The child has a low temperature. What measures need to be taken? Low temperature in a child after high - causes

Date of publication 11/06/2018 The temperature of the human body is one of the most important indicators that indicates that the metabolism in the body proceeds without deviations. Most parents consider 36.6 degrees to be the absolute norm and begin to worry, even if the child's temperature drops or rises by tenths of a degree. Let's figure out what body temperature is considered normal for a child and how to help the baby in cases where it is really necessary.

Tells Maria Artifeksova, Assistant of the Department of Hospital Pediatrics, Nizhny State Medical Academy, Ph.D.

Limits of the norm

The normal body temperature of a child in the armpit is 36.0-37.0 degrees, in the rectum it is usually 0.5-1.0 degrees higher. 37оС. During the day, temperature fluctuations in the region of 36.1-36.9 degrees are a completely normal physiological process, and in the morning the temperature is usually lower, and tends to increase in the evening.

Temperature measurement should be carried out only with a thermometer. Folk methods - for example, putting a hand or lips to the forehead - are uninformative and insufficient.

For thermoregulation in the body, the center is responsible, which is located in the brain in the region of the anterior hypothalamus. It is there that both heat production (heat generation) and heat transfer are regulated. When the baby's body is healthy, these two processes proceed in a balanced way. However, in children, heat transfer has a number of features. So, in newborns and babies up to a year, the sensitivity of hypothalamus neurons is weak, so the ability to increase heat transfer during overheating and increase body temperature during hypothermia is significantly limited. In general, up to 4 years, heat transfer exceeds heat production, that is, babies give off heat more easily than they produce it. This must be taken into account when choosing clothes for small children, since a child at an early age easily overheats and also cools down quickly.

Fever, fever, fever...

An increase in body temperature (fever or hyperthermia) is one of the most typical manifestations of any infectious disease or inflammatory processes in the body. According to statistics, it is the increase in temperature in a child that is the cause of 60 percent of all cases of calls to the local pediatrician.

It must be understood that fever is a protective reaction, during which the body produces substances (interferons, interleukins, cytokines) that will fight the pathogen. The amount of these substances is directly related to body temperature: the higher the temperature, the greater the production of interferon. If parents try to “bring down” any temperature in a child, then by doing so they leave him without protective properties and increase the duration of the disease.

The use of medicines is necessary if the child does not tolerate temperature well, if there is a concomitant pathology of the nervous system (fever can provoke convulsions), or if the body temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees. At home, the optimal drug for lowering body temperature is paracetamol, which has a wide range of synonyms (panadol, calpol, efferalgan, tylenol, etc.) and various forms of release (suspensions, syrups, tablets, drops, suppositories). It is important to remember that the use of antipyretics at home is only a temporary necessary measure, and not a fight against the pathogen, therefore, in a short time, the child must be shown to the doctor for a diagnosis.

The most important thing that parents should do for their child with an increase in body temperature is to provide him with the opportunity to lose heat. It is necessary to give the baby plenty of fluids so that he actively sweats. The air in the room should be cool (optimally 18 degrees), so that by inhaling and warming it, the child loses heat.

The use of “physical methods of cooling” loved by all parents (wiping with vodka, alcohol solution or vinegar, heating pads with ice, wet cold sheets, etc.) without antipyretic drugs and drugs that eliminate vasospasm is extremely dangerous! When the body comes into contact with cold, a sharp spasm of the vessels of the skin occurs, the blood flow slows down, respectively, sweating and heat transfer decrease. When the temperature of the skin decreases, the temperature of the internal organs rises sharply. In addition, alcohol solutions and vinegar are easily and quickly absorbed into the blood,

Providing alcohol poisoning or acid poisoning.

Down and down...

Low body temperature (hypothermia) is no less dangerous than a fever. A drop in body temperature below 29.5 degrees leads to loss of consciousness, and a temperature of 27 ° C causes coma with respiratory and cardiac depression, which can lead to death.

If hypothermia occurs after the use of antipyretic drugs, it is necessary to put the child to bed, put on dry and warm underwear, give him a warm (but not hot) drink. Warming the baby should be slow, so the use of hot heating pads and rubbing is not recommended.

