It is an indicator of the normal functioning of the body, which, when pathogenic microbes enter it, begins to react adequately, activating its defenses. If you do not knock it down, maintaining it to a certain limit, then you can guarantee the death of most microorganisms and the formation of a healthy immune system in the future. But when the fever is accompanied by cooling of the child’s extremities, the principle of providing him with adequate assistance should be completely different.
What body temperature is considered elevated?
If it exceeds 37.5 o C (when measured in the armpit) or 38 o C (in the anus). In children under 2 years of age, it is better to take measurements rectally. Determining the temperature in other places of the body is not recommended, since this guarantees less reliable results.
Values exceeding 41 o C (when determined in the armpit) and 41.6 o C (in the rectum) are considered life-threatening. In such cases, a doctor should be called immediately.
Causes of fever in a child
The body's heat balance is regulated by a special part of the brain called the hypothalamus. It is he, and not the bacteria and viruses themselves, that causes the temperature to rise so that the body begins to produce the substances required to fight the infection. This helps to cope with the disease as soon as possible.
If the temperature does not rise, interferon gamma will not be produced. The same can be said about the situation when it is artificially knocked down, preventing the activation of substances required to fight pathogenic microorganisms that cause the disease. This provokes disruption of the immune system, since the emerging interferon is necessary not only for the production of antibodies to viruses, but also for storing this in the immune memory.
The existing regulatory center is capable of setting the body’s permissible high temperature, which is required to destroy microorganisms and ensure the fastest possible recovery. The only thing is that if the child’s body overheats from the outside and if the center of self-regulation is disrupted (which is possible in the presence of brain tumors and as a result of traumatic brain injuries), the numbers can rise to unacceptable limits, but this is extremely rare.
The main clinical manifestations of classical conditions with increasing temperature
Feverish conditions can manifest themselves in different ways:
- A high body temperature, at which the skin is noticeably warm and red, is called “red” or “pink” fever, and, as a rule, the child feels more or less normal. The use of antipyretics in most of these cases is not required.
- A high temperature in a child and cold extremities indicate the manifestation of the so-called “white or pale fever,” which is accompanied by characteristic symptoms: increased pallor of the skin, chills, and a general serious condition. In this case, the use of antipyretics is justified, especially if hyperthermic syndrome is present.
When to lower a child's body temperature
- When an absolutely healthy child without neurological problems, metabolic disorders (metabolism) and diseases of the cardiovascular system has a temperature of 39 o C-39.5 o C. In this case, one should focus on the general condition. If the child tolerates high readings well, it is possible and even necessary to allow even such numbers and not take anything for the temperature.
- Children in the first six months of life, as well as older children with additional health problems. In cases of poor health, the temperature is reduced to 38.5 o C (with axillary measurement) or 38.9 o C (with rectal measurement).
- If a child has a high fever and cold hands and feet, this indicates white fever. Taking antipyretic drugs is justified here. This must be done when the temperature reaches the first critical limits - 38.0-38.5 0 C. Also in this case, you may need to take additional antihistamines and vasodilators, which should be checked with your doctor.
What does a fever indicate against the background of cooling hands and feet?
If a child has a high temperature and cold extremities, while he cannot warm up, this indicates a failure of thermoregulation in the body. The cause is a spasm of peripheral blood vessels, which disrupts the process of heat transfer, which can even lead to convulsions. This condition can be explained by the well-known fact that at high temperatures the viscosity of the blood increases, thereby sharply slowing down its circulation through the vessels. This is typical if there are abnormalities in the functioning of the central nervous system in a child, with hypotension (low blood pressure) and as a result of non-compliance with the drinking regime, which leads to a lack of fluid in the body.
High temperature and cold feet, and often hands, are the first sign of the onset of “white” fever. It is important to identify the symptoms in time and prevent possible negative consequences.
