, armpits and groin. Proceed to sponge body starting with the front then to the back.
Generally you should not sponge a child for more than 30 minutes at a stretch. Stop sponging when shivering occurs, or when the child turns blue. When your child shivers, cover him up and wait a while before resuming sponging.
- Encourage your child to take plenty of fluids.
- Dress your child in light clothing to allow for heat exchange.
- Keep the room environment cool and well-ventilated to help bring the fever down. Over-wrapping and a generally hot environment can cause the body temperature of a child to be slightly above normal.
- Make sure the child gets plenty of rest.
Also READ: Fever in babies-do’s and don’ts for parents