A persistent long-term decrease in body temperature can be observed with a huge range of diseases: brain pathology, anemia, thyroid diseases, adrenal pathology, hypoglycemia, severe intoxication, shock, etc. Therefore, if you are worried about a constantly low temperature in a baby, you need to contact to the doctor.

In conclusion, I would like to note that a change in body temperature (both hypo- and hyperthermia) is a signal for the development of a disease in a child. A persistent change in the temperature of a child's body above or below the accepted norms is always a reason to contact a pediatrician.

Be healthy!

In full-term healthy children, it is customary to measure the temperature in the armpit or on the inside of the thigh. In premature babies with, skin indicators are determined using special equipment. They do this in a hospital, since such children should be under the supervision of a neonatologist.

Normal temperature in infants fluctuates throughout the day and depends on sleep, wakefulness and nutrition. After eating some foods, the temperature may rise slightly - this is due to energy metabolism.

Scientists have found that the average normal body temperature is 36.6ºС. Fluctuations, depending on the time of day, can be from 36.2ºС to 37.0ºС. The decrease and increase in temperature outside these limits are caused by various factors.

Important to remember! Although rectal temperature measurements provide the most accurate results, This procedure is not recommended for small children.. Since the thermometer must be inserted into the rectum of premature babies 2 cm deep, full-term - 5 cm, respectively, you can inadvertently injure the intestines. With the rectal measurement method, normal values ​​​​are 3ºС higher.

Hyperthermia in children

Body temperature may be:

• increased (37.1ºС - 38.0ºС);
• high (38.0ºС - 38.5ºС);
• fever (above 38.5ºС).

Increased rates

An increase in body temperature in children under 1 year of age can be caused by:

• overheating;
• taking certain medications;
• inflammatory processes.

A slight increase in temperature can be observed in an absolutely healthy child in the morning, after eating. It arises due to the peculiarities of energy metabolism in young children.

If the baby has a fever, you first need to make sure that he is dressed for the weather. The cause of hyperthermia may be too warm clothes, or closeness in the room. In this case, the child must be undressed (the optimum air temperature for the baby is not more than 25ºС)

If the baby is dressed according to the weather and the temperature persists for some time, it is better to consult a doctor. Perhaps the case is in various kinds of diseases, such as: violation of the thermal balance, infectious diseases, inflammation.

Elevated body temperature does not need to be brought down, the fact is that its slight increase is a defense mechanism against infection.

It is important to know! In some cases, an increase in temperature to 37.5ºС may occur with congenital diseases or impaired heat transfer.

Heat

The temperature in infants above 38ºС occurs with various diseases, but the most common cause of its occurrence is -. Only a pediatrician can determine the exact cause.

High temperature negatively affects the child's body, so it must be reduced, for this, drugs based on paracetamol are used.

For babies it is better to use:

• candles;
• syrup;
• suspension.

To lower the temperature, the baby must be undressed. Give plenty of fluids, as high temperatures cause dehydration and it is necessary to replenish fluid reserves. In addition, if you constantly give the child to drink, it will help reduce the temperature. If the fever does not subside, the baby needs to be given medicine (syrups and suspensions are used orally, suppositories - rectally). The doctor prescribes the exact dosage.

Heat

If a child has a body temperature above 38.5ºС, it should be knocked down as soon as possible and an ambulance should be called. With heat, pathological changes in organs and systems are possible. Temperatures above 39.9°C can be fatal.

In the event that there are no medicines at hand, the heat is brought down by rubbing with cool water.

It is strictly forbidden to rub the baby with water with vinegar or vodka. The thing is that the toxins of these substances through the pores on the skin enter the body of the baby, and lead to poisoning.

• "Nurofen";
• "Ibuprofen";
• "Tsefikon D" candles;
• "Efferalgan" candles.

With hyperthermia, after taking the drugs, it is imperative to measure the temperature. Measurements are preferably carried out every half an hour. so as not to miss a significant increase (over 40ºС).

