Fever is quite common in young children. Basically, the cause of this condition is infectious diseases. In 80-90% of cases they are viral in nature. However, parents should be aware that a sudden rise in temperature in a child can cause diseases that are completely unrelated to infection.
Why the temperature is rising
In children, especially infants, thermoregulation is still quite weak. Therefore, a sharp increase in temperature in a child up to 39 degrees occurs often. But such values in some situations, the phenomenon is more likely to be positive than negative. Therefore:
- At this temperature, the process of reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms is sharply slowed down. In turn, the infection gradually spreads throughout the child's body.
- The protective functions of the body are activated - the cells of the immune system actively absorbmicroorganisms, the number of antibodies in the blood is growing.
A sharp increase in temperature in a child (up to 39 degrees), in particular, refers to a negative symptom, which is especially dangerous for young children. According to pediatricians, hyperthermia is best de alt with when it is high. When a child has a body temperature that does not exceed 37.5 degrees, then it is not recommended to bring it down. During this period, the body fights infection.
Due to the fact that the child is constantly growing and developing, the causes of a sharp increase in temperature may also change. Differences can be distinguished between hyperthermia in infants under one year old and increased rates in older children.
High fever in baby
Due to the fact that thermoregulation in an infant is in the process of formation, for this age there are reasons for a sharp increase in temperature in a child. These include:
- Overheating. This is the most common and common cause of non-infectious fever in a baby. Most often, overheating occurs in the summer months, especially when children are dehydrated, but it can also occur in winter. For example, if you wrap a child in a warm blanket.
- Transient fever. This is a special phenomenon that occurs in babies at an early age. In this case, there is a sharp increase in temperature in a child without symptoms up to 39 degrees. Parents should not worry, because there is another stage in the formation of the thermoregulation system of the baby.
- Teething. Many mothers have experienced the whole complex of experiences and anxiety,looking at the suffering of a child. During this period, during the eruption of the first teeth, hyperthermia is the main symptom.
- Nervous excitement. The children's body is largely associated with various situations and events that took place the day before. This is the occurrence of fright, long crying and other experiences.
A sudden rise in temperature in an asymptomatic child can lead to febrile seizures at this age. Despite the concern of the parents who observed this condition, it can be attributed to a form of reaction of the child's body to fever.
Hyperthermia in middle-aged children
Causes of a sudden rise in temperature in a child without symptoms are less common than in infancy. This phenomenon, which makes parents worry, happens at this time, only the reasons for the occurrence are somewhat different:
- Reaction to the vaccine. Hyperthermia after vaccination often causes a feeling of anxiety in parents, which subsequently serves to refuse it in the future. Such a reaction is a normal option, after which the immune system is activated, which can lead to a small temperature. You can protect the child from the appearance of hyperthermia if you give him an antipyretic ("Nurofen") and an antihistamine ("Fenistil") before vaccination.
- Allergic reactions. They can appear after eating food and medicines. Allergy symptoms are rash, itching, redness. Another reaction of the bodyserves to increase body temperature.
- Prodromal period of infectious and catarrhal pathologies. This is the beginning of the disease, when viruses begin to multiply in the body. In this case, no other symptoms appear, but only an increase in body temperature takes place.
- Injuries and damage to the skin, soft tissues and joints. The child develops a reaction in the form of hyperthermia.
Basically, the causes of a sharp increase in temperature in a child are observed for a short time, then symptoms of a characteristic disease appear.
Bacterial and viral infections
Signs of a viral infection can be attributed to the causes of a sharp increase in temperature without symptoms. The danger of the disease lies in the fact that it weakens the child's immune system, thereby reducing its ability to fight infection. After 2-3 days, other symptoms appear - cough, runny nose. May cause bronchitis or pneumonia.
Sometimes a high temperature can be the first sign of a disease like chicken pox. In this case, it is necessary to monitor the formation of a rash on the child's body.
A bacterial infection is always accompanied by signs that a doctor can see. The exception is a urinary tract infection. Parents should pay attention to the color of the child's urine and the pain he experiences when urinating. If this pathology is suspected, it is necessary to make appropriate tests and show the baby to a specialist.
