The first thing to know about temperature is that it is not dangerous. Contrary to popular belief, brain damage is rare. For this to happen, it must exceed 42 ° C for an extended period. Fever caused by an infectious disease rarely rises above 40.5 ° C when the baby is lightly dressed. This concern can be struck off the list.

Why does the child have a high temperature?

It can have a positive effect, although it makes him (and you) feel bad. An increased temperature means that the child's body is intensively fighting an infectious disease (usually a cold, sore throat, otitis media). Most bacteria and viruses that cause an infectious disease multiply at normal body temperature, the only way the body can protect itself from the disease is to raise the temperature by 2 degrees. The high temperature activates the system by increasing the production of white blood cells, antibodies and agents that can fight infectious disease. Therefore, you do not need to bring down the temperature.

There is no need to call an ambulance every time the reading on the thermometer rises by 1 - 2 °. In most cases, temperature is not critical; it can be lowered at home.

What to do if a child has a high fever?

1. You can reduce it with Ibuprofen, an antipyretic drug that will ease the discomfort. Can be given to babies from 6 months old and should not be given to babies with prolonged vomiting or dehydration. If the newborn is not yet 3 months old, call a therapist. Before giving a bottle at this age, it is important to determine the cause of the rise in temperature before you start to lower it.
2. Exceeding the recommended dose is dangerous, be sure to use a syringe or pipette to measure the amount of the medicine, follow the recommended dosage regimen (no more than 5 times a day). Comment: Baby drops are more concentrated than liquid elixir. The dose of the medication should be carefully observed.
3. If your baby spits up a few minutes after giving the medicine, check with your doctor to see if you need to give it again. The drugs are absorbed by the intestines within 30 to 45 minutes. If the drug has been in the stomach for more than a few minutes, do not risk giving a second dose. It is difficult to determine how much of a drug has been absorbed by the body.
4. If your son or daughter has a high fever, give more fluids to help lower the fever and prevent dehydration.
5. Place the baby in loose, lightweight cotton clothing and cover with a sheet or light blanket.
6. When a baby's temperature is high, the room should be cool, but not cold. If he gets cold, chills will begin, the temperature will rise.
7. You can try to lower the temperature by washing it with a sponge soaked in lukewarm water or placing it in a tub of lukewarm water. (The water should not be cold, otherwise chills will start.) Do not dry the baby, but let the water evaporate from the skin. This will help keep him cool. Do not add alcohol to the water to lower the temperature. This can cause severe or dangerous complications. The child may inhale alcohol vapors. In addition, alcohol can even raise the temperature by narrowing the blood vessels of the skin and thus reducing heat loss.

When to call a doctor for a child's temperature?

Although in most cases, a high temperature in a baby is not dangerous, you should see a doctor and find out what to do if:

• The temperature is too high for his age, whether he looks sick or not;
• The fever does not subside for two days;
• There is inconsolable crying, he is irritated and restless, or, on the contrary, whimpers and looks weak;
• Weakness, difficulty walking;
• Lameness is observed;
• Have convulsions (if he turned blue during the seizure, the seizure lasted more than 5 minutes, there was difficulty in breathing after the seizure, he is lethargic or sleepy an hour after the seizure, see a doctor immediately);
• The fontanelle on the head began to swell;
• You have neck pain or headache;
• Looks like the baby has a stomach ache;
• You have purple (not red) spots on your skin or large purple pimples (possible signs of meningitis, an infectious brain disease);
• Skin inflammations appeared;
• Difficulty breathing (a possible sign of asthma or pneumonia);
• Looks very sick;
• No desire to drink or suck;
• Persistent vomiting or diarrhea;
• Difficulty swallowing or excessive salivation (possible signs of a life-threatening infectious disease in which the back of the throat is swollen);
• Weakened immune system

Now you know what to do if your child has a high fever.

To begin with, let's figure out that each of us has a temperature and, normally, it is not necessarily 36.6 ° C. This is the "hospital average" value, because in a healthy person it can range from 36.1 to 37.2 ° C and even change during the day. For example, to rise after eating or heavy exertion.