The main signs of "white" fever
This condition is characterized by the following symptoms:
- cold hands and feet;
- pronounced pallor of the skin, while the blueness of the lips and nails may be noticeable;
- chills (muscle tremors) even at high body temperatures, while the child complains that he is cold and cannot warm up even under a warm blanket;
- rapid heartbeat, possibly heavy rapid breathing;
- an increase in temperature to high values, which often does not respond well to antipyretic drugs;
- sometimes severe toxicosis is added (damage to the central nervous system, which is characterized by general weakness, lethargy, lethargy, or, on the contrary, anxiety, increased agitation, delirium, convulsions).
What to do with high fever and cold extremities
If your child has obvious symptoms of white fever, you should:
- do not allow body temperature to exceed 38-38.5 o C, measured in the armpit;
- call an ambulance;
- rub your arms and legs to stimulate blood flow to the extremities;
- warm up - wrap the child up, put on woolen socks, you can use a warm heating pad on the feet;
- regularly ventilate the room and maintain the air temperature in it no higher than 20 o C;
- with the permission of the pediatrician, use “No-shpu” to dilate blood vessels;
- do not give strong antipyretics - this can worsen the spasm, only ibuprofen and paracetamol for fever;
- ensure plenty of drinking - water, juices, fruit drinks, compotes (exclude tea, since it contains caffeine-like substances that increase urination, and this can lead to increased dehydration), and you need to drink little by little, but often.
Why is high temperature dangerous?
With a fever, febrile seizures (seizures) may occur. They are most common in children of primary preschool age. It is necessary to take all measures to prevent this from happening. If this happens, you should:
- Place the child on his side on a hard surface, turning his head towards the floor. This will help prevent vomit or foreign objects from entering the respiratory system;
- pay attention that there are no sharp corners or dangerous objects nearby to avoid injury;
- in this case, for children with fever, use antipyretic suppositories - it is forbidden to pour medicine into the mouth so that the child does not choke or choke;
- Be sure to call emergency help.
Antipyretic drugs for children
If a child has a high temperature and cold extremities, already at 38.0 o C, it is necessary to use special medications, for which the following can be used:
- paracetamol in the form of rectal suppositories from 3 months, according to research, it causes a minimal number of side effects;
- ibuprofen - is allowed to be given to children from the age of six months, but according to pediatrician indications it can be used at an earlier stage (you should be aware that the drug can provoke hypothermia, cause inflammation of the stomach and is contraindicated for chickenpox and dehydration).
It must be remembered that the simultaneous use of these two drugs is unacceptable. Paracetamol for fever is used much more often, since its use is more convenient and possible in cases where the child refuses to take medications orally.
Also, for symptoms of “white” fever, it is sometimes possible to give children antispasmodics, which can help establish the natural process of sweating. To do this, take “No-shpu”, which promotes vasodilation. We must not forget that this drug has many contraindications, so the drug can only be used according to a doctor’s indications and in the permitted dosage.
Remember that if the disease is characterized by a high temperature in a child and cold extremities, then this is a mandatory reason to contact a specialist. In any case, children under one year of age require a pediatrician to be called to their home to make a correct diagnosis and exclude serious pathologies.
Every parent should know what can and cannot be done if the baby suddenly develops a fever. Wrong actions will not help, but will only aggravate the condition. The following are recommendations from pediatricians that will help you not get confused and alleviate the condition of a child whose body temperature has risen.
How should you measure temperature in young children?
The child should have his own thermometer, and not the one used by other family members. Before use, it must be treated with alcohol or washed in warm water. In sick children, the temperature is measured three times a day.
Children's thermometers are an individual thing You need to make sure that the room is at an optimal temperature and that the child is calm and not bundled up. If he has just had a bath or eaten, you need to wait half an hour or an hour. This measure is due to the fact that due to hot water and drinks, body temperature can increase by 1-1.5 degrees. To measure in the mouth, special nipple thermometers are produced, and for the armpit or groin fold, you can use a regular thermometer.
What should parents do if their child has a fever?
If the measurements show 38.0 0C, and the baby feels satisfactory, he is mobile, does not complain about anything, and does not have chronic or other diseases, you don’t have to worry yet. It is enough to measure the temperature once every 30 minutes, and if it rises to 38.5 0C, you need to call a doctor. Before the doctor arrives, you must give syrup, suppositories or another antipyretic drug approved for use in children.
