Healthy baby - happy parents. Young mothers and fathers begin to panic at the slightest deviation from the norm. Even the temperature of 37.2 in a 2-year-old child is cause for concern. In fact, this may be a variant of the norm. But you cannot postpone a visit to the pediatrician.
What should be the temperature of the baby?
The body temperature of a healthy person is not a constant value. Indicators may vary depending on what room the child is in, how he is dressed. It is generally accepted that normal body temperature is 36.6 degrees. Minor deviations are allowed. Abnormal is considered an indicator below 35.5 degrees or above 37.0 degrees. Elevated body temperature can be subfebrile (up to 38.0 degrees) and febrile (over 38.0 degrees). Often, even a temperature of 37.5 in a 2-year-old child is not considered pathological. This may be a variant of the norm, if the baby does not bother anything, he is not capricious and eats well.
It is important for parents to learn how to properly measure their body temperature. Errors can lead to the fact that the thermometer displays indicators that are not true. Particular attention should be paid to the procedure for measuring temperature if the child does not have concomitant symptoms of the disease (he does not cough, does not act up).
In no case should you start the procedure after the cry or cry of the child. Any physical activity can trigger an increase in performance. You can not take measurements after an active walk. Immediately after waking up, the baby will, on the contrary, observe a decrease in body temperature. Measurements are preferably carried out in a calm environment. The armpit must be completely dry. Often, the temperature of 37.2 in a child of 2 years is the result of exposure to moisture.
Many today use electronic thermometers. It is noticed that such devices do not always show accurate data. Preferred proven mercury thermometers.
Oral measurements often produce increased body temperature readings. In addition, such a technique cannot be called hygienic.
When there is no cause for concern
In some cases, the temperature of 37.2 in a 2-year-old child is absolutely normal. This is the reaction of the body to certain manipulations. For example, low-grade indicators can be observed in a baby after vaccination. It is no coincidence that many pediatricians after vaccination prescribe Panadol or Nurofen. With the help of these drugs, it is possible to normalize the condition of the crumbs, relieve pain.
A slight increase in body temperature during teething is considered completely normal. At this time, the crumb body spends a lot of energy, the immune system is running out. If mom does everything right, after a few days the baby’s temperature will return to normal and you won’t have to face infections. But neglect of the doctor’s recommendations often leads to the fact that the weakened baby’s body is faced with various infections. In this case, the temperature is already rising to febrile indicators.
Immature thermoregulation is another reason for the baby’s fever. This state of treatment does not require and usually normalizes by 18 months. In rare cases, the body gets used to environmental conditions by 3 years. Therefore, if a child of 2 years has a temperature of 37, you should not panic. This may be a variant of the norm. But you will have to consult a doctor.
If the baby has an increase in temperature to subfebrile indicators, while he is behaving uneasily, it is worth finding out the reason.
Respiratory diseases
Respiratory infections are the most common cause of fever in children. Initially, the disease can begin with sore throat or runny nose. An increase in temperature is an indicator of the presence of infection in the body. If the child’s well-being does not change critically, you should not lower the indicators. Due to the increased temperature, bacteria and viruses die. It is believed that taking antipyretic drugs is necessary when the readings on the thermometer reach 38.5 degrees.
If there is a temperature of 37.2 in a child of 2 years old, while there is a cough, you can not postpone a visit to the pediatrician. The baby may develop bronchitis, requiring appropriate treatment. The lack of therapy often leads to serious complications, including pneumonia and death. A child 2 years old does not tolerate such diseases well enough. A temperature of 37 and a cough are not a reason to self-medicate.
Poorly enough, children also tolerate influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections. Often the disease is accompanied by just the same increase in body temperature to subfebrile indicators. The rapid deterioration of the child's condition is a sign of a bacterial infection that requires the hospitalization of a small patient. A temperature of 37.7 in a 2-year-old child may indicate the onset of tonsillitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, measles, etc.
Intestinal infections
A sharp increase in body temperature in a child may indicate poisoning. Moreover, often in the first hours after the pathological microflora enters the stomach, the child feels absolutely normal, and the thermometer will already show a deviation. Then the baby has the accompanying symptoms - nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain. A temperature of 37.6 in a 2-year-old child is one of the symptoms of intoxication. Treatment should be started immediately. Otherwise, dehydration will occur and the baby's condition worsen. The child should be given as much fluid as possible, as well as drugs that remove toxins from the body. It is better if the medication is prescribed by a specialist.
If we talk about the gastrointestinal tract, then other reasons can lead to a change in temperature indicators. So the well-being of the child may slightly deteriorate when infected with worms. Vital products of parasites lead to impaired fiction of the body. The result is an increase in body temperature in the baby. Additionally, the child will be bothered by lethargy, poor appetite, drowsiness.
Appendicitis is another common cause of changes in thermometer performance. The disease is not associated with intestinal infection, however, the symptoms are similar (pain in the lower abdomen, nausea, lack of appetite). The temperature of 37.8 in a child of 2 years against a background of pain in the lower abdomen is an occasion to immediately consult a surgeon. The sooner the inflamed appendix is removed, the more likely it is to not encounter complications.
