Heat. Keep your cool when your baby is on fire

Body temperature is generally considered to be one of the important indicators of the health of the body. Its increase often becomes one of the very first symptoms of a developing disease. Elevated temperature is a natural reaction of the body to the attack of some aggressive particles and other pathological effects that require immediate correction. You need to be especially careful if the temperature rises in children, because in a child’s body the negative consequences of this phenomenon can be especially pronounced. Let's talk on this page www.site about how to relieve a child's fever at home using folk remedies?

It is believed that we can talk about an increase in temperature in a child if its indicators increase above 37.2C. However, it is not always necessary to shoot it down. It's not a fever. After all, an increase in thermometer readings indicates that the body is producing natural interferon, which helps cope with the disease. Pediatricians say that there is no need to lower the temperature to 38C in children under one year old. Also, a temperature of up to 38.5C in children of preschool and primary school age does not require special intervention. Teenagers can easily tolerate temperatures up to 39.5C without harm to the body.

However, an insignificant increase in thermometer readings is not a reason to do nothing at all. After all, there are many ways to alleviate the baby’s condition and speed up the onset of recovery. In addition, it is worth considering that in some cases it is necessary to reduce the temperature until the given indicators are reached, for example, in case of neurological diseases, ailments of the cardiovascular system, severe deterioration of the condition and other similar factors.

How to help a sick child?

The easiest way to cope with a child’s high fever without causing it to drop is to use simple means at hand. First of all, in this condition, you need to undress the baby (if the room temperature allows); in infants, you must remove the diaper, because it covers a significant part of the body. It is also extremely important to provide the patient with sufficient fresh air - the room must be systematically ventilated. Also make sure that the air the child inhales has a sufficient level of humidity - above fifty percent. To humidify the air, you can use special devices - humidifiers, you can also use basins with water and wet towels on radiators.

At high temperatures, it is also very important to give your baby plenty of fluids. Infants should be allowed to hang on the chest constantly, and older children should be offered plain water, compotes, herbal teas, or special solutions for rehydration.

How to relieve a child’s fever using folk remedies?

Traditional medicine experts say that at high temperatures, a child’s condition can be alleviated with the help of cranberry or lingonberry juice, an infusion based on burdock roots, a fruit drink made from red currant berries, and an infusion of elderflower.

To prepare fruit juice, take a glass of prepared berries, add a liter of water and add three tablespoons of sugar (you can also use honey, but it is better to add it to a ready-made, slightly cooled drink). Boil this mixture for five to ten minutes, then strain through a sieve. Squeeze the juice from the berries and combine with the broth. You can drink this drink in unlimited quantities.

Elderberry infusion is very simple to prepare. Brew a dried flower sprig (umbrella) with a glass of boiling water. Leave covered until cool, then strain. This drink should be drunk with honey two or three times a day.

To effectively remove toxins from the body, reduce fever and speed up recovery, you can offer your child fruit or vegetable juices. Of course, you have to prepare such drinks yourself; store-bought juices do not contain practically any useful substances. Beetroot and carrot juice are especially effective at temperature. However, please note that beet juice can only be consumed in minimal quantities in combination with other less aggressive juices.

Traditional medicine healers also have a surprisingly effective recipe for willow bark tea. This plant contains many salicylates, which are also present in pharmacy aspirin. Thanks to this quality, a willow-based drink is a wonderful natural antipyretic. Brew a teaspoon of crushed raw materials with a glass of boiling water. After ten minutes, strain, cool slightly and combine with honey. Give it to your child as tea. Of course, such a remedy is not suitable for treating very young children.

An excellent antipyretic effect can be achieved by taking herbal tea. To prepare it, you should combine equal parts of thyme, linden blossom, and chamomile flowers. Brew a teaspoon of the mixture with a cup of boiling water. After five minutes, strain, cool slightly and give to the patient along with honey.

Ordinary berries will also help to cope with a child’s fever. Strawberries, cranberries, raspberries and cherries have a similar effect. It is best to eat them fresh, for example, with honey (if they are very sour).

If the temperature rises in very young children or does not decrease at all, it is better to seek doctor’s help as soon as possible.

Whether it happens when the baby is a week old, a month old or a year old, the fever is sure to unsettle many parents. While as pediatricians we should encourage you to develop a healthy attitude towards fever, as parents we believe that a proper understanding of the causes of fever, its consequences and what may (and may not) be required to combat it will help you prepare to cope the child's first high fever and future cases confidently and without undesirable consequences.

Heat is a sensation of exhilaration, usually caused by an increase in temperature. This is the body’s protective reaction to the introduction of an infection or during important physiological processes. It is not the temperature that needs to be eliminated, but the causes of its occurrence. Therefore, the task is to support the child, help the body cope with the infection and restore balance. In fact, heat is an important factor in the fight against disease, since it stimulates the immune system and creates a temperature regime that is unfavorable for microorganisms.

Normal temperature is 36.6°C when measured under the armpit and 37°C when measured in the mouth. At high temperatures, the pulse accelerates, breathing quickens and drowsiness appears.

An increase in temperature may be a reaction to infection, burns, heat stroke, or dehydration. Even fatigue or overexcitement can cause a slight fever. For proper treatment, the cause of the fever must be determined. This section covers fevers that occur with common illnesses such as colds and flu, or without illnesses such as teething or fatigue. The cause of the fever may be constipation (see the corresponding section).

Immediate help is required for any of the following symptoms: neck stiffness (the baby cannot easily reach the chest with his chin), severe headache, vomiting, loss of consciousness, severe abdominal pain, the baby looks unwell and is rapidly deteriorating. Also watch for signs of dehydration: dry mucous membranes, sunken eyes, short-term loss of consciousness, loss of skin elasticity; in an infant, the fontanelle may retract inward. All these symptoms indicate a critical condition.