Temperature norms for children of different ages First aid consists of putting the child to bed, but not wrapping him up, even if he is shivering. Give plenty of fluids and regularly ventilate the room to allow fresh air to enter. You can do cool compresses and rubdowns.?
The main danger at elevated temperatures: seizures
Febrile seizures are a serious complication that occurs due to fever. They manifest themselves in different ways: the child throws back his head, freezes, limbs twitch, eyes roll up, breathing becomes weak and intermittent. The jaws may clench - in this case, you should not try to unclench them: there is a risk of causing harm.
Important! As soon as parents notice that their child is having seizures, they should immediately call an ambulance.
The duration of febrile seizures varies, sometimes they stop and resume after a while, so you can’t hesitate.
It is not necessary to reduce the temperature to +38 Features of fever in various diseases
In infectious diseases, during teething and in other cases, a change in temperature is accompanied by various symptoms.
Infectious diseases
In the first days, the infection in a child may be asymptomatic, making itself known only by a high temperature. Some signs of the disease, for example, a reddened throat, parents are not able to detect during a visual examination. Thus, if the baby has a hot forehead, but there is no snot, cough or headache, this is a reason to consult a doctor or call him at home.
Stomatitis
This condition is characterized by increased salivation. The child does not want to eat because putting food in his mouth causes him pain. This disease usually develops in young children. If you suspect stomatitis, you need to carefully examine the baby's oral cavity: white plaque and ulcers on the mucous membrane are a sure sign that medical help is required.
Before the specialist arrives, you can rinse your mouth with chamomile or sage infusion or furatsilin solution. The patient is given drink without restrictions, but you should abstain from hard, spicy, sour, salty and hot foods. Food can only be given in the form of warm puree.
Aphthous stomatitis in a child Pharyngitis
With this pathology, the throat turns red and becomes covered with small ulcers. Antibacterial agents are prescribed by the doctor, taking into account what virus caused the pharyngitis.
Herpangina
This is a form of Coxsackie infection. Typical clinical picture: tonsils, arches and throat mucosa are covered with whitish blisters. The patient complains of pain when swallowing. Antibiotic therapy is ineffective, but the doctor may prescribe other drugs.
Angina
The disease is diagnosed mainly in children over 2 years of age, less often in one-year-old patients, and extremely rarely in newborns. Treated with antibiotics. It manifests itself as a sore throat, redness of the mucous membrane, purulent plaque and fever.
Otitis
Parents need to be very careful with this disease, because delayed or incorrect treatment can lead to complete or partial deafness. You can suspect otitis media by the fact that the baby is holding his ear, rubbing it, and crying. Fluid comes out of the ear, but not always. Frequent symptoms are runny nose, sore throat, cough. Older children complain that their ears are ringing. Treatment of otitis is complex: tablets, physiotherapy, antibacterial drops.
Otitis media causes high fever in a child Roseola (exanthema)
Children aged from 9 months to 2 years are affected. According to statistics, the infection develops in 70% of children. Its occurrence is caused by the herpes virus, which is present in the body of almost every person. The onset of the disease is characterized by a change in temperature to 38.6–40 °C. Such indicators persist for 3 days or longer.
When palpated, you can notice an increase in the submandibular, occipital and cervical lymph nodes. When the temperature returns to normal, the skin becomes covered with pink spots of different diameters. After a few days they disappear. Roseola occurs without complications; antipyretics are prescribed by the pediatrician.
Inflammation of the urinary tract
In addition to fever, bladder and duct infections may cause swelling of the legs and face. To determine what the child is sick with, the pediatrician prescribes a general urine test and sometimes a blood test.
Non-infectious causes
Overheat
Symptoms of hyperthermia are increased sweating, rapid breathing, and palpitations. Possible loss of consciousness. You need to call a doctor immediately. Before his arrival, the child is undressed to the waist, or at least his clothes are unbuttoned, laid down so that his head is raised, and wiped with a damp towel.