When we say "A child has a temperature," we mean fever - a condition in which the body temperature is elevated, that is, the thermometer under the arm shows more than 37.2 ° C.

If you put a thermometer rectally (in the rectum) or measure the temperature in the ear, then the values ​​are usually higher Fever: First aid... Then the fever is more than 38 ° C. When measured orally (in the mouth), it is above 37.8 ° C.

Why does the temperature rise

Fever is the body’s defense reaction, usually to various infections. It is more difficult for bacteria and viruses to survive at high temperatures, so the body starts a process that destroys dangerous microorganisms, and at the same time activates the immune system Fever.

The temperature in children rises more often due to respiratory viral infections, such as what we call the common cold. But this is not necessary: ​​fever occurs in many other diseases. In addition to infections, trauma, overheating, cancer, hormonal and autoimmune diseases, and even some drugs that have side effects can be to blame for the temperature.

Adults notice a high fever for specific symptoms:

1. Weaknesses.
2. Headache.
3. Feelings of chills and shivering.
4. Loss of appetite.
5. Muscle pain.
6. Sweating.

Children who already know how to talk may complain of discomfort. But the temperature also rises in babies who cannot describe their condition.

The reason to measure the temperature is unusual behavior of the child:

1. Refusal to eat or breast.
2. Tearfulness, irritability.
3. Sleepiness, fatigue, passivity.

You cannot talk about a fever based on a kiss on the forehead. High temperature is indicated only by a thermometer.

When and why to lower the temperature

Fever is a sign of a correct immune response when it comes to infections. Therefore, it should not be reduced in order not to postpone recovery. Advice for managing child fever... It usually makes sense to give antipyretics after the temperature rises. On the safe use of antipyretics in children up to 39 ° C are rectal measurements. When the temperature is checked under the armpit, doctors recommend lowering it after 38.5 ° C, but not before. Don't worry, the fever itself isn't that bad.

Many fear that high temperatures will damage brain cells. But, according to the WHO, it is safe for children until it reaches The Management of fever in young children with acute respiratory infections in developing countries 42 ° C.

Fever is not an independent disease, but only a symptom of it. When the temperature is lowered with drugs, the external manifestations of the disease are removed, but they are not cured.

In rare cases, too high a temperature in children leads to febrile seizures - involuntary muscle contractions. It looks creepy and makes the parents faint, but mostly the attacks stop by themselves and have no consequences. Fever... Call the doctors and make sure that the child does not injure himself: put him on his side, hold him, open tight clothes. You don't need to put anything in your mouth, this only increases the risk of injury.

But everyone tolerates fever in different ways: someone can read and play on a thermometer even at 39 ° C, someone lies at 37.5 ° C and cannot move. Therefore, it is necessary to lower the temperature for the sake of convenience and improvement of the child's well-being.

If the child feels well, then nothing should be done with a high temperature.

The easiest, fastest and most effective way is to give your child antipyretics based on ibuprofen or paracetamol. They are produced in forms that are convenient for children: sweet syrups or candles. Be careful when giving syrup to a child: flavors and dyes can cause allergies.

Do not under any circumstances exceed the dosage of the medication. It is usually calculated based on the weight of the child. Children, especially preschoolers, can vary greatly in weight even at the same age, so focus on the number of kilograms, not years.

Remember that drugs take time to take effect: 0.5 to 1.5 hours. So do not rush to measure the temperature 10 minutes after taking the pill.

Use the measuring cups, spoons, and syringes that came with the medicine. Do not take medicine in the dark or in a teaspoon by eye: you always need to know how much and what medicines you gave your child.

To avoid overdosing, do not give your toddler combination medicine for cold symptoms. They already contain paracetamol or another antipyretic agent, so it’s easy to overlook that you are overdosing if you give several medications at the same time.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen can be used on the same day Paracetamol for children, but do not get carried away and do not give everything to the child at once. If, for example, you gave paracetamol, and it did not help much, then when the time comes for a new dose of antipyretic, give ibuprofen (or vice versa).

Do not give aspirin and analgin, which can cause serious side effects in children.

