For all parents, this is a terrible phenomenon and raises a lot of questions. And the intervention must be prompt. Therefore, a couple of things to note.
The first time the temperature usually occurs is with the onset of teething. Therefore, it is worth considering that if your child had any signs (drooling, fingers in his mouth, biting), then not only the temperature itself may bother him.
The temperature is knocked down only by the one above 37.5. Prior to that, it is considered the norm and does not require medical intervention.
It should also be borne in mind that the temperature of 39 is much harder to bring down than 38.5, so do not delay. Especially against the background of the fact that everything develops very quickly in infants.
Most effective remedy Many mothers recognize ibuprofen (nurofen for children) to combat fever. It's just worth taking into account that this substance does not work immediately, the main action begins after 40 minutes.
Also, children are allowed to use paracetamol in liquid form and in the form of suspensions (panalol, tsiferkon, etc.). Moreover, more often candles have a more pronounced effect.
If these drugs do not help, then you should see a doctor. Perhaps you will be advised by ibuklin. This is paracetamol in combination with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. But please note !!! This is a potent drug that knocks down the temperature very sharply (up to 35-36 degrees). Therefore, it does not suit everyone.
Another quick help for a child, you can do rubdowns.
They wipe with vodka only at a subfibril (not high, from 37 to 38) temperature, when the child is freezing and it is necessary to expand the vessels. Vodka-water in a ratio of 1 to 3. When wiping a child under one year old with vodka, the main thing is not to overdo it, as you can cause alcohol intoxication !!!
But when I wipe the baby's fever with vinegar and water (1: 4) in order to narrow the vessels and cool the baby, enemas with cool water also help with heat.
For wiping, use warm water so as not to cause vasospasm in the child due to temperature changes. For the same reason, you cannot put a child under a cool shower to relieve the heat.
When wiping, try not to be zealous in the area of \u200b\u200bthe heart.
But whatever the temperature, it is important to water the child. If the child refuses to drink, then try giving water from a panadol syringe. Moreover, mothers are on GW, if you are against drinking, then keep in mind that the child receives medications automatically not only on GW, he definitely needs water during treatment.
Another note to parents - you shouldn't combine drugs (even of your age group)! You will never know how the body will react to them in a group. And it is quite possible to get an overdose. If you want a quick effect from the heat with medications - Panadol, long-term - Nurofen. If an ambulance gives an injection, then there is a combination calculated for weight and age (usually analgin with something from an allergy, like suprastin), but keep in mind that taking analgin for children under 3 years old is strictly prohibited without medical supervision!
Causes of hyperthermia
The presence of a temperature of 38 degrees and higher in a child indicates an existing pathological condition that requires correction. The most common reasons for the development of hyperthermia in a child are the following processes:
- viral and bacterial infections, including childhood infections;
- acute inflammatory diseases;
- reaction to teething;
- overheat.
In order to correctly diagnose the condition and prescribe the correct treatment, it is necessary to find out the accompanying symptoms.
Overheating is very common reason an increase in the body temperature of the child, since in the first weeks and months after birth he is still very dependent on the ambient temperature.
Inappropriate clothes, too hot air temperature can lead to overheating, and as a result, an increase in temperature. This is especially true for premature babies, in whom thermoregulation processes are even more imperfect. At the same time, hyperthermia is short-lived, after the normalization of the temperature regime, drinking, the temperature indicators return to normal.
The most common reason why a child has a temperature of 38 for 3 days is colds.
In addition to hyperthermia, which usually does not exceed these limits, diseases are accompanied by the presence of catarrhal phenomena, symptoms of intoxication, weakness, malaise, and decreased appetite. Temperature 38 in a child, runny nose and cough, can be a manifestation of childhood infections. A mandatory symptom in this case is the presence of skin manifestations.
The nature of the rash is so specific that a pediatrician or infectious disease specialist, without additional examinations, clarifies the diagnosis based on the examination and objective examination.
