My 21-month-old daughter has an ear infection and is starting to develop pneumonia with retractions. We are having trouble lowering her temperature below 39 degrees. What should we do?

If your child is currently on antibiotics and it has been less than 48 hours since they started taking them, there is no need to worry. The goal is not necessarily to bring the fever below 39°C, but rather to make your child comfortable. It is important to remember that fever is a way for the body to protect itself and is generally tolerated if antibiotics have been started within the last 2 days.