There are also physical methods, however, ineffective: wipe the child's palms and feet with a damp towel, put a cool compress on the forehead. Just do not take ice for this, it is enough to soak a towel with water at room temperature.

When to call a doctor

Experienced parents know that you can cope with mild ARVI on your own, at home. In such cases, a doctor is needed only in order to write out a certificate or sick leave for the parents. But still, the pediatrician needs to appear if:

1. You need to get a doctor's advice, calm down. Or do you just think that your child needs medical attention.
2. A febrile child is less than three months old.
3. The child is less than six months old, and the temperature above 38 ° C lasts more than 1 day.
4. The child is less than a year old, and the temperature above 39 ° C lasts for more than 1 day.
5. The child has a rash.
6. Together with the temperature, there are severe symptoms: uncontrolled cough, vomiting, severe pain, photophobia.

When to call an ambulance

You need to urgently seek help if:

1. The temperature reached high values ​​(more than 39 ° C) and after taking antipyretic drugs it continues to rise.
2. The child has a confused mind: he is too sleepy, he cannot be woken up, he does not react well to the environment.
3. Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
4. Vomiting was added to the temperature.
5. A rash appears in the form of small bruises that does not disappear when pressed on the skin.
6. Convulsions began.
7. There are signs of dehydration: the child rarely goes to the toilet, he has a dry mouth with a red tongue, he cries without tears. In infants, the fontanelle may sink.

How to help a child with a temperature

The main thing we can do to help with the fight against temperature is to eliminate its cause. If it is a bacterial infection, they are needed (only as directed by a doctor). If other diseases are to blame, they must be treated. And only viruses pass by themselves, you just need to support the body that will destroy these viruses.

Let's have a warm drink

At high temperatures, the moisture in the human body evaporates faster, so there is a risk of dehydration. This is especially true for children: they are small and need very little to lose 10% of their fluid. With a lack of water, the mucous membranes dry out, it becomes more difficult to breathe, the child has nothing to sweat with, that is, he cannot release heat himself. Therefore, drinking warm at a temperature is very, very important.

More often give your child juices, compotes, tea, water, persuade him to drink at least a few sips. Babies need to be offered breast more often, but if the baby refuses, it is better to give him water or a special drink than wait for him to return to breast milk.

Buy a humidifier

In order not to increase the loss of fluid with breathing (and we exhale steam, which contains a lot of moisture from the mucous membranes), humidify the air in the room. To keep the relative humidity between 40-60%, it is best to buy a dedicated air humidifier. But you can try and.

Get out

Damp the room every day: wash the floors and collect dust. Again, this is necessary to facilitate breathing. Do not be afraid to open the vents and ventilate. Fresh air is especially necessary for a person whose body is fighting disease, because ventilation is one of the ways to disinfect a room. It won't get any worse from the open window, but from the hot, dry and full of microbes air - it will.

By the way, the child can be bathed if his temperature rises.

Of course, when the baby wants to sleep and lie down, there is no need to drag him to the bathroom. But if the general condition is normal, the child moves and plays, you can wash.

Follow your diet

Feed your child healthy food: do not give kilograms of candy just because he is sick. If the baby has no appetite, do not force him to eat. Eating a meal through force will not help in any way to cope with the infection. It is better to boil chicken broth and give it to your child: it is liquid, and food, and help in the fight against inflammation.

What can not be done at a temperature in a child

The best way to survive an unpleasant period of illness without problems and losses is to provide your child with good care. For some reason (according to tradition, according to the advice of grandmothers, according to advice from the forums), many harmful actions are considered mandatory in the treatment of fever. How not to make mistakes:

1. Do not wrap up the child... If the temperature is high, then warm clothes and two blankets will only aggravate the process. Better to persuade you to drink another cup of warm compote.
2. Do not place a heater next to your child.... In general, if the temperature in the room is above 22 ° C, it should be lowered. For a child with fever, it will be better if the room is 18–20 ° C: inhaling such air will not dry out the mucous membranes.
3. Do not soar your feet, do not make you breathe over a saucepan with something hot, do not put mustard plasters: These treatments have no proven efficacy, and the risk of burns and overheating is higher than any potential benefit. In addition, these are unpleasant activities, and the child is already bad. If you really want to help your little one, it is better to figure out how to entertain him when it is difficult for him.
4. Do not rub your child with vinegar and vodka... These methods are of little help, but they are very toxic to children.
5. Do not put your child to bed if he does not want to go there.... The patient will prescribe himself bed rest. If he has the strength to play, then that's good.