A large group of infectious diseases occurring in a child with a temperature of 38-39 degrees are intestinal infections. They occur when contaminated food or water gets into the gastrointestinal tract and are characterized by the development of acute gastritis, enteritis, colitis. Thus, in addition to the child's temperature of 38.5 degrees, such diseases are characterized by the development of dyspeptic disorders, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Similar symptoms are typical for viral hepatitis, especially in the preicteric stage, although the disease during this period can proceed without symptoms with a temperature of 38.5 in a child, accompanied only by malaise, lack of appetite.
Treatment principles infectious diseases are different and depend on the reasons that caused them. For example, the treatment of scarlet fever caused by streptococcus requires antibiotic therapy, with further monitoring of blood and urine tests, as it can be complicated by severe pathology from the heart and kidneys. Therapeutic measures for influenza, when the child's temperature is 38 and above, lasts 5 days, imply the appointment of antiviral treatment. Treatment of viral hepatitis occurs based on its form and severity of the process, with the obligatory observance of the diet and the conduct of detoxification measures.
Intestinal infections, accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, are dangerous by the development of dehydration, therefore, therapeutic measures in these cases include measures to rehydrate the body, that is, they are aimed at replenishing the lost fluid. In addition, the treatment of dysentery includes the appointment of antibacterial drugs.
Hyperthermia treatment
As for the direct fight against hyperthermia, an increase in body temperature is a protective mechanism that activates the body's defenses and is aimed at combating an infectious agent. Therefore, the use of antipyretic drugs is indicated when the temperature rises above 38-38.5 in infants, as well as in cases where the child's condition has deteriorated sharply or there is a likelihood of seizures.
Before using medicines we must not forget about the physical methods of dealing with fever.
They consist in carrying out activities that contribute to the greatest return of heat by the body:
- plentiful warm drink;
- maintaining the temperature indicators in the room at a comfortable level;
- ensuring maximum evaporation of sweat from the skin surface;
- using compresses with cool water.
The absence of a disposable diaper on the baby also promotes maximum heat transfer and sweat evaporation.
In those cases when the measures taken did not give the expected effect, the temperature of 38 in the child does not go astray, and the general condition remains unchanged, they resort to the appointment of antipyretic drugs. Due to the impossibility of using tablet drugs in infants, suppositories, syrups or injectables are used.
Hyperthermia after vaccination
The presence of a temperature of 38 in a child may be noted after vaccination. For example, the DPT vaccine, consisting of several components, is the most dangerous in relation to the development of possible hyperthermic and allergic reactions. In order to reduce the number of undesirable consequences developing after vaccination, it is necessary to adhere to the rules for conducting vaccinations:
- at the time of vaccination, the child must be healthy;
- feeding the child should be carried out no later than one hour before the administration of the drug;
- it is necessary to exclude the moment of overheating of the child, psycho-emotional excitement, physical overwork;
- if the child has allergic reactions to the components of the vaccine or has atopic dermatitis, it is necessary to ensure that the child receives antihistamines 3 days before the intended vaccination.
As a reaction to the vaccine, the child's temperature usually lasts for one day. In the future, the indicators return to normal. Of the other symptoms, the reaction to the vaccine may be accompanied by skin manifestations, proceeding like urticaria, accompanied by itching.
Acute inflammatory diseases
The reasons when the temperature of 38 is kept in a child for a week or more may be inflammatory diseases caused by pathology
The development of this pathology is preceded by colds, hypothermia. Depending on which body is involved in the process, additional complaints may be headache, nasal congestion, sore throat, and sore throat, worse when swallowing. On the part of the kidneys, there may be cramps during urination, frequent urge, heaviness and soreness in the lumbar region, sweating.
A fairly common cause of a child's temperature of 38.3-38.5 degrees is herpetic stomatitis. When examining the oral cavity, attention is drawn to the presence of several, similar to each other, ulcers. Due to the development of pain syndrome, the child is irritable, crying, refuses to eat. The disease proceeds in waves, and the appearance of each new element is accompanied by the next rise in temperature. In this situation, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agents come to the rescue in the form of aerosols or solutions, as well as herbal decoctions with a similar effect.
The presence of a temperature of 38 degrees in a child for 5-6 days is a serious reason to seek help from a pediatrician to clarify the diagnosis and correct treatment, even if the patient's condition does not worsen.