If the patient has lost consciousness, give him a cotton swab soaked in ammonia to smell.
Teething
The temperature may rise during the period when baby teeth are being cut. This happens in children aged 4 months and older. up to 2.5 years. The thermometer does not rise above 38.5 °C, so there is no reason to panic. If the baby is mobile, active and not capricious, you can do without a doctor.
A teething baby grabs and pulls various objects into his mouth. Upon visual examination, swollen gums are visible, after a while the tops of the teeth appear. At this time, increased salivation is observed, the baby refuses his favorite food.
Teething is often accompanied by fever To prevent gums from hurting so much, they are lubricated with a special gel, and at high temperatures (above 38 °C), if it is accompanied by lethargy, they are given a remedy that can bring it down to normal levels. Effective antipyretics - Nurofen, Viferon suppositories, Paracetamol. It is better for children to be in bed at this time. Drinking should be warm and plentiful.
☝Usually the tooth cuts through 2-3 days, after which the baby’s condition returns to normal.
Side effect after vaccinations
The temperature may rise after DPT or preventive vaccination. As a rule, it lasts for 24-36 hours. You should not be afraid that the temperature is rising: this indicates good immunity. There may be other symptoms: pain at the injection site, mild swelling. Komarovsky recommends giving an antipyretic drug once, without waiting for the thermometer to reach febrile levels. You should not cool the child with wet wipes, because you can accidentally touch the vaccination site.
☝☝☝An increase in temperature that does not go away for more than 2 days should be a cause for concern.
The child may have an acute respiratory viral infection or a cold, so you should show him to the doctor as soon as possible.
Ways to lower temperature in children
Not all medications can be given to children from birth. Paracetamol is considered the most effective and harmless for babies. The doctor can also prescribe products based on it: “Calpol”, “Efferalgan”, “Panadol”. These drugs are available separately for children and adults. Giving a child medications intended for adults is unacceptable.
More effective antipyretics are Nurofen, Ibufen, Ibuprofen, and Viferon suppositories. As a rule, the temperature rises in the evenings, and medication is given at this time. Overwork should not be allowed during this period. If the baby’s condition does not improve within 2-3 days, you need to call a local doctor at home. This applies only to those situations where the elevated temperature is not accompanied by other symptoms, and the child has already been examined by a specialist. Otherwise, you need to call an ambulance or a pediatrician immediately.
☝☝☝Important! Aspirin should not be given to children: it causes side effects and complications, including hepatic encephalopathy, bleeding and an allergic reaction.
In case of vomiting, when it is difficult to give a tablet or syrup, it is recommended to use suppositories. They have no contraindications, they are suitable for children of any age and act instantly. Antipyretic suppositories for children: “Genferon”, “Cefekon”, “Efferalgan”, “Viferon”.
Drugs that should not be given to children
For various reasons, some medications are not used in pediatrics.
- Phenacetin, antipyrine, amidopyrine are not given to children due to many side effects.
- Preparations containing acetylsalicylic acid thin the blood, provoke bleeding, and cause allergic reactions.
- Analgin and other drugs based on metamizole sodium inhibit hematopoietic processes, lead to allergies, and can cause loss of consciousness as a result of a drop in temperature to critical values.
✖All of the drugs listed are not used for home treatment.
When should you see a doctor?
In any case, as soon as the temperature rises, the child needs to be examined by a doctor. He will prescribe further treatment. Whether taking medications that can lower the fever will be enough, or whether other methods of therapy will be required, only a specialist can decide. If necessary, antibiotics and drops in the nose or ears may be prescribed.
You should not hesitate to consult a doctor in the following cases:
- the thermometer shows numbers from 39.5 to 40 oC;
- despite adequate treatment, body temperature does not drop for 3 days;
- there is no positive dynamics;
- other symptoms have been added (nausea, diarrhea, cough, redness of the skin, rash);
- the child's general condition worsened.
When a high temperature persists for a long time, a series of tests must be done to adjust the prescribed therapy.
