Many young patients experience a feeling of fatigue and drowsiness as a result of infections. Parents notice that the baby began to spend more time lying down, is not interested in the outside world, shows apathy, is inactive. If a child sleeps a lot after an illness and feels weak, what should be done in such a situation?
Why is there a deterioration in well-being?
In small patients, lethargy and apathy develop under the influence of various factors.
The causes of this condition include the following:
- Circadian rhythm disturbances or lack of night rest.
- The presence of latent infection in the body.
- The initial stage of a viral illness.
- If the child sleeps a lot after the illness, this phenomenon can be explained by the weakness of the body, which was forced to resist the attacks of viruses for a long time.
- Exacerbation of concomitant pathologies (anemia, diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction).
It is important for parents to know why a child sleeps a lot after an illness. In addition, it is necessary to have an idea of the ways to improve the condition of the baby.
Lethargy with temperature and viral pathologies
Respiratory infections are widespread among boys and girls who attend kindergartens and schools. Patients with SARS are often people under the age of five. During this period, immunity is exposed to microbes, since the body's defenses are not yet sufficiently formed. In addition, the body temperature in children may increase slightly, not only under the influence of ailments, but also as a result of other circumstances. This, for example, prolonged physical activity, stuffiness, wearing too warm clothes. In this situation, it is enough to remove some of the clothes, open the window, give the baby a drink of water. As a rule, in such cases, health deterioration does not occur. However, lethargy with ARVI is a typical manifestation for most boys and girls.
Overweight and apathy are explained by an increase in temperature, which can be triggered:
- viral ailments (flu, chickenpox, herpes, E. coli);
- pathologies of the respiratory system and urinary organs;
- neurological disease;
- allergic manifestations;
- the appearance of the first teeth (in infants).
In many cases, parents should not be alarmed if the child sleeps a lot after an illness. The transferred illness weakens the patient's body. The restoration and normalization of its functions requires a certain period of time.
What is the cause of drowsiness after viral pathologies?
The acute phase of infectious diseases in minors usually lasts from three to five days. If the baby has weak immunity, improvement of well-being can occur only after 10 days. The recovery process takes a lot of time. This explains why the patient is overwhelmed. The feeling of lethargy persists for several days or even weeks.
Parents are worried when a child sleeps a lot after an illness. Komarovsky (a well-known pediatrician) claims that such a condition can be associated with a decrease in temperature, a breakdown. Weakness is due to the need for the body to take a break for rest. This situation is common for young children. After some time, the condition improves on its own.
Other reasons
Why does the child sleep a lot after illness? The malaise can be explained by the influence of the following factors:
- Lack of nutrients in the diet. In acute pathology, the child refuses food. This phenomenon leads to lethargy, lack of activity. As the appetite improves, the patient becomes more alert.
- Dehydration. A sufficient amount of fluid is necessary for pathologies such as acute respiratory viral infections and influenza. Dehydration leads to drowsiness and fatigue.
How to improve the condition of the baby?
Do not hope that the child will become cheerful and cheerful a few days after the infection. The body needs time to recover. To speed up this period and help the baby feel better, you should adhere to the following tips:
- Observe a clear daily routine. The child needs walks and a full night's rest.
- Provide the patient with sufficient fluid. Sweet drinks should not be given. Useful decoctions of dried fruits, tea, freshly squeezed juice, fruit drinks.
- If after the illness the child sleeps a lot, sluggish, the reason for this phenomenon is a lack of nutrients. You should pay attention to the diet. You need to eat often, but in small volumes. Doctors recommend cereals, soups and vegetables (except for beans). Useful fruits and berries, dairy products. It is better to exclude fried foods, spices, products that provoke individual intolerance from the diet.
- Vitamins should be used to restore strength. However, these funds should be used after consulting a doctor. The doctor will tell you what vitamins can help if the child sleeps a lot after an illness.
Other factors that make you feel unwell
Against the background of infections, concomitant pathologies arise or worsen. Therefore, it is important for parents to carefully monitor the condition of their son or daughter. Sometimes the answer to the question of why the child sleeps a lot is serious ailments (dysfunction of the thyroid gland, diabetes). In addition, in some cases, the patient's condition requires emergency care. An ambulance should be called if:
- The baby sleeps for more than five hours, he cannot be woken up.
- The skin has acquired a blue tint.
- Respiratory disorders present.
There are several explanations for why a child sleeps a lot after an illness. Fortunately, most of these circumstances are not dangerous.