Increased body temperature crumbs - headache and one of the main enemies of almost every young mother. As soon as he saw the figure on the thermometer exceeding 37 degrees, my mother starts to panic and rush - pipsqueak sick! How to bring down the temperature of the child? But do not hurry up and draw conclusions prematurely. The doctors - pediatricians look at the problem of increased body temperature crumbs a little differently. The main issue for them is the fact that it caused hyperthermia, not what to give the child at.
The temperature of the human body is the most important indicator of the functioning of the body. Maintain it at an optimal level, and the process of its increase depends on the work being in the center of the brain thermoregulation. Thermoregulation center is responsible for maintaining an optimal balance between the formation of heat in the human body and the process of heat transfer.
A newborn baby is born with an immature and, therefore, imperfect system of thermoregulation. As a result, the body of the newborn baby's first few months after birth is not able to maintain a stable body temperature. The child is very responsive to any changes in the temperature of the environment - both at home and on the street while walking. And it is from the parents to a great extent depends on the welfare of crumbs - any error in the proper care can lead to overheating or overcooling front of the child.
There is such a thing as a transient fever. Transient fever, doctors called a sudden increase in body temperature to 38 - 39 degrees. And this state is considered to be quite normal, because it was out of the usual conditions of existence in the mother's body baby is not able to control their own body temperature regulation. In that case, if a child has a fever, the physician can assume exactly transient fever. But this state briefly and lasts no more than 7 days - then these sudden changes in body temperature should be no longer.
Finally, the work of the thermoregulatory system is stabilized by about three months old. By this time the child has produced its own circadian rhythms of body temperature. Typically, in the morning the child's body temperature is slightly lower than in the evening and night hours.
How to measure the temperature?
Very often parents ask doctors - pediatricians question of how to measure the body temperature - in any place with the help of a thermometer, at what time? By the way, these questions make sense - because we must be able to measure the temperature correctly, avoiding large errors.
The child is allowed to measure the temperature at the following locations:
- In the armpit. In order to properly measure the temperature of the baby's body in the armpit, the thermometer should be placed so that its tip was located exactly in the middle of the axilla. Note also that the axilla should be dry - moisture can greatly distort the thermometer. This is due to the fact that the moisture cools the mercury and thus lowers the thermometer readings. Before you start the measurement of body temperature in the baby's armpit, thoroughly and wipe it dry with a clean, soft cloth, and only after that to put the thermometer. When the crumb is too small and does not understand what is necessary to fix the thermometer, parents should always hold the handle of the child with his hand, making sure that the thermometer does not slip.
- In the inguinal crease. Temperature measurement in the groin crease is made on a similar scheme with the armpit. However, this method of temperature measurement is not very convenient and may be used for older children. If you - do decide to measure body temperature in the groin crease child, crumbs lay on its side, wipe the crease to dry, then put the thermometer so that the whole of his tip was located in it. Hold the leg of the child, so that the thermometer does not slip.
- In the rectum. In order to properly measure the temperature of the body in the rectum, parents should observe extreme caution. Lubricate the tip of the thermometer boiled vegetable oil or baby cream, then carefully enter the tip of the thermometer to a depth of about half a centimeter. Do not use to lubricate thermometer adult cream, because they can cause serious allergies.
- In the oral cavity. In order to measure the body temperature in the mouth of a small child, you must use a special pacifier - a thermometer. To measure the temperature in the oral cavity for the older children only allowed to use electronic thermometers, but in any case of mercury.
By measuring the temperature of a child's body, do not forget to make allowances for that, exactly where the measurement was made. For example, in the axilla and groin crease thermometer being about 0, 3 tenths, than in the mouth.
Types of Thermometers
Not so long ago at the disposal of the parents it was one - the only good old mercury thermometer. While the question of what the thermometer better easy - simply did not stand. In our time there exists a large variety of thermometers that to parents is the question of which one is better.