In order for the disease not to take on a protracted or chronic course, it is important to carry out a comprehensive full-fledged treatment at the first stage, including all the necessary groups of drugs.
Self-medication can only delay recovery, lead to the development of complications, and weaken the immune system.
Clarification of the diagnosis in the absence of visible symptoms implies additional examinations, including both laboratory tests and instrumental and hardware methods:
- Ultrasound of internal organs and kidneys;
- x-ray examination;
- computed tomography, if necessary.
The results obtained will allow the specialist to clarify the diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment.
A periodic temperature of up to 38 in a child within 2 months may indicate that teeth are being cut.
This symptom is typical for children aged five months and older and is characterized by the presence of additional symptoms such as sore gums, swelling and redness. The temperature does not rise above 38 in a one-year-old child. After the tooth has appeared, the temperature returns to normal, rising during the next eruption.
Among the modern drugs used during this period, in addition to paracetamol and ibuprofen, the homeopathic remedy viburcol, which has an anti-inflammatory, sedative effect, has become widespread.
The drug helps to ensure that this period passes more calmly for the child.
The presence of a febrile temperature in a child is an important reason to consult with a specialist about further examination and treatment tactics, since timely treatment will help prevent the development of serious complications and contribute to a speedy recovery.
For many young mothers, the word "temperature" is associated with illness and causes panic, especially in the first months of a baby's life. In this article, we will try to dispel unfounded fears and warn of real threats.
To begin with, newborns have not yet formed the process of thermoregulation, so the child is easily overheated and supercooled for up to six months, which means that the temperature range can change throughout the day. For the same reason, doctors recommend taking your baby's temperature for several days in a row, morning, afternoon and evening, to find out your baby's individual temperature. It may differ from the normal temperature of an adult.
How to measure the temperature of a newborn?
There are several options:- IN armpit... If the child can already sit, sit the child on your lap with your back to you. Put on the thermometer, hold his hand for some time. If the child is still unable to sit, put him on the back, raise your hand, insert the thermometer and hold your hand until the end of the measurement.
- Rectally. Put the baby on the back, lift and slightly bend the legs, lubricate the tip of the thermometer with baby cream or petroleum jelly and carefully insert it into the large intestine about 2 cm.After finishing the measurement, carefully remove the thermometer. Another option: the child lies on the mother's tummy in her lap, with her legs hanging down.
- In the ear. Take a special thermometer, pull your earlobe down and then up a little. Insert the thermometer, and at the end of the measurement, gently remove, pulling out, also the earlobe.
What can be measured?
- Ordinary mercury thermometer
Minus: firstly, the baby may not withstand the long wait for the result, and secondly, he is very fragile, and inside is a dangerous liquid.
- Electronic thermometer
Negative: As a rule, there is an error of about 1 degree in the measurement.
- Infrared ear thermometer
Cons: high price.
Important. The child needs to measure the temperature when he is in a calm state. If he cried or moved actively before, his temperature rose. It also rises with feeding. Keep this in mind.
What should be the temperature of a newborn?
So, we have already understood that the temperature of a baby can vary and depends on the activity of the baby and the temperature of his environment. How not to be mistaken and draw the right conclusions about how to proceed?The doctor says: “For an infant, 37.4 is considered to be the upper limit of the norm,” says the famous pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky.
Thus, everything from 36.0 to 37.4 degrees is considered the norm, provided that the child's condition is satisfactory and he behaves as usual. After all, a rise in temperature does not mean that the child is sick.
How to maintain a normal temperature:
Environment
- Be sure to get a room thermometer, it is better to hang it near the crib.
- Ventilate the area regularly, but avoid drafts. Naturally, airing should be carried out in the absence of the baby.
- After bathing, it is recommended to keep the baby wrapped in a towel for a while so that the temperature contrast is as low as possible.
Track his condition by behavior, restful or restless sleep, by a change in skin color (redness or blue discoloration), by the condition of the limbs. If the arms and legs are cold, measures must be taken to change the temperature regime. In some cases, you can use a heater.
