IT was almost two o’clock in the morning when Marina, our 3-year-old daughter, woke up crying.  As I picked her up from bed, she wrapped her warm little arms around my neck, and I suddenly suspected she had a fever.

I remember what her pediatrician, Dr. Chari, had said: “Never rely on touch.  You need to take your daughter’s temperature to determine if she is fighting something.”  Holding Marina in one arm, I rifled through the family medicine kit with my free hand in search of a thermometer.  Sadly, my suspicions were confirmed.  She had a 40-degree fever.  A wave of panic came over me.  Fearing my daughter could have dengue, I went online to find out more about this virus. 

According to the World Health Organization website, the agency does not prescribe acetylsalicylic acid (e.g. aspirin) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen for fever, since these medicines can lead to fatal complications for someone with dengue.  WHO recommends Paracetamol as the only option for fever that may be caused by dengue.  Medical research reveals that other fever medicines are known to aggravate hemorrhagic fever, making these drugs potentially lethal, especially for children who may have Dengue.

When I read these obscure and distressing facts about aspirin and ibuprofen, I knew the right choice was giving Paracetamol (Calpol) to Marina.

We were first introduced to Paracetamol (Calpol) last July, when Marina had fever due to an ear infection.  Dr. Chari recommended it because it gives the optimum 15mg/kg dose of Paracetamol to quickly lower fever.  Dr. Chari also recommended giving medicine based on Marina’s weight and Paracetamol (Calpol) has this instruction on pack for my easy reference.

While Marina’s fever was under control, we decided to have her tested.  Thankfully, it was not dengue and by mid-week, Marina was happily back in school, singing and playing with her classmates.  According to her pediatrician, the fever was most likely caused by a viral infection.

With dengue still on the rise, a parent can never be too careful.  If you suspect your child may have fever that is caused by dengue, contact your pediatrician immediately, and weigh your options before administering any form of medication