- Infrared nipples - thermometers
In appearance similar to a thermometer it is very much like an ordinary pacifier. Just give it to the kid as usual and take a pacifier after the beep sounds. It would seem that such an option is very convenient. However, this method has its drawbacks, chief among them - the distortion of measurement data. They explained very simply - baby sucks a pacifier, while it affects the friction force, which increases the thermometer.
- Temperature Strips - indicators
These strips are glued to the forehead crumbs and a few minutes later change their color. However, these strips are very inaccurate and can only be used for the preliminary assessment of the child. But as a rule, attentive mother, these strips are absolutely not necessary - fever with your kid, they identify one by his touch.
In appearance resemble traditional electronic thermometers mercury. However, the main difference is that the electronic thermometers instead of mercury to determine the temperature of the body using special sensors. After the end of measurement of temperature electronic thermometer beeps. However, by the way, doctors - pediatricians advise parents to measure the temperature of an electronic thermometer for five minutes, even if the alarm sounds before. A huge plus is the safety and the harmlessness of electronic thermometers.
Despite the huge variety of the most modern thermometers, good old mercury thermometer is not inferior to their positions. And the doctors, frankly, give preference to mercury thermometer readings are most accurate. However, when used in children of any age the parents should be aware of the precautions and in any case not to leave the child at the time of measuring body temperature unattended.
Forerunners temperature
As mentioned above, experienced and attentive mother almost always without the help of a thermometer can determine that her crumbs fever and a thermometer it is only necessary to clarify the temperature. So, fever, a child may make itself felt as follows:
- Violation of the central nervous system.
Zanemogshy baby may be lethargic, constantly sleeping. Or, on the contrary, experiencing excessive excitement - capricious, refuse from the usual daily routine.
So many children by increasing the body temperature instantly grow cold hands and feet. It is very often just panic scares parents. This condition is caused by the fact that fever is often due to the fact that it is still a weak vascular system of the child reacts to fever spasms of blood vessels. As a result, the blood flows in smaller amounts, and hands and feet are cold child. Typically, this reaction is typical of children under five - six years of age, or weakened.
- Increased frequency of respiratory movements.
An increase in body temperature crumbs breathing becomes shallow and frequent. Any attentive mother will definitely notice a change of the normal rhythm of breathing.
Disease or ...?
As already mentioned, almost every mother saw on the thermometer even very slight increase in body temperature in your child mistakenly believe that a child is sick - an infectious disease. Of course, these fears are often justified, and the temperature becomes a companion of an infectious disease. However, in addition to various viruses and bacterial agents, temperature rise can be caused by external factors. And very often the parents in any way provoke similar temperature jumps.
For example, any mom at least occasionally, but reinsured and too warm clothes your baby for a walk. A similar effect can lead to overheating of the child, it disturbance of thermoregulation and as a consequence, increase in body temperature. Hyperthermia is a consequence of this overheating may persist for up to 48 hours.
- Too high ambient temperature environment kid.
About the same violation of the thermoregulatory mechanism is triggered in the event that a child is a long time in direct sunlight, or in the stuffy room. Therefore, in the hot season, doctors recommend a walk in the morning and evening hours, avoid crowded places, as well as saunas and baths.
- Excessive emotional stress.
The people there is such a thing as "yelled the temperature." Doctors also suggest that this is realistic. The body temperature of the baby may rise above the norm, if the child is crying for a long time or under stress, for example, he had an important exam or control. Such cases raise the temperature often encountered in high school during the graduation and entrance examinations.
About that teething is often accompanied by fever, we heard all the parents, without exception. Someone has a great believer in this, someone considers this information to a relic of the past. However, doctors - pediatricians do not share either one or the second position. They think that in itself is teething is not a pathological phenomenon that can lead to hyperthermia. However, teething is often a cause of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the gums. But this inflammatory process may lead to the fact that the temperature of an infant can be improved.