Brain diseases
Brain problems in children are not a common problem. However, statistics indicate that the number of sick children is increasing every year. The reason for this may be the ecological situation, the mother’s illness during pregnancy, neglect of the doctor’s recommendations, etc. One of the reasons for changing the baby’s body temperature can be a violation of cerebral circulation. In this case, the following symptoms can alert parents: headache, decreased concentration, developmental delays, loss of skills acquired earlier, etc.
A fairly serious infectious pathology is meningitis. At an early stage of the disease, a temperature of 37.5 will be observed in a child of 2 years. As the inflammation of the meninges develops, the child's condition will worsen. Body temperature can rise to febrile levels. If timely assistance is not provided, death is possible. Often after suffering meningitis, children acquire disability.
Cardiovascular diseases
As in the case of brain ailments, cardiovascular pathologies increasingly began to occur in young children. In most cases, these are congenital diseases that were provoked by abnormalities during pregnancy, some hereditary factors. Some acquired pathologies can also cause a malfunction of the baby's cardiovascular system. Often complications develop against the background of the flu.
The problem is that in childhood the symptoms of cardiac pathology may be completely absent or will be expressed minimally. The only sign often is a change in the thermometer. A temperature of 37.4 in a 2-year-old child may indicate vascular and cardiac pathology. Even if there are no symptoms, a thorough diagnosis is worthwhile.
Vegetative-vascular dystonia is a condition that, in most cases, children of school age encounter. But in children, the disease can be diagnosed. An important role is played by the hereditary factor.
Oncological diseases
Oncology is the field of medicine that no one wants to face. Unfortunately, not a single specialist can name the exact reasons for the formation of cancer cells in the body today. Both adults and children suffer. Oncological diseases are quite insidious. At an early stage, when it is still possible to save a person’s life, there are practically no symptoms. You can feel absolutely normal when the mechanism of the disease is already running.
A temperature of 37.1 in a 2-year-old child may indicate the development of a malignant neoplasm. The sooner the parents turn to the consultation, the sooner the pathology will be diagnosed. There are chances to save a small person's life.
Benign neoplasms in the body can also cause an increase in body temperature. The tumor will develop, compress adjacent organs. This will inevitably lead to an inflammatory process.
Allergy
An inadequate reaction of the body to food or substances from the environment is an allergy. In most cases, the disease is accompanied by the formation of a rash, redness of the skin, and the appearance of itching. Less commonly, babies may experience allergic conjunctivitis, rhinitis, or laryngitis. Usually, body temperature indicators remain normal, but minor deviations are possible.
The problem is that during periods of exacerbation of allergies, the child’s immunity is significantly reduced. The baby becomes vulnerable to various infections. The temperature of 37.3 in a child of 2 years against a background of allergies is an occasion to call a doctor. It is possible that in addition to antihistamines, a specialist will prescribe antibiotics or antiviral agents.
A common phenomenon is fever with drug allergies. In this case, the readings on the thermometer can reach 38 degrees. In addition, drug allergy is accompanied by swelling and redness of the skin. Symptoms develop sharply and require immediate medical attention.
Overheat
Heat stroke is a phenomenon that can be observed after prolonged exposure of the body to high temperatures. More often, children suffer from overheating. This is due to the still unripe thermoregulation system. Therefore, parents, especially in the summer, need to monitor the condition of the child. On the street, the baby must be worn according to the weather, not to wrap him. Especially carefully, the child must be watched on the beach. Headgear is a necessary attribute of relaxation.
Symptoms of heat stroke are usually pronounced. This is a headache, lethargy, drowsiness. Less commonly, the baby complains of nausea. In the most difficult situations, loss of consciousness is observed. However, in some cases, overheating can provoke only a slight increase in body temperature. How to understand that a child is overheating (2 years)? A temperature of 37 without symptoms is one of the symptoms.
What to do with an increase in body temperature in a baby?
Initially, make sure that the temperature readings were measured correctly. It is recommended that the procedure be repeated after 20-30 minutes. Do not panic, even if the patient is very small (the child is 2 years old). Temperature 37, what to do? If at the same time the baby does not feel well, has become moody, he has lost his appetite, it is worth calling a specialist at home. The doctor will be able to make a preliminary diagnosis and prescribe an examination.
Is there any need to worry if the child’s behavior has not changed, while the body temperature is kept at the level of 37.0-37.5 degrees. There is no need to panic, but it is advisable to turn to a consultation. It is possible that this is a feature of the baby. A slightly elevated body temperature in children under 3 years old is not always a deviation.
Prevention is always better than any treatment. In order not to encounter situations that can provoke an increase in body temperature in a baby, it is worth watching his nutrition and rest. In accordance with age, it is necessary to temper the child, spend as much time as possible with him in the fresh air.
Timely seeking help from a doctor is the key to success. Visiting a pediatrician is also recommended once a year for a routine examination.