Increased temperature value. The role of elevated temperature in the development of disease is not yet fully understood, but long before modern medicine, traditional healers believed that internal heat was the result of the action of vital energy, which thus healed the body from disease. In the last century, the prevailing view in Western medicine was that fever is actually a disease, and therefore it should be reduced with aspirin, acetaminophenol and antibiotics.

Many naturopathy practitioners believe that temperatures above 38.6°C should be reduced because they can cause seizures or changes in brain cells. There is no need to reduce the temperature below 38.6°C.

You cannot wrap up a child during a fever; on the contrary, you need to open his body so that the natural process of thermoregulation takes place. But during chills, which manifests itself when the temperature decreases or increases, the child needs to be warmly wrapped. The temperature must be reduced gradually, a sharp decrease in temperature is a colossal load on the heart, which can lead to dire consequences (convulsions, disruption of the brain or heart, etc.).

Modern research into the human immune system has established that fever is not a disease, but an immune stimulant. As the temperature rises, the body begins to produce chemicals that fight infection. In addition, elevated temperatures are unfavorable for the development of many pathogenic microbes. In fact, medicine is beginning to recognize what our grandmothers and traditional healers always knew. It may soon be recognized that widespread immune suppression contributes to the increased incidence of autoimmune diseases.

Heat has another effect that often goes unnoticed. When the temperature returns to normal, the child often demonstrates new abilities and skills, as if the fever were a developmental stimulant. After a fever, the child often becomes healthier and stronger, as if all the toxins are burned away, and pure gold remains. Of course, none of us wants our children to get sick, but in our efforts to eradicate disease by any means necessary, we forget about the intentions of nature itself.

How does the temperature increase? In children, the temperature rises significantly higher than in adults, sometimes up to 40°C. However, a high temperature does not always reflect the severity of the disease (for example, with a serious illness such as meningitis, the temperature may rise to only 38 ° C). When the child is hot, you need plenty of fluids and rest. Focus your attention on treating the infection rather than on the thermometer reading. With colds and flu, the fever may last for several days, but this is not a problem for a strong child as long as he is well hydrated, stays in bed, and receives good treatment.

Cramps. If there is a sudden change in body temperature, the child may have a seizure. Parents are very afraid of this condition, especially if they encounter it for the first time. The child begins to lose consciousness, he experiences involuntary convulsive movements of the arms and legs, urination, vomiting, and sometimes his eyes roll back.

Doctors believe that a convulsive state caused by an increase in temperature is not dangerous, provided that breathing does not stop during convulsions. However, seizures may be associated with encephalitis or meningitis, so consult your doctor.

If your child is vomiting, turn him on his side to prevent him from choking. Remove away all objects that the child could hit during convulsive movements during a seizure. Pet your baby and talk to him to calm him and yourself. Free his movements from uncomfortable clothing. A seizure can last up to 5 minutes. Stopping breathing is rare, but you must be sure that the child is breathing.

It is better to master artificial respiration techniques so that you can behave confidently in the event of a seizure in a child.

If a seizure lasts more than 10 minutes or breathing stops, you should immediately call an ambulance.

After the seizure has ended, monitor your child closely for several hours. The seizure exhausts the child and he usually falls asleep. Sleep is good, but still wake your baby every 15 minutes to make sure he's awake. If a seizure occurs for the first time, it makes sense to check whether it is associated with a neurological disorder. Be prepared for the possibility that a seizure may occur again the next time your temperature rises. Some doctors recommend giving children anti-seizure medications in such cases, but this is usually not necessary and the medications can cause side effects. Consult other doctors. Trust your instincts when evaluating information and making decisions about taking recommended medications.

With all the potential benefits that a rise in temperature provides, we must not forget that this is a signal of infection and must be treated carefully. Too often we send children to school when they are not yet fully healthy and do not give them the opportunity to fully recover from illness. When a child with a fever stays at home, he has the opportunity to direct all his energy to recovery. In this way, complications or relapse of the disease can be avoided. The absence of fever does not mean complete recovery, so it is better not to take children to childcare centers or to school for as long as conditions allow. If you cannot change your work schedule, ask a close friend or relative to babysit your small child.

Many therapists believe that a day after the temperature drops, you should go outside with the child, even if the residual effects of the cold have not completely gone away.

Your intuition will tell you the burden of being in the air, but the entire subsequent rehabilitation period depends on this. A child who, no matter what, is taken out for a walk, recovers faster, because walks return the body to its natural stability.

How to relieve a fever

Before you read what to do if your child has a fever, let us first give you some simple strategies on how to delay your encounter with a fever until as late as possible.

Because fever is a natural response of the immune system to stress or infection, by giving antipyretics we suppress the body's instinctive response. If this is done frequently, there may be long-term negative consequences. To reduce the fever a little, prepare a bath for your child with a temperature 1-2 degrees lower than the body temperature at the moment. The child should like this bath, and he will not complain that the water is too hot. Colder water will cause a shock reaction. Instead of a bath, you can simply wipe your forehead, temples, wrists and neck from the back with a damp towel.

According to many experts in the field of naturopathy, bathing a child during a fever can cause worsening, especially if the cause of the fever is an infection. And vice versa, if the water in the bath is not higher than 8°C (it is better when it is ice-cold), then the child can be immersed in this bath, immediately dried and dressed warmly. This procedure has an antipyretic and healing effect.

Rubbing with vodka or vinegar also reduces the temperature and cleanses the skin of pathogenic toxins.

Let the child sleep as much as he needs. Provide the necessary peace and quiet. When your child is not sleeping, you can read a book to him. Play quiet games with him, such as checkers, or tell him a fairy tale; there are many options for quiet activities. It’s better not to turn on the TV - your child’s company is preferable.