To the most common reasons for a sharp increasetemperatures in a child up to 39 degrees with bacterial infections include:
- Angina. After the onset of a high temperature, there is a sore throat and a white coating on the tonsils.
- Pharyngitis. Symptoms - redness of the throat, hyperthermia.
- Otitis. The disease often occurs in young children who cannot explain what hurts them. With otitis, the child begins to act up, does not sleep and touches the ear with his hands.
- Stomatitis. Refusal to eat, profuse salivation and sores on the oral mucosa join the high temperature.
Sometimes parents, due to their inexperience, do not notice additional symptoms of the disease in a child. Therefore, it is best not to self-medicate, but to show the baby to the pediatrician. He can quickly make the correct diagnosis, and, if necessary, conduct an additional examination of the child.
Diagnostic Methods
When a child's temperature rises sharply up to 39 degrees without symptoms, the specialist prescribes the following examination:
- blood and urine test;
- ECG;
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and abdominal organs;
- radiography;
- additional analyzes of a narrow focus - hormonal studies, the presence of antibodies and more.
The exact set of procedures will be prescribed by the doctor, at his discretion. If any changes are noticed in the urine tests, then there will be no need for x-rays and auscultation of the lungs.
It happens that with a prolonged high temperaturethe specialist claims that this is the norm, so you should not worry. In this case, no tests are prescribed. In this case, you need to consult another doctor for advice, because such a condition for a child's body can be stressful.
Conditions requiring urgent treatment
If there are congenital pathologies, then a sharp increase in temperature in a child without any symptoms may indicate the initial form of endocarditis. At the beginning of the disease, the indicators are quite high, and gradually they decrease and remain at the level of 37 degrees. The child develops tachycardia and shortness of breath.
How to bring down a sharp increase in temperature in a child without symptoms? If the fever is caused by a vaccine, it is recommended to give the child more fluids and take antihistamines. Many experts advise taking medication 3 days before and after vaccination. Vaccinations should be given to completely he althy children, after examination by a pediatrician and blood and urine tests.
If the child's condition does not improve within 24 hours after vaccination, and taking a single dose of antipyretic does not help, you need to urgently consult a specialist.
The use of expired drugs of any kind can cause a fever in a baby, which is gradually supplemented by other symptoms. In case of severe poisoning, the child is hospitalized.
Before taking baby medicine, parents should check the expiration date and avoid products that are not prepared in pharmacies.
A doctor is needed in such cases:
- child refuses to drink and his body is severely dehydrated;
- if there was a sharp increase in temperature without symptoms in a child 2 years old and over 38 degrees in a baby up to 12 months;
- hyperthermia lasts 3 days and does not decrease;
- high temperature does not drop after taking antipyretic drug;
- pale skin and cold extremities.
This condition requires urgent medical attention and proper treatment.
What to do when the temperature rises
The baby's fever requires special attention from the parents. A sharp rise in temperature in a child to 40 means that the child's body is fighting the infection, so you should not panic. Some experts are of the opinion that parents should not worry too much, because there are mechanisms in the body that will not allow hyperthermia, over 41 degrees. And the febrile convulsions that occur in this case in no way affect the functioning of the brain and the general condition of the child.
It is believed that convulsions do not occur from a high temperature, but from its sharp rise.
Initially, parents should accurately measure it. There are situations that the child is cold, and his temperature is high. In such a situation, "white" fever occurs, which is characterized by reflex spasm of peripheral vessels (arms and legs).
How to bring down a sharp rise in temperature in a child? Parents must follow the following pattern:
- Temperature 37, 5hitting is not recommended. Such indicators contribute to the strengthening of immunity and other protective forces of the body. If parents begin to lower the temperature, they further weaken the body.
- With indicators of 37, 5-38, 5, it is best to use physical methods (wiping with water, cold on large vessels, warm drinking).
- At temperatures above 38.5 degrees, antipyretics should be used along with physical methods. What drugs to give or do intramuscularly, you need to decide with a specialist. The most preferred for children are: Ibufen, Nurofen, Cefekon and others. Medicines should always be in the first aid kit. Aspirin is not recommended.
- It is important to ensure normal air exchange between the baby's skin and the environment. The child is not recommended to wrap up and swaddle too much. This often leads to overheating, and as a result, to a further increase in temperature.