Call an ambulance at temperatures above +39 Worsening of the condition may be a sign of the body's reaction to strong drugs. In this case, you need to choose other medications. The baby may feel unwell even if he has chronic diseases, which tend to worsen due to fever. In this case, the child refuses to eat and drink, his skin becomes dry, his urine becomes dark, and there is no sweating.
Symptoms for which you need to urgently call an ambulance at home:
- going limp;
- swelling;
- dyspnea;
- intermittent, difficult breathing;
- disturbance of consciousness;
- severe anxiety;
- convulsions.
In these and similar cases, prolonged elevated temperature indicates that the child needs to be treated in a hospital. It is unacceptable to hesitate and wait.
The use of antipyretics for low-grade fever
In most cases, it is necessary to sharply reduce the temperature when the temperature is above 38.5-39 ° C, because there is a risk of seizures. But sometimes it is not forbidden to give antipyretic drugs even at lower levels.
List of situations when you should give medicine:
- age up to 2 months;
- there have previously been cases of seizures provoked by elevated temperatures;
- have heart or vascular disease;
- there are disorders of the nervous system;
- The temperature has risen due to overheating.
Additional symptoms
It rarely happens that a fever in a child who is sick is not accompanied by other symptoms. The most common of them are described below.
Redness of the larynx
A red throat is a sign of a childhood infection of a viral or bacterial nature. The symptom is observed in scarlet fever, tonsillitis and some other diseases affecting the nasopharynx area.
No need to wrap up when there is a temperature Runny nose
When a viral infection affects the nasal mucosa, a runny nose appears. Other troubles are added to it: cough, difficulty breathing through the nose, sore throat, weakness, poor appetite.
Cold feet and hands
White fever is a condition in which the extremities are cold and the skin is pale. Cold feet when a child has a fever is a consequence of vasospasm. The clinical picture is complemented by chills. The child's breathing becomes difficult and difficult. To eliminate symptoms, it is strictly forbidden to apply rubdowns or any wet compress. Before the doctor arrives, you can only rub your arms, legs and whole body with your hands. No-spa can relieve spasms, but it can only be given in consultation with a doctor.
Convulsions
☝☝☝Febrile temperature is a common cause of seizures. In children under 6 years of age, they can occur at temperatures ranging from +38°C, and if there are neurological disorders, then at lower levels.
Seizures are characterized by involuntary twitching of the limbs, flexion and extension. The child's skin turns blue and he does not respond to external stimuli. In this case, the baby should be placed so that the head is raised and turned to the side. Before the ambulance team arrives, the patient must not be left unattended for even a second.
Diarrhea, vomiting
A rise in temperature accompanied by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea is a sign of an intestinal infection or food poisoning, not necessarily of poor quality. In young children, the digestive system is not well developed, so even benign food can provoke pathological symptoms. Also, vomiting in combination with fever often becomes a sign of acetone syndrome or meningitis.
Abdominal pain
Pain and pain in the abdomen in combination with an elevated temperature is a reason to immediately call a doctor. Perhaps the baby has appendicitis, an exacerbation of chronic kidney disease, or another pathology. In this case, every second counts.
No additional symptoms
A child without symptoms may have a fever in three cases:
Infectious kidney disease;
Teeth are being cut;
The disease (any) is just beginning, and the body is trying to fight.
Blood, urine or ultrasound tests will help confirm the presence of the disease or make sure that it does not exist.
What to drink and feed the child?
Drinking should be given in large quantities, but not forcefully. The following drinks are useful: compote, fruit drink, tea, herbal decoction. Liquid is needed to replenish its loss by the body, since at high temperatures a lot is lost through sweat. Food can be given little by little, as much as the child can eat, but not overheated, but slightly warm.
Raspberry tea on temperature Treatment with folk remedies
To increase sweating, it is recommended to give cranberry juice or tea with berries. Just keep in mind that in children under one year old, cranberries can cause allergic rashes. Also, it should not be used for any diseases of the digestive system.
Children who are not prone to allergies can be given tea with raspberry jam or berry juice diluted with warm water.