What to do if the temperature rises after vaccination

Some vaccines cause temporary reactions in the body - redness at the injection site, irritability, a slight increase in temperature. These are not complications, everything will go away by itself in 1-3 days.

You can eliminate unpleasant symptoms in the same way as in the case of any other temperature: antipyretic drugs and a suitable regimen.

Usually the temperature after vaccination is not higher than 37.5 ° C. But if the fever rises, see your doctor.

Hyperthermia - an increase in body temperature, the most common symptom of the disease in children.

We are doctors, the body temperature in children is up to 38-38.5 degrees, without initial (cardiological, neurological ...) pathology, we usually consider it as a protective-compensatory reaction of the body, thanks to which the body tries to resist infection or other foreign agent that invaded its limits.

Why can a baby's body temperature rise?

· The manifestation of a viral or bacterial infection.

· Manifestation of poisoning: toxins trapped in the body from accidentally eaten low-quality food, poisoning with vasoconstrictor drugs, insect bites.

· In babies, it can manifest itself with teething or prolonged anxiety.

· It can accompany allergic reactions.

· In case of overheating in the sun or excessive wrapping of the baby.

When should you see a doctor?

If the high temperature is accompanied by: photophobia, severe abdominal pain, loss of consciousness, convulsions, poisoning, and if the hyperthermia lasts no more than 2-3 days. In all of the above cases, you cannot do without the participation of a pediatrician.

What should you pay attention to?

As the body temperature rises, the blood vessels in the skin usually dilate, causing the skin to redden and feel hot to the touch. Typically, the temperature is determined by placing a hand on the forehead and temples. A kiss on the temple or forehead will even more accurately show the temperature level. But it so happens that, despite the presence of internal heat, the skin does not glow, but only slightly warm. In this case, you can also touch the upper abdomen - it also refers to the areas where the temperature rises. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the color of the cheeks - at a high temperature, the child's cheeks glow, become bright red. At a temperature, the heart rate also increases, breathing becomes frequent, intermittent. Sweat beads on the forehead. In all these cases, it is necessary to measure the temperature of the child in any way possible.

When should you lower your body temperature?

The temperature is above 38.5 ° C. With good temperature tolerance: the child is vigorous, active, feels relatively well, it is possible not to lower it to 39 ° C. If the child does not feel well, has a strong headache, chills, lower the temperature above 38 ° C. For children under 2 months, the temperature is lowered above 38 ° C. If the child has had seizures or other serious damage to the central nervous system, or suffers from heart disease. Reduce the temperature above 37.5 ° C.

What should be our actions?

1. Do not panic and do not be nervous, this can scare the baby and worsen his well-being.

2. Try to undress your baby and allow the body to release its warmth to the surrounding air. If your baby has cold feet, put on socks. Quite often, this procedure provokes a protest from the child and he tries to hide, I think that in this case he should not do this.

3. If the child does not have vomiting, give him more to drink (tea, fruit drink, dried fruit compote), he should receive so much liquid so that his urine has a light-light straw color.

4. If your baby refuses to eat, do not force feed him, it's okay if he goes hungry for 1-2 days, the main thing is that he drank more. And the food that he will eat should be easily digestible: porridge, mashed potatoes, gache, not heavily seasoned with spices, overcooked and greasy, in no case do not give soda.

5. If this does not help, you can start cooling the child's body by physical methods (only if the child's body is hot and the skin is not pale). Put a cold, wet cloth on your forehead and change it to keep it cool at all times. Wipe his body with water at room temperature (not in any case cold), you should get the same effect when you get out of the water after bathing and you feel cool, only in this case the procedure will be effective.

6. If these manipulations did not help, then you can try to proceed with the simplest drug methods.

If the baby is vomiting to lower body temperature, use rectal suppositories, the method of application and dosage are always indicated on the package, do not forget to check the expiration date.