The child's room should be fresh and cozy. Make the bed with clean linens and place flowers in the room. Diffused light, such as through thin window curtains, soothes sore eyes. To freshen the air, place a container of water in your room containing essential oils with a clean, plant-based scent. Rosemary, lavender, thyme, rose, lemon, eucalyptus and mint not only freshen the air, but also have an antiseptic effect.

When your child has a fever, you need to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, flush out microorganisms from your body, and calm your nerves. Small children should be put to the breast more often and given water every 15-30 minutes using a teaspoon or pipette. Older children can drink 1 glass of liquid every hour, preferably in small portions (4 glasses every 15 minutes). If your baby is sleeping, wake him up from time to time to offer him a drink. Give him a straw so he can drink while lying down. Herbal teas and diluted juices work well. You can make lemon water by simply squeezing a small amount of fresh lemon juice into a glass of water.

Until the fever subsides, give your child fruits, steamed vegetables and soups. Heavy food increases fever. However, if your child is hungry, trust his appetite. Avoid cold foods (such as ice cream) and dairy products until you are completely healed.

At elevated temperatures, you can use herbs that calm the nervous system: they reduce the risk of a seizure. You should take tinctures of skullcap, passionflower and milky oats daily, taken in equal proportions, 1/4-1 teaspoon 2-3 times a day.

Homeopathic remedies: aconite Z0x or belladonna Z0x.

Teas. For muscle pain, headaches, anxiety, and indigestion, you can use strong teas from catnip, chamomile, lemon balm, individually or in combination. These herbs are completely safe, they act gently and are consumed in large quantities. Teas made from anise seeds or fresh ginger root will help solve digestive problems.

Herbal baths. Baths with essential oils or aromatic infusions are very calming. Add 5 drops of rosemary or lavender oil to a warm bath. An infusion of lemon balm, chamomile and lavender has the same effect.

Antiseptic herbs. If a child's fever is associated with an infection, he needs to take antimicrobial herbs.

Echinacea root tincture. Give one drop per 1 kilogram of weight every 2 to 4 hours, depending on the severity of the disease. Gradually, as the temperature drops, reduce the dose and give the tincture less often.

Treatment should be continued for at least another 3 days after the temperature has returned to normal; I always give my kids Echinacea tincture when they have a fever as it is a known immune stimulant.

Garlic. This is an excellent ally in the fight against any infections. You can use garlic alone or together with echinacea. Older children can swallow a crushed clove of garlic along with a spoonful of honey every 4 hours. For young children, make garlic lemonade.

Flowers of elderberry, chrysanthemum and honeysuckle. Antipyretic and antimicrobial infusions can be prepared from these plants. Flowers are used in combination and individually.

Vitamin C. You need to take 250-500 mg twice a day, depending on the age of the child and the severity of the disease. Alfalfa sprouts, rose hips and violet flowers are also rich in vitamin C. If you want to give your child orange juice, make fresh (squeeze it yourself) and make sure it is at room temperature. Oranges tend to aggravate indigestion and increase mucus production. Large doses of vitamin C can cause digestive upset.

Enema from catnip infusion. If the temperature is very high, you can give a warm enema of catnip (catnip) infusion. This will help prevent dehydration if the child does not drink enough (water will be absorbed through the large intestine). Never use cold water for an enema - this can cause shock. Do not force an enema; first explain to your child the need for this procedure.

OLD RUSSIAN RECIPE

Beetroot juice has antipyretic properties; in addition, it contains natural antibiotics. Dilute the juice of small beets with hot boiled water (boiled water is absorbed by the intestines, and raw water is immediately expelled) so that it corresponds to the internal body temperature. Make a microenema (the child most often does not even feel it). Let the juice sit in the intestines for at least 15 minutes so that the active ingredients of the beets have time to enter the blood. After the child cleanses the intestines, his temperature will not only decrease, but his condition will also noticeably improve. Beetroot juice has the ability to cleanse the blood of toxins, which are the cause of “burning”.

Most often, the fever will go away on its own, so all you have to do is support your baby and treat the illness that caused the fever. If a child does not tolerate fever well, you can alleviate his condition by using the following safe remedies.

Infusion of spearmint leaves and elderberry flowers. Take 1/2 tablespoon of each plant and add 1 liter of boiling water. Leave for 20 minutes. Strain and sweeten if necessary. Give your child something to drink warm and often until he breaks a sweat.

Catnip infusion. Prepare as above: 1 tablespoon catnip per 1 liter of boiling water.

Melissa infusion. Use 1-2 tablespoons of herb per 1 liter of water. Prepare as above. This is a soft drink with a pleasant taste. It can be given even to small children.

Treatment through breast milk. If a small child has a fever, the nursing mother should take adult doses of the recommended medications. The active substances of the plants will reach the baby through milk. A

Meningitis and fever. Parents often associate fever with meningitis. However, in most cases, fever is caused by other reasons, and with meningitis, the temperature may not rise at all or rise to 37.5-38.5 "C. The best thing you can do is to monitor the general symptoms of the disease. Meningitis is a rare disease, which can lead to disability or death.

WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE

If you suspect meningitis, call an ambulance immediately. In this case, antibiotics are needed. Signs of meningitis: fever (the temperature is not always high), stiffness or tenderness in the cervical spine (check if the child can touch the chest with his chin without pain), apathy, vomiting, poor appetite, inconsolable crying in small children, headache (sometimes children do not allow themselves to be picked up), Sometimes an unusual rash appears. Newborns may not have specific symptoms, but they do not appear well. One of the signs in babies is protrusion of the fontanel on the head.