Rubdowns
You can wipe only with warm water. Her temperature is measured with a special thermometer: the readings should be 2 degrees lower than the child’s body temperature. Wet rubbing can reduce the heat by 1 degree. Cool water should not be used: the feeling of cold will provoke vasospasm. Also, do not use solutions of alcohol and vinegar for wiping: their fumes are harmful to children.
Is there any benefit to high temperature? Without a doubt! Fever is a response to infection, a protective mechanism that helps the body fight viruses; when body temperature rises, protective factors are produced in the body.
How and when to reduce a child's temperature
- knock it down, if it is above 39 degrees, your task is to reduce the temperature to 38.9 C in the butt (38.5 C in the armpit).
- To reduce fever, use paracetamol (acetominophen), ibuprofen. Never use aspirin, especially if your child has chickenpox.
- undress the child (do not wrap him up!). Don't forget about cool, fresh air in the room.
- To reduce the temperature, you can also use cool baths (the water temperature corresponds to normal body temperature).
- do not use alcohol rubs, especially on young children. Remember, alcohol is poison for a child.
Why do Paracetamol and Ibuprofen not always help?
The fact is that all drugs in pediatric practice are calculated based on the weight of a particular child. Medicines must be taken, correctly calculating the dose for the weight of a particular child, using special measuring syringes. Manufacturers, especially of cheap paracetamols, for some reason underestimate doses, and focusing on the recommendation - “from 6 months to 3 years” is also not reasonable, since one cannot The dose of the drug is suitable for a child weighing from 8 to 18 kg.
How to take antipyretics correctly? (Calculate the dose of the medicine)
Paracetamol (Panadol, Efferalgan, Cefekon D) single dose of the drug – 15 mg/kg. That is, for a child weighing 10 kg, a single dose will be 10 kg x 15 = 150 mg. For a child weighing 15 kg - 15 x 15 = 225 mg. This dose can be given up to 4 times a day, if necessary.
Ibuprofen (nurofen, ibufen) Single dose of the drug 10 mg/kg. That is, a child weighing 8 kg needs 80 mg, and a child weighing 20 kg needs 200 mg. The drug can be given no more than 3 times a day.
The drugs reduce the temperature within an hour and a half, by about 1-1.5 degrees; you should not expect a decrease in temperature to the “normal” 36.6.
Elevated body temperature of a child always causes concern among parents and is the most common reason for seeking medical help.
Professionals distinguish between the terms “fever” and “hyperthermic syndrome.” With fever, body temperature rises against the background of infectious and some non-infectious diseases (trauma, inflammatory, autoimmune and oncological diseases).
Hyperthermic syndrome (pale fever) is considered a pathological variant of fever when the temperature rapidly increases. An increase in temperature during hyperthermic syndrome is accompanied by impaired microcirculation, metabolic disorders, and increased dysfunction of vital organs.
It should be understood that fever, although it is a pathological process, does not always need correction, since it plays an important role in increasing the activity of the immune system.
Causes of fever in children
The most common factors that cause fever are viral or bacterial infections. In 95% of cases, an increase in body temperature occurs against the background of viral infections. But fever can also be a sign of such threatening infections as meningococcal, streptococcal, hemophilic influenzae, pneumococcal and others. These infectious diseases develop quite quickly and can lead to serious complications.
Types of fever
It is natural that excess heat needs to be removed from the body. To achieve this, the respiratory and circulatory systems work intensively. It is normal for your child to breathe rapidly and have a fast heartbeat. An uncontrolled increase in temperature can lead to.
Doctors distinguish between fever, accompanied by chills, pale skin and microcirculatory disorders - this is pale fever, when heat transfer is impaired. And fever with preserved heat transfer is pink.
Pale fever often accompanies severe bacterial processes, and therefore requires immediate medical attention. Pink is a less threatening symptom.
High temperature in a child: should it be lowered?
When measured in the axillary region, normal body temperature is 36-37 °C. In newborns, temperature fluctuations during the day are possible up to 0.3 °C, at the age of 2-3 months - up to 0.6 °C, and at 3-5 years - 0.8-1 °C. The lowest temperature occurs between three and six o'clock in the morning, and the highest - between five and seven o'clock in the evening.