It is important to know! Hyperthermia is not only a symptom of the disease, but also harms the health of the child. With an increase in temperature, the heartbeat and breathing become more frequent, which can lead to irreversible changes in the functioning of the organs. With strong heat (over 40ºС), the child may die, and the cause will not be a disease, but hyperthermia.

Hypothermia in infants

A decrease in temperature to 36.2ºС can occur during the day (most often this is observed during sleep). Such changes are normal and are associated with the peculiarities of heat exchange in young children.

Significant decreases are observed in certain diseases and hypothermia. The low temperature leads to narrowing of the blood vessels, there is a lack of oxygen, and the nerve cells are the first to suffer. It was revealed that low body temperature, especially in the first months after birth, negatively affects the development of the brain.

The reasons may be:

1. exogenous;
2. endogenous.

Exogenous - associated with the environment. The air temperature is too low, the child is very lightly dressed. In this case, it is enough to wrap the baby more tightly. After a while, you need to re-measure the temperature to make sure that it becomes normal.

Endogenous - various diseases:

• dystrophy;
• heart or vascular insufficiency;
• severe liver disease;
• kidney failure;
• hypoglycemia;
• hypothyroidism;
• decreased work of the adrenal glands;
• anaphylactic shock;
• allergic collapse.

In healthy children, if they are not frozen, the temperature does not drop below 36.2 - 36.1ºС.

Important to remember! Since the mechanisms of heat transfer and thermoregulation are still developing in young children, it is necessary to ensure that the child does not overcool or overheat - for this it is necessary to control the body temperature DAILY. Remember, low and high temperatures are not only symptoms of the disease, but also occur in adverse thermal conditions, which in themselves negatively affect the development of the child.

Physicians have revealed that each person has his own, individual body temperature. Its norm ranges from 36.4 to 36.8 degrees, with a fluctuation limit of 0.2 divisions on the thermometer. The temperature, both in an adult and a baby, may vary slightly depending on the weather, nutrition and emotional state.

Everyone knows that if the thermometer shows a temperature above 37, then this is a sign that the child is sick and his body is fighting a virus or infection. But what temperature is considered low in a child, a question that pediatricians unambiguously answer is below 35.5. If parents notice that the baby, in the morning, after sleep, the thermometer shows 35.6 and above, but during the day it rises to a normal level, and the child is active, then there is no reason to worry - this is considered normal. Another thing is if you notice that the baby is lethargic, and the temperature is at the mark, for example, then you need an urgent doctor's consultation.

There can be many reasons for low body temperature in a child. The most common are:

1. postpartum period. As you know, in the first 4 days after birth, the temperature is lowered due to cold stress. This is due to the fact that the baby is accustomed to a higher temperature while in the womb. A week after childbirth, as a rule, the temperature returns to normal and is 36.6 - 37 degrees. Therefore, if a child has a low temperature, then he needs to be warmed, preferably by attaching a crumb to his body.
2. Transferred diseases. Very often, a child after an illness has a low body temperature. This is due to the fact that the immune system of the baby is quite weak. In order to help the body recover faster, try to feed your child foods that contain a large amount of vitamins and those that increase hemoglobin.
3. Hypothermia. If the child is cold, then this is a reason for the temperature to drop by several divisions. In this situation, you need to warm the baby, first of all, wrapping his legs and upper body. After that, offer him a warm warming drink, such as ginger tea.
4. Stress. Everyone has stressful situations in life. Children, with their fragile psyche, are especially susceptible to them. A bad grade at school, a quarrel with friends, misunderstanding on the part of adults and many other reasons. All this can lead to a decrease in body temperature in a child.
5. Diet. It so happens that teenage girls are often addicted to various diets. Malnutrition and a change in hormonal levels is a situation that will contribute to a decrease in body temperature. Develop a menu with your child that will allow you to get rid of extra pounds and, at the same time, enrich the body with vitamins and microelements.

Children can get sick. It is always sad, but a disease detected in time will allow timely treatment to begin. There are a number of diseases in which low body temperature is one of the symptoms: chronic bronchitis, thyroid disease, brain disease, and that's not all. Also, a low temperature may indicate internal bleeding or intoxication of the body.