If your baby takes the drugs well by mouth, you can offer him syrups or suspensions, children take them more readily, drugs containing ibuprofen are more preferable than paracetamol, but in any case, strictly follow the instructions. However, if there is no "children's" medicine at hand, you can give the child and an adult pill, just calculate the dose correctly

7. If, for any reason, your actions did not have the desired result, it is better to consult a doctor.

And further…

There is no need to strive to "bring down" the temperature to normal values, it is enough to reduce it by 1-1.5 ° C. The child's well-being will improve with this result. In most acute viral infections (ARVI), the fever lasts 1-2 days. If the temperature does not drop for more than 3-4 days, most likely, a bacterial infection has joined, which is treated with antibiotics. Antipyretic drugs complicate its diagnosis, as they blur the clinical picture of the disease. If the high temperature (38-39 ° C) lasts more than 3 days - do not stuff the child with antipyretic drugs, consult a doctor. If the child receives antibiotics, then it is undesirable to use antipyretic drugs. It will be difficult for the doctor to assess how effective antibiotic treatment is. The only exceptions are cases when a high temperature is extremely dangerous for a child (convulsions, heart failure, etc.).

And finally, let me wish you and your children good health.

If you are interested in our information, then you can familiarize yourself with our earlier entries on similar topics:

Interstitial electrical stimulation is a promising new method for treating pain in the back, head and joints.

A set of exercises for back pain.

What to do ... ... if your back hurts.

New Year's advices for Kids from the doctor on duty.

What to do ... .. The child ate pills or drank an unknown liquid ................

A complex of physiotherapy exercises in the prevention and treatment of neck pain.

What to do if a child has ... ..Vomiting.

A high fever in a child or hyperthermia is a common occurrence. If you have already learned the happiness of becoming parents or are just getting ready, then sooner or later you will face this problem. In this article I will talk about the algorithm for providing emergency care for hyperthermia in children. I will focus on the age of the child, because there are differences in helping children 1 - 2 years old, 3 and 6 years old. After reading the article, the high temperature will not catch you by surprise and will not cause panic, you will calmly bring it down at home and alleviate the suffering of your child.

What is high body temperature or hyperthermia

I want to say right away that an increase in temperature is a pathophysiological process, as a result of which the body mobilizes defense processes, activates the immune system to fight viruses and bacteria. This increase is necessary, therefore you have repeatedly heard that it is undesirable to bring down the temperature to 38 degrees.

Types of body temperature in children

These definitions apply not only to children, but also to adults:

1. subnormal - 35-36 ° C. It usually occurs in elderly people or severely weakened children, a prognostically unfavorable sign;
2. normal - 36-37 ° C. Although in many Western countries, including America, temperatures up to 37.5 are considered normal;
3. subfebrile - 37-38 ° C. This is the temperature that in most cases does not need to be brought down. Below I will tell you in what cases it is necessary to reduce this temperature in a child;
4. increased - 38-39 ° C;
5. high - 39-40 ° С;
6. excessively high - above 40 ° С.

What is "white" and "red" fever in children

Depending on the mechanisms of occurrence and course, the increased temperature (fever) in children is conventionally divided into red and white. The tactics of treating the baby depend on the type of fever. With red fever, the child's skin is red, the limbs (arms and legs) are warm, the ears and nose are red-pink and also warm to the touch. The general condition of the kinder is satisfactory, he is active, plays, eats, despite the fact that the thermometer shows disappointing 38.5-39.0 degrees.

With "white" - cold and pale limbs (hands and feet as cold as ice) are noted, despite the high temperature. The skin of the face, nose, ears is also white, with a bluish tinge. This occurs due to spasms of peripheral vessels, as a result of which normal heat transfer does not occur. The general condition of the child is moderate or severe. He is lethargic, pale, he is cold, he does not want to do anything. This high temperature option is more dangerous. What parents should do with such a fever, I will write below. ...

Emergency care for hyperthermia in children - an algorithm for providing at home

If your child is several months old from birth, 1, 2, 3 years old, 6 years old or older, and you do not know what to do at a high temperature, then this algorithm will help bring down the temperature without medication.