Important. Heaters and heating systems dry up the air greatly, which creates a large number of health problems - grunting, coughing. Dry nasal mucosa is a beneficial environment for the development of bacteria, so the air in the room must be humidified.
Council. Do wet cleaning as often as possible, hang up wet towels, the best option is a humidifier, decorative fountains and aquariums are also suitable. Optimum humidity should be 50-70%.
clothing
You should not wrap the baby in several layers in a warm room - this, firstly, delays the child's adaptation to the environment, and, secondly, it can lead to prickly heat and diaper rash. Observe the measure. And remember that cold hands and feet are better - this can be dealt with quickly, but overheating is more difficult.What to do if the baby's temperature is 38 and above?
An increase in temperature signals changes in the process of thermoregulation of the body, which can be caused by both infectious (viruses, bacteria) and non-infectious (dehydration, increased physical and emotional activity) reasons.With infectious fevers, an increase in temperature is a protective reaction of the body, which does not need to be interfered with. In such conditions, the growth and reproduction of bacteria decreases, and some viruses even die.
Therefore, many pediatricians at temperatures from 37.5 to 38 recommend parents to take independent measures first, namely:
- Ventilate the room. You can use a fan or air conditioning.
- Dress the child in light cotton clothes, in no case wrap up
- With fever, especially if it is accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, severe dehydration of the body occurs, therefore, in addition to breast milk, it is better to add water to the baby.
Important. Fluid should be given in small amounts (one teaspoonful) every 30 minutes, as a large amount of water at a time can provoke vomiting.
- On the forehead of the baby, you can attach a napkin moistened with water at room temperature. After a while, the napkin must be changed.
How to bring down the temperature of a baby?
Doctor Komarovsky in this case advises to have two main antipyretic drugs in your home medicine cabinet:- Ibuprofen
- Paracetamol
Important. Granny's advice on rubbing a child with alcohol is best ignored. Alcohol is absorbed into the body, and this, in turn, can cause alcohol poisoning. You can rub the baby with a damp cloth moistened with water at room temperature.
Previously, Aspirin was widely used as an antipyretic agent, but as Marina Besedina, a pediatrician from Moscow, says: “Research data have revealed a relationship between taking Aspirin with viral diseases in children and the development of Reye's syndrome - severe damage to the brain and liver. Therefore, at present, Aspirin is not recommended for the treatment of children under 15 years of age. " Also, Analgin is on the list of prohibited drugs, because it causes severe adverse reactions.
Be careful! Do not listen to other people's advice, you should not rely on your experience or actions seen by someone in a similar situation. Only the attending pediatrician can prescribe adequate treatment.
All parents are equally worried about their children, especially if they are still at a very young age, with a fragile body and a predisposition to various colds and infections. But if everyone knows the treatment of common seasonal diseases, then how to behave if baby temperature 38 without symptoms appeared quite unexpectedly and for no reason?
First, it should be emphasized that elevated temperature body is characteristic of all babies, without exception, in the first year of life and is considered quite normal, since the thermoregulation of the body has not yet "settled down" as in an adult. Therefore, already in the hospital, the thermometer may show overestimated numbers, which do not mean anything bad.
Also in a similar way, the body of a newborn can react to overheating... Monitor your child and if you notice that the temperature rises after significant exposure to the sun or after a long stay in a stuffy room, then you should "remove" the child from such unfavorable conditions. If, after eliminating these reasons, the baby's condition returns to normal, then there should be no reason for concern in adults.
At a slightly older age, the body temperature in infants can rise to 38 degrees in the case of the appearance of the first milk teeth... At first glance, no other symptoms are observed, but attentive parents at this time can notice an unprecedented previously increased capriciousness your child and insignificant at first redness of the gums , which will begin to increase every day, and their swelling .
The presence of heat alone may indicate recently vaccinated... This is an absolutely common reaction in which the mercury on the thermometer does not exceed the 38 mark, since during this period, immunity is developed, and the body learns to resist diseases and infections.