Fever in babies

Rather than dive into the details of what exactly causes a fever and whether it's really worth your respect and fear, we first want to talk about what we think is our most important message to remember: discussing what to do with a newborn with a high temperature is very different from the reasoning about temperature in older children and adults. The reason is simple: the younger the child, the less ready his immune system is to resist infection. Thus, to summarize, we can say that the best approach for young parents to high temperature is to always be safe than sorry. You don't have to hesitate whether or not to bother your pediatrician about a fever: just dial his phone number. Of course, most high fevers during the first few months tend to be caused by the same cold virus that affects us all, but the risk of a newborn having a serious internal infection, while relatively small, is nonetheless real. For this reason, any infant in the first years of life with a high fever must be shown to a doctor immediately. What happens after this depends on the age of the child and the circumstances. In some cases, the child simply needs careful examination and observation. In others (especially in the first month of life), you should be prepared for the doctor to take blood, urine and even cerebrospinal fluid tests to determine signs of infection. In general, the younger the child and the weaker he appears, the more likely he is to require hospitalization and antibiotic treatment in addition to the tests listed above.

In the absence of fever

Although new parents are generally warned that high fevers should be taken very seriously, we know that some serious types of infections can cause a slight fever in newborns or occur without a fever at all. In the absence of a fever, infants who seem less responsive to external stimuli than usual—ranging from slightly delayed to almost lethargic—or having trouble eating should be taken as seriously as those with a fever to properly diagnose the cause. . If you're concerned about your baby's health, don't waste time sitting around waiting for a fever to appear before you see a doctor.

Overcoming fear factors of fever

Now that we've convinced you to take your newborn's fever seriously, we also feel obligated to paint you a bigger picture and show you that there is a thin dividing line between taking a fever seriously and living in constant fear. that the child will have a fever. We hope the following information will help remove the fear factor and better prepare you to deal with it if it does happen.

Built-in body thermostat

You may have heard on the news or read somewhere that fever plays its own role. We will not discuss this point of view for a long time and make you suffer by listening to everything that we learned while studying to be a doctor and what was confirmed during our medical practice, just remind yourself of this. A high temperature not only serves as a warning signal for infection, but doctors believe it actually helps the body fight infection. A part of the brain called the hypothalamus is responsible for regulating temperature, just like a thermostat controls the temperature in your home. In general, babies and young children have much more sensitive “thermostats” than adults. When viruses, bacteria or other fever-causing agents force the hypothalamus to rise to fight the infection, body temperature rises. In this regard, fever can be considered the equivalent of the situation when the thermostat is turned on.

Definition of fever

The natural question that starts most discussions regarding fever is what temperature exactly is considered a fever? You shouldn't think that you can get an accurate answer to such a seemingly straightforward and so common question. There is a chance that if you do ask it, you will hear a fairly wide range of answers - from 37.2 to 38° and above. This is because fever is determined by several factors.

It's a matter of degrees

Normal body temperature is 36.6°C. A rectal temperature of 38° is commonly used to detect fever in newborns. The interpretation of numbers falling between these two values tends to vary significantly. This is partly because body temperature normally fluctuates throughout the day - usually rising slightly in the afternoon and evening. The degree of variation is believed to increase with age. Although the temperature of a child and an adult can vary throughout the day by up to 1.1 "C, you should be aware that the range of variation in a newborn's normal temperature will be much smaller.

Using a thermometer

Remembering the days when we were children, we can confidently say that almost everyone used mercury thermometers to measure temperature. We will spare you a long discussion about the potential dangers of broken glass and the risk of poisoning from spilled mercury by saying only one thing - these thermometers are not just out of fashion, they are no longer recommended for use. From a practical point of view, this is also good: we have not yet come across anyone who would think that taking readings from mercury thermometers is easy. In contrast, affordable digital thermometers are all the rage right now, and they're (almost) completely reliable—place them in the right spot and the numbers will appear immediately.

Hot spots - places of heat

The easiest way to classify thermometers is according to the part of the body where the temperature is measured (auxiliary = armpit, auricular = in the ear, oral/nipple = in the mouth, strip thermometers = on the forehead, and rectal = you know where). Strip thermometers, although very easy to use, have a reputation for being extremely inaccurate. Even when using the most accurate measurement methods, such as placing a thermometer in the child's mouth or armpit, the resulting temperature will vary slightly. This is why the definition of fever usually includes specific references to where the temperature was measured. You should know that almost all doctors recommend using only rectal thermometers for newborns, since the result obtained is considered the most accurate measurement of the newborn's core body temperature.

Hot places

To determine high temperature, it is usually measured like this:

37.2 °C - auxiliary
37.8°C - oral
38 °C - rectal

When you talk to your pediatrician about your temperature, there is no need to add, subtract, or otherwise athematically manipulate the results based on where you took your temperature. Instead, just remember to say how and where you measured it.

Ear thermometers

Ear thermometers are offered to parents as a quick and easy alternative to rectal thermometers. They have proven their reputation as a relatively accurate way to measure temperature. If you already have one, don't give it up. Just know that it is best not to use this thermometer until your baby is at least three months old because this type of thermometer needs to be placed correctly in the ear (and newborns' ear canals are extremely small), so it is difficult to get the correct result in a newborn this way.

Rectal temperature measurement

While you've probably read a lot about how to use each type of thermometer, we thought it best to spend your time and ours taking a closer look at the rectal approach. There's nothing strange about this: rectal temperature is considered the gold standard for measuring temperature, especially in infants under three months. When it comes to finding out if your baby has a fever, there should be no other distractions. If you're cringing at the thought right now (and we're sure many of you are feeling that way), take a minute to get comfortable with the idea, and then follow through with the whole process. Despite the fear that many parents feel, you just have to trust us that taking a child's rectal temperature is not at all that difficult or inconvenient for both the child and the parents. In fact, many parents who struggle their way through trying to take their temperature for the first time are pleasantly surprised when their children don't pay attention at all. Some even just sleep during this “torture”!