How to bring down a temperature of 39 without medication

If your baby's skin is pink, hands, feet, and nose are warm or hot. If the kinder is active, and the thermometer has an awful 39, then these rules will help you to bring down the temperature yourself at home.

With the correct implementation of the above algorithm, the child's temperature decreases by 1 - 1.5 degrees, providing a comfortable 37 - 37.5 ° C, which is needed to activate the immune system. These rules cannot be ignored. They are more difficult to fulfill than just giving an antipyretic agent, but medicines are medicines, they have certain toxic effects on organs. Plus drugs that bring down the temperature won't work with dehydration when the body is low on water.

All these actions can be performed only with the so-called "red fever".

Remember, if the temperature lasts more than 3 days, you need to see a doctor (pediatrician, family doctor). If you are not yet a year old, you must contact immediately after the temperature rises.

If your baby has any congenital malformations or concomitant diseases, previously had febrile seizures, head injuries, then in this case - only call an ambulance or a doctor at home.

White fever in a child - what to do

If your child has a high temperature of 39 - 40 ° C, and at the same time his hands and feet are cold as ice, he himself is pale, then in this situation it is necessary to perform the following actions and call an ambulance or seek help from a doctor (parents must understand that "white fever" is very often manifested in severe viral or bacterial infections):

1. give the child hot tea. Hot tea will warm the child and relieve vasospasm in the periphery;
2. put a bottle of warm water on your feet. In this situation, the baby needs to warm up his arms and legs so that the blood vessels expand and begin to give off heat. Put on socks and cover with a blanket;
3. give one tablet of no-shpa (drotaverine) or papaverine. Antispasmodics are needed to relieve the same vasospasm;
4. give antipyretics (ibuprofen or paracetamol). Read about the calculation of the dosage of paracetamol and ibuprofen by the weight of the child in a separate article devoted to the drug treatment of high fever in children;
5. wait for the doctor to decide on further treatment.

All these actions allow you to translate "white" fever into "red" or, as it is also called, "pink". If you managed to do this, the above is a list of actions for pink (red) fever.

In most cases, children do not feel well when the temperature rises: they begin to be capricious, feel sleepy and irritated. Therefore, the first step is to measure the temperature and, if it is higher than 38.5 ° C, then it is necessary to put the child to bed. If you find it difficult to calm him down, then, as an option, you can put your baby in for watching a cartoon.

If the temperature is above 38.5 ° C, then the child should be given an antipyretic. The rate of the medicine will help to determine by. For convenience, the packages of children's antipyretic syrups contain measuring spoons or syringes for. Instead of syrup, you can put a medicinal suppository in the anus. The candles are slightly slower, but they reduce the temperature just as effectively.

The child's temperature should be measured at intervals of half an hour to monitor how it changes. The result of each measurement must be written down on a piece of paper to show later to the doctor.

If the child is cold, then cover him with a blanket, if it is hot, then undress him and do not cover him. It is important to know that antipyretic drugs begin to act faster and more effectively in conjunction with plenty of drinking. Therefore, give your child a drink as often as possible. Even if he refuses to drink, drink him with a spoon. Let's drink in small portions, but often. Water, sweetened tea, berry juice can be used as a drink.

Nutrition of the child when the temperature rises.

If the baby has no appetite, then you should not force-feed him. During an illness, all the forces of the body are directed to fight the virus. Nothing bad will happen if the child does not eat well in the first days of the illness. The main thing is that he drinks a lot of liquid.

What to do at low temperatures.

If the child's temperature does not rise above 38.5 ° C degrees, then you can not give him antipyretic. If the child is naughty, apply a cool compress on his head. Use room temperature water for the compress (not cold!) With the addition of a couple of drops of vinegar essence. A vinegar compress will relieve headaches.

Wiping the child's body with cool water can reduce the temperature. You can also soak the sheet in water and wrap the entire baby in it. Such a procedure can alleviate poor health. An enema with cool water (37 degrees C) can lower the temperature, but more often children do not like this procedure, they start crying, which can worsen their well-being.