What to do with a low body temperature in a child, if you need to urgently correct the situation - a question with which improvised means will help to understand. It is very good to give the child hot sweet tea and conduct a massage course, as well as give the baby to drink decoctions of ginseng, St. John's wort, Chinese magnolia vine or rose radiola. These herbs can be combined with each other, or can be used separately.

So, if you notice that your baby has a low body temperature and nothing hurts, try to wrap him up and give him warm drinks. However, you should consult a doctor if, regardless of the time of day, for more than three days, your baby has a temperature below 36 degrees.

At different ages, children often develop a fever. But sometimes a low temperature in a child causes no less unrest in mothers, since the condition sometimes has no other symptoms. Hypothermia is often a wake-up call of a severe illness, but sometimes a drop in temperature is just a temporary and minor characteristic.

Before the health of the baby worsens, it is better to try to determine the causes of the low temperature immediately.

• Virus. The temperature drops as a result of infection in the body and stay up to 4 days. The baby is drowsy and lethargic, cold sweat periodically appears on the body.
• Weakened immunity. After a recent cold, vaccinations are normal. Medicines for fever also weaken the immune system.
• Lack of thermoregulation. Here, temperature is not a cause for concern, as transient hypothermia lasts only a few hours.
• Poisoning. In some cases, intoxication leads to an unusual reaction of the body, including cooling of the body, chills and trembling.
• Medicines for colds. An overdose of drops that constrict blood vessels can bring the child not only to hypothermia, but also to fainting.
• Chronic diseases. A change in temperature for a long time for no apparent reason usually indicates problems with the respiratory tract, diseases of the adrenal glands and the thyroid gland, and signals a low level of hemoglobin. The condition is accompanied by additional symptoms - sweat and cooling of the extremities.
• Hypothermia. The body will react by lowering the temperature to the long stay of the child in the cold outside without a hat, and simply in clothes that are not suitable for the weather. The same thing happens when the baby got wet or spent more than an hour in cool water in the summer.
• Avitaminosis. The lack of biologically active substances in the body leads to a prolonged drop in temperature. Most often, adolescents who are on a diet suffer from this condition.
• congenital pathology. Chronic hypothermia does not occur often, but sometimes in babies from birth, the temperature remains in the region of 35.5 degrees. But the child is doing well. In premature babies, violation of thermoregulation is completely the norm.
• Psychological factors. Stress and anxiety have a serious impact on the physiological system, so they can also cause a drop in temperature.

How to determine

Low body temperature in a child makes itself felt through the general condition of the baby. Watch it and make sure the thermometer reading is correct.

• Temperature deviation from the norm often leads to a bad mood in children.
• Hypothermia is also associated with lethargy and lethargy.
• Appetite is very low, and often absent altogether.
• The child has a headache.
• The kid is overly irritable.
• Finally, children often tend to sleep.

Just in case, it is worth buying two thermometers at once in order to eliminate errors in the readings of the device and avoid unnecessary worries.

Treatment

There are no drugs that restore the normal temperature in a child. Nevertheless, there are a number of tips, following which you will alleviate the condition of the baby. To do this, do the following:

• keep your baby warm. Lie down next to him, let him sleep with you until the condition stabilizes. This method is most effective in the case of hypothermia in infants;
• in case of hypothermia on the street, the child must be changed into dry clothes, wrapped in a blanket and given more warm liquid;
• if hypothermia is caused by a psychological condition, it is necessary to monitor the normalization of the child’s sleep and restrictions in mental and physical stress;
• for a child with a temperature caused by a drop in blood pressure, allow some dark chocolate with strong tea;
• It is easy to protect your body from cooling by wearing clothes that are in season and keeping your feet warm. Do not delay winter walks;
• hardening and physical activity strengthen the body and reduce the likelihood of temperature fluctuations;
• in order to strengthen immunity and fight infection, it is worth including more fruits and vitamins in the diet, nutrition should be balanced and saturated with essential trace elements.