The easiest way to carry out this procedure is to place the child on a comfortable, but firm, flat surface. If you want, put it on your lap or on the changing table, sofa or floor - wherever you find it easiest and most comfortable. You can either place him on his tummy or on his back. If you prefer a supine position, then lift your baby's legs as if you were changing his diaper. It is worth remembering that, no matter how you feel about it, measuring rectal temperature may well trigger the process of defecation, especially in very young children. Therefore, it would be a good idea to place a towel or diaper under the baby’s back in advance. Disposable thermometer tips are fine, but cleaning the thermometer after use is also easy. You can also apply a little lubricant (such as Vaseline) to the short, rounded metal tip of the thermometer. Then carefully insert the tip into the anus only the length of the metal tip (between 1.25-2.5 cm). Then all you need to do is hold the thermometer in place by gently squeezing the halves of your baby's buttocks until the thermometer reads digitally. When you remove the thermometer, be sure to give it a quick wash with hot, soapy water (especially if you didn't use a disposable tip).

Then put it away so you have it handy, and remember that it is now "for rectal use only", this does not mean that it cannot be used to take temperature by others and in other places, but the idea that mistake, it was then used differently, horrifies people!

Overwrapped - overheated?

People usually believe that overly bundled babies end up with a fever. This is true to a certain extent, since the skin temperature does rise noticeably when the child is wrapped up and decreases when the child is undressed. If you measure the temperature of a wrapped child, it will have to be double-checked. In contrast, rectal temperature is considered to be relatively unaffected by wrapping, especially if you measured 38°C or higher. Bottom line: Never blame an elevated rectal temperature on sticky clothing or blankets, especially if it doesn't drop.

Climate control

In general, there seems to be a consensus among child care experts that a comfortable room temperature for children is between 20 and 22.5° C. However, there is a wide difference of opinion when it comes to appropriate indoor clothing for the most small family members. Some believe that an adequately dressed infant is one who is wearing as many layers of clothing as an adult in the same room. While others believe that another layer is needed, one more than in adults. We don't really think there is that much of a difference and suggest starting with either one.
Then, if you feel that your child is uncomfortable - hot or cold, then change his clothes (take something off or add something) according to his internal thermostat.

Feeling hot

Refusing a thermometer in favor of touching or kissing the forehead to determine whether a newborn has a fever should not be considered acceptable at all. Even in older children, where this method of "measuring" temperature without a thermometer can show whether you have a fever or not, you still can't rely on your hand or lips alone to determine exactly how high the temperature is. In other words, parents may be right in saying that an older child has a fever just because they feel it, but the real height of the temperature - 38.3 ° C or 39.7 ° C - can only be assessed with the help of a thermometer.

Too much of a good thing

Febrile seizures

Febrile seizures are seizures caused by high fever and fever. Although approximately 95% of all children never have a febrile seizure, we have found that even the thought of it causes a certain degree of anxiety in most parents - much of it unnecessary now and in the future. And that's why we thought we needed to give you some perspective on this issue so you can keep it in mind in the coming months and years. In order to simplify your current situation, we want to start by saying that the statistics are quite reassuring: newborns almost never have this type of seizure, because seizures, if they do occur, are approximately between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. Moreover, contrary to popular belief, the likelihood of having a febrile seizure is not based on whether a child has a high temperature, but rather on how quickly the temperature rises. If a child is destined to have febrile seizures, they are more likely to occur during a fever rather than throughout the illness. Finally, to set the record straight: febrile seizures themselves do not cause permanent damage to the body and are rarely a precursor to a long-term seizure disorder.

Treatment of fever

It is easy and simple to tell you how to treat a fever in a newborn: If you suspect that your newborn has a fever, your immediate action is to seek advice and help from a doctor. Everything you may know or have heard about fever-reducing medications, warm baths, or the potential benefits of fever does not apply at this age. End of discussion. Okay, so we're not really going to leave it that way, but we definitely mean it when we tell you that you don't have to worry about the information below if you don't want to. We really don't want to give you the impression that there is no way to interpret fever in newborns without the input of your pediatrician. Then we thought again and decided that when it comes to motherhood and fever, there are many questioning minds who no doubt want to know more - at least for the future.

Medicines for fever

We do not intend to tell you when and how much antipyretic you should use for your newborn, because a) this book is not about practical medicine; b) we have already told you about the golden rule - you must first and foremost call the pediatrician; c) your doctor, in St.

First of all, you need to understand that the body temperature of a healthy child does not always strictly correspond to the “normal” mark (36.6°). It constantly goes up and down a little depending on the time of day and what the child is doing at the moment. Temperatures are usually lowest early in the morning and highest in the evening. However, these daily temperature fluctuations are not as great as the difference between body temperature at rest and active movement. Even if a completely healthy child runs around, his temperature can rise to 37.6-37.8°.

In newborns up to 3 months, any increase in temperature above 38° may indicate illness, and the doctor must be informed about this. (If your baby is overly bundled up, turn him around and take his temperature again.) In an older baby, a temperature of 38.3° or higher may be a sign of illness. In general, the higher the temperature, the more likely it is that we are dealing with a serious infection rather than a common cold or viral illness. However, some children with even a mild infection may have a very high fever, while children with serious illnesses may have very little fever. Fever itself is dangerous for a child only if the temperature rises above 41°, but this almost never happens.

Fever is a condition in which the baby's body temperature exceeds 37.5°C. In itself, it is not so much a disease as a symptom - a natural reaction of the human body to a bacterial or viral infection with which it is fighting.

It is believed that raising the temperature is an attempt to kill the infection, but recently many scientists have questioned this point of view.

