High temperature in a child is a very common reason for parents to see a doctor.
In general, temperatures above 37.5 degrees can be considered elevated. But everything is individual for a particular child and age.
The temperature itself is not a life-threatening condition if it is not higher than 41. It happens that the temperature in children can be one of the symptoms of a serious illness, but most often it is a sign of banal infections. There is a hypothalamus section in the human brain, and it is he who controls the temperature of our body. And it is he who raises the temperature so that our body can produce those substances that it needs to fight the disease.
But trying to help the child and at least somehow alleviate his suffering, parents often make many mistakes. They are trying to solve the question of how to bring down the temperature in children, each time at the slightest increase. But keep in mind that, acting in this way, you, on the contrary, cause damage to the child’s body, because it is with the help of temperature that it is able to fight various bacteria and viruses.
Little children tolerate heat much more easily than we adults. Often, even rising above 40, it does not pose a threat to them. There are some kids who calmly continue to play even at the mark of the thermometer 39, but it happens that the temperature is only 37.5, and the child almost faints. That is precisely why there cannot be any universal recommendations on how long it is necessary to wait and after what indicators to start working on the thermometer. To do this, observe the behavior and condition of the child, how he reacts to temperature.
An increase in temperature is sometimes dangerous because the child may have diseases of the nervous system, then high temperature can provoke cramps in him.
The question of how to bring down the temperature in children, you can begin to decide if you have one of the points:
- diseases of the nervous system;
- temperature above 39;
- poor tolerance by the child of high temperature (naughty, sleeps poorly, cannot find a place for himself, cramps begin, refuses to drink and eat).
Three tasks that parents of a child with high fever face:
- reduce body temperature to an acceptable level;
- prevent dehydration;
- monitor the condition of the baby constantly, so as not to miss a dangerous or serious disease.
How to bring down the temperature for children: which one to choose antipyretic?
Most often, doctors recommend the use of candles. They act quickly and are indispensable when the kids refuse to drink the medicine. Older children prefer syrup. As for the effectiveness of the drugs, ibuprofen (nurofen) and paracetamol (panadol, dofalgan, calpol, dolomol, mexalen, tylenol, efferalgan) have proven themselves well. Moreover, the first of them also has a painkiller effect (only it is contraindicated in the first six months of the baby's life). Speaking about paracetamol, we note that this medicine is unique in its safety. However, it is effective only with SARS. And another thing: trying to quickly solve the problem of how to bring down the temperature in children, keep in mind that you can give paracetamol no more than 4 r / day and no more than 3 days. contract.
If you are a supporter of homeopathy, then depending on the symptoms, you can lower the temperature with aconite or belladonna. Your treating homeopath will help in this matter.
How to behave to parents and what to do when the temperature is high
At high temperatures, everything must be done so that the body loses heat. This can be done in two ways - by cooling the air inhaled by the child and by evaporating the sweat.
Therefore, two prerequisites must be met :
- cool indoor air (16-18 degrees);
- plentiful drink - so that he had something to sweat.
If both conditions are met, the body will probably cope with a body temperature of up to 39 on its own.
How to bring down the temperature in a baby: what should I drink?
Try to have the baby drink more than usual. The best drink for the baby will be a decoction of raisins, and for older children - dried fruit compote.
Remember that tea with raspberries leads to increased sweating, so before it you need to give something else to drink (for example, compote).
At the same time, despite a long practice, apply lemons-viburnum-raspberries, acidic is contraindicated at high temperatures, since the acidity of the body in such cases is already increased.
If the baby is capricious (does not want this or that), then let him drink at least something: compote, broth of wild rose, tea, currants, which he does not drink at all.
But keep in mind that you need a warm drink (neither hot nor cold). Since the cold is not absorbed by the baby’s stomach until it is warmed up, and too hot - until it cools down well.
How to cool the body
Remember that when a child’s body comes in contact with cold, a spasm of blood vessels in his skin occurs. Blood flow slows down, sweat and heat loss are reduced. At the same time, the temperature of the skin decreases, and the internal organs, on the contrary, increase, which is extremely dangerous!
At home, you can not use ice warmers, cold enemas, wet cold sheets, etc. Under the supervision of a doctor and in the hospital, you can, because before you prescribe, for example, an enema, the doctor gives medications to eliminate spasm of the skin vessels. Therefore, rubbing the body with vinegar or alcohol solutions, as well as fans, is unacceptable!
You can’t imagine how many children paid with their lives for such rubbing!
After all, if the baby sweated, then the temperature itself will drop. And if you start rubbing dry skin - you are doing a crazy thing, because through the delicate skin of the baby, what you rub it is absorbed into the blood. Rubbing with alcohol - add alcohol poisoning to the disease , vinegar - add acid poisoning. The conclusion is clear - never rub a child!
It is enough just to gently moisten the surface of the body (especially the limbs and forehead) with plain water.
What else can be done to lower the temperature
To reduce the temperature, you can still use cool baths (while the temperature in the water should correspond to normal, normal body temperature).
If the baby's temperature was too high, you do not need to count on its complete decrease. It will be quite simple to lower the temperature. But if the high temperature lasts for a long time and at home it cannot be brought down, urgently call a doctor. Since there can be many reasons for this, the baby is in great danger.
Walking in this state is strictly prohibited!
When to call an ambulance or a doctor you need to immediately:
- crumbs up to 6 months;
- You assume that the baby is dehydrated;
- the appearance of seizures;
- a purple rash or bruising on the child’s body;
- breathing becomes too slow, difficult or too fast;
- changes in consciousness. The kid is sleepy, apathetic, does not respond to any attempts to wake up;
- severe headache, not controlled by antipyretic and analgesics;
- incessant vomiting.
The presence of at least one of the symptoms against a background of fever requires immediate medical attention!
I hope these tips will help you and from now on the question of how to bring down the temperature in children will not be a problem for you. Be healthy!