When there can be a fever in children

Elevated temperature in children is the most common reason for contacting a pediatrician. The fact is that a small subfebrile temperature, this is not always a sign of illness. It can appear in a variety of situations, for example, overheating, stress, or teething. But it can also be serious signals indicating that the child needs help from a doctor. In medicine, a temperature higher than 37 ° C is considered.

The temperature of an infant or a small child can manifest itself in different ways. In most cases, the child is restless, irritable, moody. Skin covers when touched hot and dry. The pulse is rapid. But at some children at temperature the skin can be damp and cool to the touch.

At what diseases is the fever in children?

Basically, these are infectious or viral diseases of the upper respiratory tract and nasal cavity. Very often a small child has otitis media. Hyperthermia is observed in food poisoning, childhood infections (chickenpox, measles, whooping cough, scarlet fever, etc.).

For a doctor, in the diagnosis, the importance of temperature indicators, time and prescription of its appearance, evaluation of the appearance of the child. Since the temperature is not always a symptom of the disease, parents should closely monitor the child and know its characteristics of responding to a particular disease. Some look exhausted and exhausted, while others staunchly endure colds on their feet. Therefore, it is important to know the reaction of the child's organism to the disease in order to inform the doctor about it if necessary.

Elevated temperature in children can be observed when overheating, high ambient temperature, the use of hot foods or drinks, if the child is not dressed for weather (too warm), with hysterics or teething. If the parent does not see any signs indicating the presence of the disease, it is advisable to measure it again in about an hour.

According to the statistics, subfebrile temperature in infants appears for the following reasons: infectious and viral diseases stand first, followed by inflammation of the middle and inner ear, inflammation of the lungs, urinary tract infection, teething and temperature reaction to vaccines.

As a rule, in children older than a year, with increased temperature, parents cope on their own. To help the doctor should resort if she tends to grow rapidly and turns into febrile, if the behavior or condition of the child causes concern, if the child is less than a year old or has known chronic diseases known to the parents that could become aggravated.

Parents should be able to correctly measure the temperature, for this it is not enough simply to put the hand to the forehead. The temperature in children and adults is measured with thermometers. They are electronic, mercury or infrared. Traditionally in Russia it is customary to measure the temperature in the armpit. It is believed, however, that the most accurate are the values obtained when measuring it in the auricle, in the mouth or in the anus. The most popular today are electronic or infrared thermometers , accurate and fast in measurement, and also safe to use. Gradually, mercury thermometers come out of use , with which the temperature should be measured for at least five minutes, besides, the mercury content of which is very dangerous, if the thermometer suddenly breaks.

It is important to remember that a small elevated body temperature (up to 38 ° C), it is better not to knock down. It is necessary to allow the body to fight infection itself, as many pathogens die at high temperatures. If the temperature rises higher, it is necessary to give the child antipyretic drugs based on paracetamol or ibuprofen. Next, you need to see a doctor to find out the cause of the temperature reaction and conduct symptomatic therapy.