Symptoms of fever in a child

Fever, or otherwise, elevated temperature, or hyperthermia, occurs in many diseases and is not a disease in itself, but rather a reaction of the body, a signal that something is wrong with the child. As a rule, all infectious diseases are usually accompanied by fever.

There are red and white hyperthermia: with red, the baby’s skin turns red, the hands and feet are hot or warm to the touch; with white hyperthermia, the child becomes lethargic, the skin turns pale, and the hands and feet become cold.

Why does the temperature rise during illness, reasons?

As discussed above, a fever itself is a symptom of a larger problem, usually caused by bacteria or viruses. It may be caused by otitis media, flu, tonsillitis, or another common childhood illness. It is best to measure your baby's body temperature using a special thermometer for babies.

Also keep in mind that fever often occurs in conjunction with the following symptoms:

increased sweating;
chills;
loss of appetite.

Fever is the body's reaction to infection and some other diseases. Raising the temperature helps the body fight infection, since many microorganisms die at this temperature. Normally, body temperature is maintained by a small part of the brain called the hypothalamus. When the body becomes too hot, the hypothalamus triggers sweating, which has a cooling effect through evaporation. When the body is too cold, it begins to shiver, which creates heat through muscle activity. The system works like a thermostat. In response to an infection, the immune system releases chemicals that turn on the thermostat in the brain, and if they have “programmed” this thermostat to, for example, 38.8°, and the actual body temperature is currently 37.7°, then the child may chills begin.

Medicines such as paracetamol block the production of these heat-producing chemicals and force the internal thermoregulatory mechanism to return to normal. The child begins to sweat at this moment. This is a sign that the brain has realized that the body is too overheated.

Many parents believe that fever is dangerous in itself, and try to immediately bring down the temperature. However, we must remember that fever is not a disease. This is just one way the body fights infection. In addition, the temperature can be used to monitor the development of the disease. Therefore, the doctor may recommend relieving the fever if it prevents the child from sleeping or deprives him of strength.

When the disease is associated with an increase in temperature, the highest temperature is usually observed in the evenings, and the lowest in the morning. But don't be surprised if it suddenly rises in the morning and subsides in the late afternoon. There are also diseases in which the temperature does not fluctuate, but remains constantly high, for example, pneumonia or rubella. If the child is very sick, he may have a low temperature. A slightly lower temperature (36°) is sometimes observed in the last stage of the disease, as well as in healthy children in the morning. This is not a cause for concern if the child is generally doing well.

Measuring a child's temperature

Experienced parents often detect an increase in their child’s temperature by touching their lips to his forehead. The disadvantage of this method is that in this case it is impossible to tell the doctor the exact value of body temperature.

Personally, I am always in favor of digital electronic thermometers. They work much faster, more accurately and easier than traditional mercury. They are inexpensive and there is no risk of them breaking and spilling toxic mercury throughout your home. If you have a mercury thermometer, I suggest you get rid of it. But don't just throw it in the trash. Mercury is poisonous and should never be allowed to enter the soil. It’s better to give the thermometer to a doctor, and he will probably know what the procedure for disposing of hazardous and toxic waste is.

As for the electronic thermometer, all you have to do is wipe it, turn it on and apply it to your body. A beep will tell you when the measurement is complete. In young children, it is best to take the temperature rectally (by inserting a thermometer into the anus). Lubricate the tip of the thermometer with Vaseline or another neutral cream, place the child face down on your lap and, holding his legs with your hand, insert the thermometer into the anus to a depth of about a centimeter. When children turn 5-6 years old, they can already be persuaded to hold the thermometer in their mouth under their tongue for a minute. You can also take the temperature under the armpit, but this method is not as accurate as taking it in the anus or mouth. In one child, the blood vessels are located closer to the surface of the skin, so the temperature will be slightly higher, while in another, the blood vessels are located deeper, and the temperature will accordingly be lower. If you need to find out the exact temperature value, it is better to use the rectal or oral method.

There are very sophisticated electronic thermometers that are inserted into a child's ear, but they are very expensive and do not provide any real benefit, except perhaps in cases where the baby is too restless and cannot be held in one place. Thermometers that read temperature from a distance from the surface of the skin are not particularly accurate.

The thermometer should be washed with warm water and soap after use. You can also wipe it with alcohol, but in this case, do not forget to rinse it with water before using it again.

When telling your doctor about your child’s fever, give as precise a value as possible (to the nearest tenth). The more accurately you report your temperature, the better advice you will receive from your doctor.

How long does it take to measure a child's temperature?

In most cases, if the temperature remains below 38.3° for 2-3 days, then there is no point in measuring it further, unless there are other doctor’s recommendations in this regard and if the child’s visible condition does not worsen. The child can be sent to school if he feels well and his temperature has been normal during the day. However, it is not necessary that all cold symptoms go away completely. Give up the bad habit of measuring your child’s temperature if he is healthy.

Danger level

In some cases, high temperatures can be dangerous. For example, fever should be avoided until the baby is six months old; if the child has heart problems or diseases of the nervous system. In these circumstances, even if the temperature rises to 38 °C, he should already be given antipyretic drugs.

You should call an ambulance immediately

if a child of any age has a temperature rise above 40 °C;
if convulsions are observed;
if a deep chest cough is observed at elevated temperatures.

If the child is over a year old and is healthy (no chronic diseases), then in this case antipyretics should be used only if the high temperature greatly bothers the child.

What to do before the doctor arrives

Attention! Do not give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to a small child! This popular medicine affects the blood-forming organs and can cause severe complications in children under 10 years of age!

Do not give children analgin, use paracetamol and other medicines containing it.

For red hyperthermia, give your baby any children's antipyretic drug - tablet or syrup (for example, Paracetamol) - in the dosage indicated in the instructions for the medicine. The baby needs to be undressed, a cold compress should be placed on the forehead, and the body should be moistened with a mixture of water and vodka in equal proportions (do not rub, otherwise the temperature will rise!), then lightly covered. Rubbing can be repeated again until the temperature drops to 38 °C. You can also give Paracetamol again after 5-6 hours.