Antipyretic drugs are used as follows:
- at a body temperature above 39 ° C or with muscle aches and headaches
- children who have previously experienced febrile convulsions, with a body temperature above 38-38.5 ° C;
- children with severe heart and lung diseases at body temperature
- above 38.5 °C;
- for children in the first three months of life with a body temperature above 38 °C.
What parents should do if their child has a high temperature
If your child has a fever, don't panic! What you do depends on whether your fever is pink or pale. Take a closer look at the little one.
Actions for pink fever (baby is hot to the touch, skin is pink or partially red):
- Undress the toddler as much as possible, and remove the diaper;
- Place the baby separately on the crib. You should not hold it in your arms, so as not to warm it with the heat of your body and not to interfere with heat transfer. But be there, talk to him, calm him down, stroke his back;
- provide access to fresh air;
- use physical cooling methods: blow with a fan, moisten a damp towel with water at room temperature and place it on the places where large vessels pass (neck and groin).
Help for pale fever (chills, baby’s skin is pale, cold to the touch):
- there is no need to use physical cooling methods, since they can provoke greater vasospasm and worsen the condition;
- first of all, you need to give antipyretic drugs based on paracetamol in a single dose of 15 mg/kg or ibuprofen (10 mg/kg once) in the form of syrup or suppositories;
- Then you need to monitor your body temperature every 20-30 minutes until it drops to 37.5 °C. Body temperature should decrease slowly, by about one degree per hour;
- You should adhere to the minimum intervals between taking antipyretic drugs: paracetamol-based drugs can be given again after 4-5 hours, without exceeding a daily dose of 60 mg/kg, ibuprofen-based drugs - after 6-8 hours (maximum daily dose 30 mg/kg ). There are also age restrictions: paracetamol can be used after one month of life, ibuprofen - from three months upon reaching a body weight of five kilograms;
- Children with pale fever are recommended to receive injections of antispasmodics (drugs that dilate blood vessels) under the supervision of a doctor.
Extremely important in the treatment of hyperthermia in children is compliance with the drinking regime. The amount of fluid is determined by the formula: volume = physiological need + 10 ml/kg for each degree of temperature increase.
When is a doctor needed?
If a child has an increased body temperature, you need to show him to a doctor in the first days of the disease to rule out conditions requiring emergency care, hospitalization, or the prescription of serious medications, including antibiotics. With a viral infection, body temperature can remain high for an average of three days. If the child is active, drinks fluids willingly, and antipyretic drugs work well, there is no reason to worry.
But children's bodies tolerate infection differently. Sometimes it is possible for the body temperature to rise again after it has normalized, or the duration of hyperthermia may exceed three days. In this case, the patient must be examined by a doctor. If necessary, he will prescribe examinations (general blood test, urine test) to exclude a complicated course of acute respiratory viral infection (a bacterial infection, activation of chronic foci, or the emergence of a new viral infection). If a bacterial infection develops, your doctor will prescribe antibiotic therapy.
In order for the little one to recover faster, he needs positive emotions. Spend more time playing quiet games, reading fairy tales, drawing. You don't have to lie in bed when you're sick!
Oksana Vovchenko,
children's clinic "Dobrobut"
Save so you don't lose! Pediatricians advise! Very useful information, thanks! I didn’t know everything, but now I’ll take note. Told in detail and...
Save so you don't lose! Pediatricians advise!
Very useful information, thanks! I didn’t know everything, but now I’ll take note. It is told in detail and simply, without unnecessary complications.
Now that children get sick so often, every mother needs this knowledge! It’s so important to help your child and not harm!
1. How and when to bring down a child’s temperature
- We knock it down if it is above 38. Your task is to reduce T to 37.5 C armpit.
- To reduce T, use paracetamol (acetominophen), ibuprofen. Never use aspirin, especially if your child has chickenpox.
- Undress the child (do not wrap him up!). Don't forget about cool, fresh air in the room.
