I don't have details on the patient's age, how long the fever has lasted, or other symptoms, so I can't safely tell you to "add" a specific medicine, especially another antibiotic - that decision needs a doctor to examine the patient and possibly check blood counts, urine, malaria/dengue tests, or throat/chest exam to find out why the fever isn't settling. Adding drugs blindly (especially another antibiotic) can mask a diagnosis or cause harm.
What's safe to know right now:
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Paracetamol (PCM) alone often isn't enough for stubborn fever. A well-established approach (used in both textbooks and standard pediatric/adult practice) is to alternate paracetamol with ibuprofen:
- Paracetamol every 6 hours + Ibuprofen every 8 hours, staggered, at the correct age/weight dose.
- Ibuprofen should not be given if dengue is suspected (common in many regions with fever + antibiotic not working) because NSAIDs raise bleeding risk in dengue. This is exactly why you need a doctor's input first, not a self-added drug.
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Cefuroxime not controlling fever after 48-72 hours is a real medical signal, not just "give a stronger drug." Textbook guidance (Symptom to Diagnosis, Harrison's) is explicit: if fever persists beyond 48-72 hours of an appropriate antibiotic, the patient needs re-evaluation, not just a medicine swap - possible reasons include:
- Wrong or resistant organism (bacteria not covered by cefuroxime)
- A viral illness that antibiotics won't touch at all (e.g., dengue, flu, other viral fevers)
- A separate/hidden source of infection (abscess, UTI, pneumonia not yet identified)
- Wrong dose or poor drug absorption
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Red flags that mean go to a doctor/ER now, don't just add medicine at home:
- Fever >39.4°C (103°F) not coming down with medicine
- Fever lasting more than 3 days total
- Rash, bleeding gums/nose, severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting (dengue warning signs)
- Lethargy, difficulty breathing, stiff neck, refusal to drink fluids, reduced urination
- Any infant under 3 months with fever - always needs urgent medical review
My honest recommendation: Take her back to the prescribing doctor (or an urgent care/pediatrician if it's a child) now that cefuroxime + PCM over the expected course hasn't resolved the fever. They'll likely want to re-examine her, possibly run a CBC/malaria/dengue/urine test, and decide whether to change the antibiotic, add ibuprofen safely, or treat something antibiotics can't touch (a virus). Self-adding a second antibiotic or drug without that check-up risks masking the real cause.
If you can tell me her age, how many days the fever has lasted, and any other symptoms (rash, cough, vomiting, urination pain, travel history), I can give more specific, targeted guidance.