Attention! You should not wipe your child with alcohol or wrap him in blankets!

If, an hour after re-taking the drug, the temperature remains above 40 ° C, you should pour warm water into the bath, put the child in it so that the water reaches his navel and rub him with a washcloth for 10-15 minutes. From time to time, add warm water to the bath so as not to overcool the baby. After this, quickly dry him without rubbing him, dress him in light pajamas or a nightie, lay him down and give him plenty of warm (but not hot) tea or diluted juice.

If a child has white hyperthermia, apply a cold compress to the forehead, and then give the baby Papaverine or No-shpu and, for example, Suprastin or Zyrtec, along with an antipyretic drug (Paracetamol). In this case, you should not wipe the child’s entire body; it is better to put woolen socks on him and wait until the feet become warm and the skin turns pink, and only then can you wipe him.

Sweet syrups can cause allergies due to their additives.

In children aged one to five, the temperature can rise to 40°, and sometimes higher, even with a mild infection or cold. At the same time, in case of a dangerous illness, the temperature may not exceed 38.3°. Therefore, you should not worry too much about high temperatures. Contact your doctor any time your baby seems sick or looks unusual.

At high temperatures, the child sometimes feels severe discomfort. If on the first day of illness his temperature rises to 40° or higher, the fever can be slightly reduced with an antipyretic drug such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (not aspirin). These products are available in the form of tablets, syrups or suppositories (suppositories). Follow the package directions carefully to give your child the correct dose. Remember that the dose of the drug varies depending on the age and weight of the child.

The antipyretic should only be given once, unless you are unable to contact your doctor within 3-4 hours. In this case, you may need to give the drug again. (Make sure that the medicine is kept out of the child's reach and in a container that he cannot open on his own. Even though over-the-counter fever reducers are not considered harmless, an overdose can cause very serious problems.)

You can give your child a bath or dry him with a damp towel or sponge. A cool bath or rubdown causes a rush of blood to the surface of the skin. In the past, alcohol was traditionally used for wiping, but since it evaporates very easily at room temperature, a significant amount of it can enter the lungs when breathing. Regular water has exactly the same effect, but it is completely safe and costs you nothing. However, this method only causes the temperature to drop for a short time, since the body's thermostat is still programmed to be at a high temperature and will soon raise it again.

If your child has a very high fever and is all flushed, cover him only with a light blanket at normal room temperature. Perhaps one sheet will be enough. The child will feel quite comfortable, and this may help lower the temperature a little.

Attention! Never give aspirin to a child or teen if they have a fever or signs of a cold unless the doctor tells you to do so. For children in such cases, only paracetamol, ibuprofen or other drugs that do not contain aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) can be used. If a child has a viral infection, especially the flu or chickenpox, aspirin makes his body more susceptible to Reye's syndrome, a rare but very dangerous disease.

In cases where the baby’s body temperature does not rise above the specified values, special treatment, as a rule, is not required: let the body fight the infection on its own. However, there are a number of remedies that can be used to reduce the fever and relieve discomfort.

Bathe your child in lukewarm (not cold!) water, watching how he reacts to a sudden change in temperature.
Dress him in light fabric to make it easier for his body to release excess heat.
Make sure your baby is drinking enough fluids, whether breast milk, formula or water if your baby is used to drinking it.
Try giving him some garlic or lemon balm leaves. Add them to his food if he is older than five months, and if you are breastfeeding, then to your food (the beneficial substances will be naturally transferred to the baby from you).
Consult Homeopathy: Belladonna is recommended for fever relief (be sure to consult a qualified homeopath before consuming homeopathic medicines).

Attention!

If the temperature is above 38°C in a child under three months of age or above 39°C in a baby less than six months old, consult a doctor immediately. You should also take your baby to a specialist if the fever is accompanied by lethargy or drowsiness. Don’t brush off your doubts: let the doctor dispel them.

Convulsions

Parents often fear that if their child has a high temperature for a long time, this may cause a seizure. It is not true. Only a sharp increase in temperature at the onset of the disease can sometimes cause convulsions in young children. The temperature should be brought down only for the sole purpose of making the baby feel a little better, and not at all in order to prevent seizures.

A high temperature in a baby is a common occurrence that parents have to deal with. It is noteworthy that only a few know how to act correctly when a child has a fever. In this article we will tell you what you should and should NOT do if your child has a high temperature.

A high temperature in a child is a normal reaction of the body

To begin with, every caring mother should know that this is a normal reaction of the body to illness. For example, during infectious diseases (ARVI, intestinal and other infections), the body increases its temperature in order to quickly cope with the infection.

In response to infection, the body produces specific substances pyrogens, the activity of which leads to an increase in temperature. In turn, at elevated body temperatures, immune cells and immune molecular complexes (for example, interferon, which destroys viruses) act much more actively. Thus, high temperature is a “state of emergency” in which the body quickly and effectively copes with the disease. In addition, as body temperature rises, metabolism and muscle tone increase. The skin becomes drier and the pulse quickens. The appearance of weakness and loss of appetite in such a situation is also a normal reaction of the body.

Why do babies often get fevers?

You need to understand that the younger the child, the more often his body temperature will rise without visible symptoms. This is due to the following circumstances:

In young children, the body's thermoregulation mechanism is poorly established. In this regard, babies often overheat even for no apparent reason.
Many diseases in young children occur differently than in adults due to different physiological characteristics in children and adults.
There are a large number of infections that only small children are susceptible to, and adults do not get sick with them.
The child’s body experiences many different infections for the first time, and therefore the baby’s temperature rises in response to an unfamiliar infection.
Young children who cannot speak or express their feelings correctly are unable to tell their parents that they have a stomach problem. Therefore, parents for a long time cannot understand what is happening to their children.