Summing up

• When determining the causes of low temperature in children, pay attention to their psycho-emotional state and external signs.
• Hypothermia is a harmless and even common occurrence in infants and older babies, in the absence of other symptoms and exacerbation of any chronic disease.
• Any drugs should be given to the child according to the instructions and after consultation with a specialist. Fever is a common side effect of many strong drugs.
• Usually the temperature becomes low in babies due to an infection and weak immunity, and in case of hypothermia.
• The easiest way to normalize the condition of children with a low temperature is to warm them. Mom's warmth and a thick blanket, combined with plenty of fluids, are enough.
• Excellent thermoregulation in a child is a consequence not only of restoring health, but also of prevention. Sports and proper nutrition are the best helpers in maintaining a stable temperature of 36.6 degrees.

• Do not check the child's temperature while sleeping or immediately after sleep. In such a case, the thermometer readings cannot be considered objective.
• Symptoms such as cold sweat, lack of appetite, pain, vomiting and nausea should alert any mother, she should immediately call a doctor.
• No need to do a lot of rubbing a small child in the hope of a quick cure. Excessive "physical" methods of influencing the body, according to experts, can do more harm than good.
• When dressing a child in warm clothes, do not wrap him additionally. Do not keep a child with improvements under the covers for a long time. It is much more effective to bring the condition back to normal by returning the child to normal play activity.

Finally, the long-awaited recovery from the illness has come - SARS, acute respiratory infections, influenza. The fight against high temperature ended in a complete victory over her. But here's the problem - it was high from 39 to 40℃, now it is lowered from 34 to 35℃. What are the reasons? How to raise the low temperature after the high? Let's find out!

What does hypothermia mean in a child?

There can be only two immediate causes of the temperature decrease:

• decrease in heat production in children;
• increase in heat transfer.

When both are combined, the thermometer readings can drop below 34℃, which already becomes dangerous. After an illness, the reason is more likely to lie in the first - a decrease in the production of heat by the body. All reserves are spent on fighting the infection, so the cells work in an economical mode and slowly return to normal.

But there may be other factors that reduce the temperature to -34℃:

• side or remote effects of drugs that were taken during the illness (antipyretic, vasoconstrictor);
• manifestation of symptoms of complications of an infection or chronic diseases that have developed independently of it (thyroiditis with thyroid hypofunction, neurocirculatory dystonia).

Remember that vasoconstrictor nasal drops are especially dangerous for children under 2 years of age. These are Naphthyzin, Sanorin, Galazolin, Nazolin, Nazivin, Nazol, Fervex cold spray and their analogues. The main sign of such poisoning is that the child becomes very lethargic and drowsy. In St. Petersburg, there was a case when a one-year-old baby was barely saved after his grandmother was treated for a cold with Naftizin.

Do not use vasoconstrictors unless absolutely necessary. It is better to rinse the spout with saline solution Dolphin, Aquamaris, Aqualor.

What is dangerous low temperature after illness?

Any deviation from the norm is a wake-up call. But note that the temperature norm cannot be the same for all children. It depends on age, metabolic characteristics, place of residence, even the time of year. Therefore, a low temperature after an illness with a high one should be observed without panic. Pay more attention to other symptoms:

• lack of appetite - he should return to the child during the recovery period;
• lethargy and drowsiness, bad mood;
• whether the head, stomach, chest area hurts;
• pale skin;
• cold sweat breaks out on the forehead;
• bouts of nausea;
• increased nervousness, irritability.

If at least one of these signs, and not only after an illness, coincides with a temperature below 36 ℃, you need to contact a pediatrician. A doctor is required if 35℃ lasts 2 days or more, even in the absence of alarming symptoms. It is necessary to undergo an examination, do tests and find out the cause.

You need to call an ambulance:

• with speech disorders and conditions close to fainting;
• bouts of vomiting;
• if the temperature drops below 34.9℃.

Remember that there is no cure for hypothermia. It is possible to increase the temperature only by acting on the factor that caused its decrease. The child can be dressed warmer, carefully covered, picked up. But in no case should you act with strong temperature drops or brute physical force:

• plunge into a hot bath;
• use powerful heating pads on bare skin;
• rub hands and feet vigorously.

Remember that a low temperature after a high one can be dangerous, but medical illiteracy is even more dangerous.