If the child's temperature is constantly changing, from low to high, and there are no other manifestations of the disease, such as cough, runny nose or nausea, it is quite possible that this is the first sign allergic reaction to food (whose nutrients can also be transferred through the mother's milk) or to medications. In this case, you should revise the diet of the mother and child, completely exclude new products, or consult a doctor about changing medications.
If a child from the first months of life is characterized by increased excitability, that is, it reacts very fearfully to bright light, the operation of a vacuum cleaner, a blender, music or barking dogs, then a temperature in an infant of 38 without symptoms may appear in the background stress, excitement and even as a result of a change of residence. At an older age, the temperature may rise before important competitions, the first trip to school or before the test.
And, of course, the heat torments the baby after it enters his body. harmful viruses or bacteria.
In this case, after a few days, other symptoms will appear in the form prolonged cough, problems with stools, or a stuffy nose.
Should I go to the doctor or not?
If a small child's temperature does not cross the line of 38 degrees, and there are no more signs of illness, then it is not at all necessary to run to the attending doctor at breakneck speed. Indeed, in such a situation, even the most experienced specialist will not be able to make the correct diagnosis, and there is a risk of catching a real illness by bringing the child to the clinic.
When the temperature turns out to be brought down at home with the help of cold compresses, for example, and after that it does not get higher, then the parents do everything right. But if all the same strong excitement does not let go of adults, then it is better consult your doctor or nurse by phone so as not to expose the child to unnecessary stress.
And only after that, take active steps on the advice of a medical professional.
Infant temperature 38 without symptoms: the basic principle of action
At the temperature of the baby, it is imperative to solder it with warm water In any situation, when a little child is sick, parents should be absolutely calm and stick to simple guidelines, which primarily include:
- at a temperature of 38 it is necessary wipe the baby with cool (not ice and not cold) water ;
- put cold in the form of gauze compresses or cold plastic bottles on large vessels ;
- give slightly warmed water and you don't need to add ice to it;
- support the air temperature in the apartment is not higher than 20 degrees .
You should also carefully monitor the general condition of the childand when his clothes get wet from excessive sweating, immediately change them to fresh ones and gently wipe the baby's body with a towel.
Undoubtedly, he needs good and frequent food at this time, but if the little patient is mischievous and does not want to eat, then there is no need to force him. In any case, after a few hours, he will be hungry and reach for his mother's chest.
Often parents are interested in what jaundice is in newborns, what are its causes and consequences, to find out all the information on this issue, follow this link.
Remember that when the thermometer reaches 37.5, the temperature does not need to be brought down ... Also it is never recommended to test a child's fever "by touch" , because there may be a case of "white" fever, when the skin remains at the usual temperature.
An exception to such a treatment regimen may be children with neurological abnormalities, about which parents must be notified in advance at the hospital.
In this case, you cannot do without medical intervention.
Fever in a baby: when to call the hospital
When an increase in temperature in an infant is accompanied by other symptoms, it should be immediately shown to a doctor. You should not give up going to the doctor with an elevated asymptomatic temperature if a few days before that, the baby refused to eat or vomited food more often than usual ... In such a case, the doctor should examine the throat, as pharyngitis may develop.
Also, medical advice is required if fever does not subside for more than three days , because it can talk about inflammatory processes in the body or the presence of a urinary infection.
In the cases presented, the pediatrician, after the first examination, gives a referral for analyzes, on the basis of which he draws conclusions.
Unfortunately, there are situations when at only one temperature it is necessary to call an ambulance immediately. This must be done when the child's body temperature becomes higher after taking antipyretic drugs .
You also need to call an ambulance if the child has a sharp appearance of lethargy, it became difficult for him to breathe, and the skin gradually acquires a pale shade .
Almost all parents are afraid of seizures, but in fact they do not occur due to high temperature, but because of her sharp rise... They do not in any way affect the functionality of the brain, and doctors in 97% of cases promise a favorable outcome of events.
In such situations the main thing is that adults are ready for an increased temperature of up to 38 degrees in infants, while maintaining complete calmness, the ability to think sensibly and have free access medications essentials... If they are absent, one can resort to traditional medicine as a last resort, with which all parents are familiar to one degree or another. Only in this case, do not rush to give the child something inside, but limit yourself to methods for external use.
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