From a very young age, we know that a hot forehead is a sign of fever and indicates the onset of the disease. This factor often worries caring parents. Especially when it comes to a baby.
But not everything is as scary as it seems at first glance. After all, there are many other causes of fever. For example, overheating. It is known that the baby has a not entirely debugged process of thermoregulation. Therefore, his mother is responsible for creating the thermal effect, which sometimes can be too carried away and simply overheat the crumbs. But as soon as she opens it a little, the temperature will drop. So what does
normal temperature in an infant mean?
Causes of fever
If the baby's teeth erupt, the temperature can also rise. And although this circumstance is a fairly common cause of temperature deviations from the norm, there are more serious factors.
- The presence of viral, bacterial or other infections.
- Allergic reaction.
- Toxic condition.
- Intracranial injury.
- The presence of tumor and immunopathological processes.
- The use of muscle relaxants.
Although these are not all factors that influence a fever, they are the most common (including the reasons given earlier).
What is meant by the phrase "normal temperature in the infant"
Do not forget about the imperfection of the thermoregulation system in an infant. And if, for example, 37 ° C is a cause for concern to the parents of a three-year-old baby, then the normal temperature of the baby is often equal to this figure.
But gradually it will decrease and by 12 months it will stop at around 36.6 ° C. But how to determine what temperature in a child is considered normal? For this, it is necessary to measure it for several days. All indications must be recorded. Then they should be compared and determined if there is cause for concern. If you measure it in the armpit, then the normal temperature in the infant should be between 36-37 ° C. When it comes to oral temperature, it ranges from 36.6 to 37.2 ° C. 36.9-37.4 ° C - permissible
rectal temperature.What to do if the child has a hot forehead
If you notice that the temperature has increased or decreased, you must immediately take the necessary measures.
When it comes to simple overheating (a child’s hot forehead, but the temperature remains normal), there is no need to panic. Just help stabilize baby heat transfer. To do this, open the child or dress him lightly, ventilate the stuffy room, having previously moved the child to another room so that he does not catch a cold. After a while, measure the temperature and check the baby’s head. If the thermometer shows the same value, and the child's forehead has cooled, then everything is in order. You were able to eliminate the cause of overheating. And since the normal temperature in the infant has stabilized, you have nothing to worry about.
Consider an important nuance. If the child keeps the temperature for some time or reaches 38.2 ° C, it must be knocked down. It should also be borne in mind that its increase occurs at a very fast pace. Even with small deviations from the norm, you should immediately consult a doctor.