The exception to the rule is children who have neurological disorders. Experts do not recommend parents to allow a sharp increase in temperature in a child with acute respiratory infections and other diseases if they are diagnosed with heart defects, cysts and cerebral hemorrhage.
The most important thing to do in this case is to organize proper patient care. It is necessary to ensure the flow of fresh air into the room.
Nutrition also plays an important role inimprovement in condition. It is important to prevent dehydration by giving your child more to drink:
- You can brew weak tea or cook dried fruit compote. The drink should be warm, not hot. The fluid will not only prevent dehydration, but also remove toxins from the body.
- Baby can be given light food, focusing on his appetite. Do not force-feed the baby, so as not to provoke vomiting. You can give vegetable soup, porridge, steam cutlets, dried bread.
It is necessary to observe the child for 2-3 days. When a viral infection occurs, other symptoms of the disease should also appear. If the temperature has not returned to normal by the end of this period, then you should immediately contact your pediatrician.
Doctor Komarovsky's advice
A well-known pediatrician explains to parents how thermoregulation works. The child's body constantly keeps two processes under control: heat production and heat transfer.
If you have a high temperature, parents can help to bring it down. You can regulate this process without taking any medications. You need to pay attention to what is happening with the child, his activity, nutrition and the environment. Active sports and hot meals can cause a slight increase in temperature. Here we can talk about 37 degrees.
When a child's temperature rises sharply to 39, Komarovsky advises the following:
- create high humidity in the room;
- ensure adequate fluid supply toorganism;
- do not overfeed the baby;
- put to bed;
- give an antipyretic.
The doctor does not advise getting involved in drugs, because they lower the level of interferon in the body, which helps in the fight against infection. In some cases, they do not allow to achieve a positive effect due to the too thick composition of the blood. It is important to give your child plenty of fluids.
As antipyretic drugs, Komarovsky advises the use of "Paracetamol" and "Ibuprofen". Candles can be used. The most quickly absorbed into the blood are drugs that have a liquid form - syrup and solutions, and then tablets. Therefore, first of all, it is best to give the baby drugs that will instantly spread throughout the body and have a beneficial effect.
The above antipyretics give the following results:
- lower the temperature by 1-2 degrees;
- valid after 60 minutes;
- positive effect is achieved within 3-4 hours;
- affirmative action lasts 6 hours.
Medication to reduce fever can be used if the child has other symptoms: runny nose, cough. If the exact cause of the condition is unknown, then the drug is not recommended.
Children's pediatrician advises parents to create all the necessary conditions for the child's body to cope with the temperature on its own.
Rubbing in the form of vodka or vinegar easily penetrates the body and also evaporates, so it can lead to poisoning or an allergic reaction.
If the baby has a high temperature and pale skin, then an urgent doctor's consultation is needed.
When an ambulance is needed
Conditions when a child needs urgent medical attention with a sharp increase and decrease in temperature include the following:
- febrile convulsions;
- lethargy and sharp blanching of the skin;
- after taking antipyretic drugs, there is not a decrease in fever, but an increase in it;
- an allergic reaction occurs from tablets or syrup, accompanied by swelling of the larynx.
Parents should not self-medicate when danger signs are detected. The doctor is more likely to orient if the child has a critical condition. The doctor may inject the necessary drug and suggest hospitalization.
What is not recommended for hyperthermia
With a sharp increase in the temperature of a child up to 39 degrees are prohibited:
- inhalations;
- rubbing;
- wraps;
- bathing (short dousing under the shower with water having a temperature of 36.6 degrees is allowed);
- rubbing a child with vinegar or alcohol;
- mustard plasters;
- hot drink.
Instead of humidifying the air, it is better to open a window for ventilation. Parents must understand thatthe he alth and life of the baby is completely dependent on their actions. Therefore, with hyperthermia, it is important to monitor the condition of the child.
Conclusion
A sharp rise in temperature in a child indicates a reaction to inflammation or infection. In this case, parents should not panic, but monitor the level of its rise. Other signs of the disease may be absent or hidden, so if the fever lasts more than 3 days, then a specialist consultation is definitely needed.