What are the main causes of high fever in a child?

Let's figure out in what cases children most often develop a fever. The main causes of fever in a child are as follows:

Viral or bacterial infections. These may be acute respiratory infections, intestinal diseases or urinary tract infections and others. Body temperature often rises with throat diseases. As a rule, parents are not always able to immediately identify the symptoms of an infectious disease, since the temperature does not rise immediately, but after some time. At the same time, during the examination, the doctor will be able to correctly diagnose and give recommendations for treatment.
Overheating. Even in winter, babies can overheat if their parents wrap them up too much. When the body overheats, the body temperature rises. In this case, the baby becomes restless, capricious, or behaves lethargically and apathetically. If overheated, the baby’s body temperature can rise to 38-38.5 degrees! In such cases, it is recommended to ventilate the room well so that the air temperature in it is 18-22 degrees. If a child is overheated in the sun, he should be taken home or to a shaded place. You need to remove the child’s clothes and wipe the skin with a sponge soaked in water. The child must be given something to drink.
Teething. In young children, body temperature may rise when. If a child constantly strives to scratch his gums, is capricious, and there is inflammation in the mouth on the gums, then most likely the cause of the high temperature is teething. In addition, when a baby is teething, he puts things around him in his mouth. In such cases, the likelihood of infection increases, which leads to elevated body temperature.

Ways to measure a child's body temperature

Did you know that a temperature of 36.6 is not always normal? It all depends on how you measure temperature. There are three main ways to measure a child's temperature:

Oral method. With this method of measuring body temperature, an average of 37 degrees is considered normal. To correctly measure body temperature, you need to place the tip of the thermometer under your tongue and close your mouth for 3-4 minutes. This method of measuring temperature should not be used on children under 4 years of age, as they often bite the thermometer.
Rectal method. When measuring body temperature rectally, normal values will be higher than the usual 36.6 degrees for us. The body temperature in the anus is slightly higher, and 37.5 is considered the norm for this type of measurement. Typically, the rectal method is used for young children under 4 years of age. The tip of the thermometer should be lubricated with oil and inserted into the anus for about 1 minute.
Axillary method. This is the longest method of measuring temperature. You need to hold the thermometer in the armpit for up to 10 minutes, and the norm in this case will be a value from 36 to 37 degrees.

What not to do if your child has a fever

Let's discuss some things that definitely should not be done if a child has an elevated temperature:

Do not lower your temperature if it is below 38.5. If the body temperature does not exceed 38.5 degrees, and the child tolerates such heat well, then doctors do not recommend lowering the temperature even during the first days of illness. A high temperature helps the body fight infection, and if you constantly bring it down, you will only do harm, not allowing you to deal a noticeable blow to the disease. By lowering your temperature, you allow the infection to spread, which can lead to the development of complications. In addition, by lowering the temperature, you significantly extend the period of illness.
Do not use products that increase body temperature. Doctors are sounding the alarm, since “caring” mothers and grandmothers very often use alcohol compresses and other means at high temperatures that increase body temperature, but do not lower it. In addition, when the temperature is high, you should not use steam rooms, hot showers or baths, electric blankets, or drink hot drinks.
Don't wrap your baby up. Do not wrap your child tightly at high temperatures. When body temperature rises, sweating also increases. This is how the body tries to get rid of excess heat. If you wrap your baby too tightly, you will prevent him from cooling properly, which will only cause harm.
Do not humidify or heat the air. Maintain the air temperature in the house at 18-24 degrees. Do not heat it or moisten it with. The thing is that with high humidity, bacteria easily enter the respiratory tract, and the baby runs the risk of getting another infection. In severe cases, a bacterial infection in the lungs may also develop. The baby should not be hot. However, make sure that there are no drafts in the room.
Don't give your baby sugary drinks. Drinking plenty of fluids is, of course, necessary, but try to avoid sweet teas and fruit drinks. It is best to get by with mineral water. When drinking sweet tea or tea with jam or honey at a high temperature, the moisture will evaporate first, but the sugars will remain in the body and feed pathogenic bacteria. In such cases, the risk of other infections, for example, of the genitourinary organs, increases. Pyelonephritis or bladder infection (cystitis) may develop.
Do not wipe your baby with alcohol or vinegar. This is very dangerous for the baby's health. Indeed, alcohol and vinegar cool the skin, then the evaporation of alcohol and vinegar quickly penetrates the lungs and can cause dizziness, headaches and a number of other dangerous symptoms. In addition, when rubbing the skin with alcohol, the temperature can drop sharply, which in itself is very dangerous, especially for a child’s body. After a sharp drop in fever, severe chills occur and the baby begins to tremble. This way the body spends a lot of energy, which is dangerous for health.

What to do if your baby has a high temperature

If the baby's body temperature has risen and it is above 38 degrees, then it is recommended to give the child. You cannot give your child medicine on your own; it must be prescribed by a doctor. As a rule, for very young children, medications in the form of suppositories can be used, and for older children, antipyretic syrups can be given. Remember that aspirin should not be given to children under 12 years of age because this drug can cause serious side effects (such as Reye's syndrome) in children.

Some children develop seizures at high temperatures. In such cases, there is no need to try to open the child’s mouth with a spoon or other objects. Make sure that he does not bury his head in the pillow, and as soon as the attack stops, give the baby an antipyretic.

You need to dress your child lightly so that he is comfortable. You can cover with a light blanket so that excess heat can escape freely.

If the baby’s body temperature persists for more than 3-4 days, then you should consult a doctor again. Perhaps the diagnosis was incorrect or the treatment needs to be adjusted.

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