Fever in children

Fever is insidious in that it may not threaten anything, or it may be a symptom of a transient dangerous infection. When the temperature rises, you should understand the possible cause and constantly monitor the changes.

Heat transfer in children is somewhat different than in adults. At birth, all babies have a special brown fat, which quickly disappears, being replaced by ordinary white fatty tissue.

Brown fat contains many mitochondria. They oxidize fatty acids and release heat when needed. Since babies are very vulnerable in the first days of life, this mechanism protects them from hypothermia.

In the process of life, the mechanisms of heat transfer in children continue to form and become more and more similar to the thermoregulation of adults. In fact, the final development of the system ends only by 8 years. Until this age, children lose heat worse, and at the same time they produce it better. Because of this, overheating is more dangerous for the baby, and the entire thermoregulation system is much more unstable. Temperature jumps in children happen often, and the reasons can be very different.

What is a fever

Body temperature above 37 ° C is considered hyperthermia, that is, fever. When measuring temperature in the rectum, fever is considered to be above 38 ° C.

The mechanism of the occurrence of fever is as follows: under the action of pyrogens – substances that stimulate an increase in temperature, the release of anti-inflammatory substances is stimulated. Pyrogens are most often of an infectious nature. They act on the thermoregulatory center, which becomes less sensitive to thermal impulses. The entire thermoregulation system is rebuilt to work at a higher level. That is, heat production increases and heat transfer decreases, which leads to a general increase in body temperature.

At the same time, many viruses and bacteria in such a “heat” reduce the rate of reproduction, and the immune system increases the synthesis of antibodies. The activity of leukocytes, inflammatory cells, also increases. At its core, an increase in temperature is a protective reaction of the body, this allows you to quickly defeat the infection and activate the immune system.

Fever symptoms in children

An increase in body temperature immediately affects the well-being of the child. The skin becomes hot, wet, the baby complains of weakness, chills, headache, cries. If the fever is severe, then delirium, confusion and convulsions are possible.

Clinically, fever in children is divided into “pink” and “pale”.

The most common – “pink”, is relatively not dangerous. It is provoked mainly by infections, and the child feels quite well, despite the high numbers on the thermometer. At the same time, the baby’s skin is red, hot, moist, legs and arms remain warm. The higher the temperature, the more often the child begins to breathe, the pulse quickens.

“Pale” fever is much more dangerous. Due to vasospasm, the skin becomes pale, may be covered with “marble” cyanotic spots. The skin is hot, but dry, the child hardly sweats. Hands and feet are cold, shortness of breath may begin. There are problems with pressure – it rises sharply, and then can drop almost to a state of shock. At the same time, the child is excessively lethargic, it is impossible to wake him up; or, on the contrary, overexcited, he is disturbed by hallucinations and delirium.

“Pale” fever is characteristic of severe bacterial infections. It requires special attention, as it can cause serious complications.

Causes of fever in children

The body temperature of young children is very unstable. It can fluctuate from emotional overexcitation, fatigue. At an older age, hormonal failure during puberty can also cause fever.

But the main causes are various infections, they account for up to 80% of all cases of fever. Injuries, internal hemorrhages, burns and bruises, overheating in the sun and dehydration can also cause fever. The reasons can be very serious: tumors, genetic diseases, hormonal disorders.

Fever is usually accompanied by a sharp short rise in temperature, which is stopped by drugs and lasts for several hours or even weeks. There are long-term conditions, while the temperature rises slightly, but often. One such example is thermoneurosis. To determine the exact cause, you need to call a pediatrician.

Treatment of fever in children

Almost always, body temperature rises as a reaction to an infection: bacteria, viruses. Some of these diseases have few specific symptoms early on, such as meningococcal disease. At the same time, these diseases develop rapidly and can lead to death, therefore, increased attention should always be paid to fever.

Treatment will be specific, aimed at eliminating the cause – the source of infection. For this, antibiotics, antiviral drugs, as well as their own immunity forces are used. To reduce the temperature with threatening numbers, antipyretics are used in various forms. Dosage and choice of drug depend on the age of the child.

A slight and short-term increase in temperature may be associated with nervous tension, overheating, teething. It is important to know that the very fact of teething cannot cause a significant rise in temperature – normally, this process is quite natural and does not cause fever. If teeth are cut, and the temperature rises very much, the reason is almost certainly not in the teeth, and you should not relax.

You need to establish the cause, think about what happened before the rise in temperature, which could cause a fever. If this is overheating, the child needs to be moved to a cool place, give water, cool his head, wipe his body with water, direct a fan at the baby. Do not wipe the skin with pure alcohol, vodka, or too cold water and ice. Too much cold constricts the blood vessels of the skin, and heat transfer decreases even more, the body cannot cool. And alcohol can be partially absorbed through the skin, and its vapors also adversely affect the baby.

It is important to ensure adequate fluid intake. The temperature can drop badly from dehydration, so sometimes you even have to force a sick child to drink. There is a special formula, according to which, with each degree of excess temperature, the volume of liquid that needs to be taken increases. For every degree of elevated temperature, 10 ml of water per kilogram of the child’s weight is added.

Diagnostics

To measure temperature, various thermometers are used, including mercury and electronic ones. The latter are not very accurate, and the error in degrees can be large. Mercury thermometers must be used very carefully so as not to break it.

The temperature in children is measured under the armpit, in the inguinal fold or in the rectum. To measure on the surface of the skin, the fold must be wiped with a towel, and wait for the skin to dry. Shake the thermometer to 35 °C, wipe it with a disinfectant and insert it into the armpit or into the skin fold in the groin. You need to hold the thermometer by pressing the bent arm or leg of the child for about 10 minutes.

The most accurate method is in the rectum, in children under 2 years old this is the main method. Rectal temperature is always higher than on the surface of the body. Normal rectal temperature is considered to be 37,3-37,7. Before the measurement, it will not be superfluous to do a cleansing enema, but you can do without it. Before measuring, disinfect the thermometer as well, lubricate the tip with petroleum jelly and insert into the rectum to a depth of no more than 5 centimeters. Then squeeze the buttocks with your hands and hold for about 5 minutes.

Modern treatments

The most effective way to urgently overcome a fever is to take antipyretic drugs. They are also called antipyretics.

You should not give such medicines at every temperature jump, and even more so as a preventive measure – this will not work. Usually, antipyretics are used after 38 – 39 ° C, before this threshold the child feels quite well, and a slight fever helps to cope with the disease.

When convulsions appear, at the age of up to 2 months of age, you feel very unwell, you need to focus on the child’s feelings, and not on a thermometer. Sometimes antiperitic drugs are required with a slight increase in temperature, and sometimes the child tolerates more than 39 ° C well.

Within about half an hour after taking the drug, the fever should subside. If the antipyretic in the form of tablets, gels and syrups was ineffective, intramuscular or intravenous injections are usually administered. Persistent fever, which is not stopped for a long time by drugs, is the reason for calling an ambulance. Hospitalization may be required.

Prevention of fever in children at home

With any infectious disease, an increase in temperature is possible. It’s impossible to avoid it. You just need to monitor the condition of the child, do not wrap him in blankets too much, give him enough liquid.

When the fever subsides, active sweating will begin, all clothes and bedding may become wet. To make your child more comfortable and avoid catching a cold, change your underwear more often.

Popular questions and answers

Each parent will be disturbed by a sharp jump in temperature and the child. Having understood the mechanism of the occurrence of fever and learning what to do in such a situation, parents will be able to help the child without unnecessary worries. Will tell you about the actions in case of such a problem. evidence-based pediatrician, ambassador prodoctorov Daria Schukina.