But these cases are united by one thing - the temperature rarely exceeds 38 degrees in the figure. But higher temperatures, alas, often indicates the development of the baby any disease. Hyperthermia accompanies virtually all childhood diseases: chickenpox, measles, rubella and others. In addition, almost all acute respiratory infections in children are accompanied by fever. Also, the child's fever is intestinal infections, ENT - diseases and diseases of the respiratory system.
Why is fever?
Too many mothers every year continue to commit the same mistake - on sight on the thermometer temperature above 37 degrees, they begin to try to hook or by crook to bring down the temperature to the normal range. Mom thought that immediately shot down the temperature, they will prevent its further promotion and development of the disease.
But in fact it does not. Fever is not a disease, but rather indicates that the body of the child is a struggle its immune system and foreign agents - bacteria, viruses.
At elevated temperatures, the body active reproduction and growth of viruses and bacteria suspended part of foreign agents killed. In addition to this important fact is that the body temperature is higher than 39 degrees, the body begins to produce antiviral protective substance, called the interferon, as well as immunoglobulin production begins - proteins for normal functioning of the immune system.
Another misconception is the belief that the level of temperature increase and the degree of severity of the disease are closely linked. However, in reality it is not the case, especially in young children, whose immune systems are not functioning properly. And, accordingly, the response to the same disease in different children can be very different - for example, one child runny nose can occur with little or no fever, and the other evidence thermometer can reach 39 degrees. Of particular concern are the cases of doctors in which such serious diseases, such as pneumonia, take place at all without a fever.
It is therefore not necessary to rush for pharmacological and start to shoot down the temperature. Typically, doctors do not recommend trying to reduce body temperature below 38 degrees and 5. The exceptions are children under one year and those kids who have previously been cases of febrile seizures.
We bring down the temperature
But in spite of all the benefits of high temperature, there is a certain facet, after which the temperature is not only possible but also necessary to shoot down. In that case, the thermometer exceeded 39, the immune system, in contrast, starts largely depressing several times increases the load on the heart - vascular and respiratory systems.
In order to help the child and ease her condition, parents should know how to reduce the temperature of the baby quickly and safely. To lower the temperature, doctors prescribe drugs that active substance is either ibuprofen or paracetamol. Such preparations temperature for children sold at any pharmacy without a prescription.
But such a popular cure temperature as aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid is not recommended for children, as it is extremely negative impact on the state of the gastric mucosa. Nor should experiment with unfamiliar to you earlier drugs not approved by your doctor. You do not want to receive in addition to the temperature of a number of other complications? That is why that give the child at, to decide the children's doctor - a pediatrician.
In addition to the medicines do not forget about non-drug methods for reducing the temperature:
Until a few decades ago is very popular among the people was sponging with water and vinegar. However, modern medicine to such methods reduce the temperature is extremely negative. During hyperthermia pores child is greatly enhanced, and vinegar virtually unhindered penetrate into the body of the child. As a result of poisoning may develop, and even disruption of the normal functioning of the kidneys. This is not the best solution on how to reduce the temperature without medication.
By the way, rubbing vodka is unacceptable for the same reason - alcohol is quickly absorbed through the pores of the expanded temperature, leading to a general poisoning of the body of the child with ethanol.
It is much more efficient and safer to wipe the baby with a cloth dampened with plain cool water. Wipe handles, tummy, back, baby, do not forget about the armpits. Wipe must be not less than once per hour.
If the temperature of the baby is over a 39, 5 degrees, immediately call the brigade "first aid", and before their arrival completely undress the baby and wrap him in a towel soaked in water at room temperature. Change the sheet as it is heated, before the arrival of the ambulance. However, in no case do not overdo it and do not wrap the baby in a sheet soaked in cold water too.
Follow the drinking regime of a sick child. Lack of fluid in the body during hyperthermia very negative impact on the course of disease and well-being of the child. The recommended amount of fluid at an elevated body temperature - not less than 100 grams per kilogram of body weight of the baby. The liquid should drink small amounts, but often.