- To reduce T, you can also use cool baths (water temperature corresponds to normal body temperature).
- Do not use alcohol rubs, especially on young children. Remember, alcohol is poison for a child.
2. Why do Paracetamol and Ibuprofen not always help?
The fact is that all drugs in pediatric practice are calculated based on the weight of a particular child. Medicines must be taken, correctly calculating the dose for the weight of a particular child, using special measuring syringes. Manufacturers, especially of cheap paracetamols, for some reason underestimate doses, and focusing on the recommendation - “from 6 months to 3 years” is also not reasonable, since One dose of the drug may be suitable for a child weighing from 8 to 18 kg.
3. How to take antipyretics correctly? (Calculate the dose of the medicine)
Paracetamol (Panadol, Efferalgan, Cefekon D) single dose of the drug – 15 mg/kg. That is, for a child weighing 10 kg, a single dose will be 10 kg X 15 = 150 mg. For a child weighing 15 kg - 15X15=225 mg. This dose can be given up to 4 times a day, if necessary.
Ibuprofen (nurofen, ibufen) Single dose of the drug 10 mg/kg. That is, a child weighing 8 kg needs 80 mg, and a child weighing 20 kg needs 200 mg. The drug can be given no more than 3 times a day.
The drugs reduce the temperature within an hour and a half, by about 1-1.5 degrees; you should not expect a decrease in temperature to the “normal” 36.6.
4. What drugs should NOT be given to a child?
Analgin (metamizole sodium). The use of the drug in the civilized world is not approved due to its high toxicity and inhibitory effect on hematopoiesis. In Russia it is widely used, especially in emergency situations, as part of a “lytic mixture”. A single administration of the drug is possible in conditions where other, safer drugs are not available. But constant use of analgin with every increase in temperature is absolutely unacceptable.
Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic acid) - the use of the drug in children under 12 years of age for viral infections is prohibited due to the possible development of toxic encephalopathy with liver damage - Reye's syndrome.
Nimesulide (Nise, Nimulid) - several years ago was widely advertised as an antipyretic in children due to gaps in legislation. Reduces temperature remarkably. Produced only in India. In the civilized world, use in childhood is prohibited due to the possibility of developing severe liver damage (toxic hepatitis). At the moment, the use of the drug in children under 12 years of age in Russia is prohibited by the pharmaceutical committee.
5. You can’t!
Applying cold objects to a child’s “fevering” body provokes a spasm of skin blood vessels. And if a decrease in skin temperature occurs, the temperature of the internal organs, on the contrary, increases, which poses an exceptional danger. - You cannot rub with alcohol or vinegar, because these substances enter the child’s body through the skin, which means poisoning is possible.
6. What to do in case of ‘white fever’?
Is there any benefit to high temperature? Without a doubt! Fever is a response to infection, a protective mechanism that helps the body fight viruses; when body temperature rises, protective factors are produced in the body. If your child's skin, despite the high temperature, is pink and moist to the touch, you can be relatively calm - the balance between heat production and heat transfer is not disturbed. But if at a high temperature the skin is pale, the hands and feet are cold, and the child has chills, then this is “white fever”, in which vasospasm occurs. The cause may be damage to the central nervous system, lack of fluid, decreased blood pressure, and other reasons. For white fever:
1) Try giving half a tablet of Nosh-pa and intensively rub the child’s cold limbs with your hands. Please note that antipyretics will not begin to act in full force until the vasospasm passes. Be sure to call an ambulance - they will inject a ‘lytic mixture’!
2) Eliminate any methods of physical cooling - rubbing, wrapping in cold sheets, etc.! Your child is already experiencing spasm of skin blood vessels.
7. Which form of medication should I choose?
When choosing the form of a medicine (liquid mixture, syrup, chewable tablets, suppositories), it should be taken into account that drugs in solution or syrup act in 20-30 minutes, in suppositories - after 30-45 minutes, but their effect is longer. Suppositories can be used in a situation where a child vomits when taking liquid or refuses to take medicine. It is better to use suppositories after the child has had a bowel movement; they are convenient to administer at night.