It often happens that after eliminating all the symptoms of the disease, the child has a temperature of 37. However, it can last for weeks. Doctors call this condition subfebrile (causeless).
As a rule, the baby does not complain about anything, he does not have a runny nose and cough, nothing hurts. However, the temperature 37 holds and does not fall. For a sufficiently long period, it was believed that its cause was a chronic infection. However, today experts associate this phenomenon with a dysfunction of the central nervous system.
Scientists have identified this peculiar state as a special thermoneurosis that affects the nervous system as a result of mental, physical trauma, infection, general overfatigue or overstrain.
If the child has a temperature of 37-38 degrees for more than two weeks, and it cannot be reduced either by paracetamol or other antipyretic drugs, while there are no deviations in the general blood test, the child does not lose weight, changes in his heart rate do not depend on the level temperature, then there is an "independent" subfebrile condition. At the same time, the examinations performed do not reveal any other diseases (thyrotoxicosis, infectious endocarditis, rheumatism, and others).
When measuring the temperature of the baby, it must be ensured that his armpit is dry. The thermometer should be kept for at least ten minutes. Doctors recommend using a modern electronic thermometer. In this case, it is worth checking the correctness of the readings by measuring the temperature with another thermometer.
Why does the temperature 37 not drop?
Such a persistent increase is due to the features of the functioning of thermoregulatory zones in the brain. Normal temperature indicates that an equilibrium is established between heat transfer and heat generation in the body. In other words, the amount of heat that is released per day should approximately equal the amount of heat generated. However, in some children, heat is retained in the body.
Often, temperature 37 is the result of disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system.
As observations show, children with subfebrile temperature have similar psychological characteristics. As a rule, they are closed, uncommunicative, easily irritated, suspicious. It is worth noting that their condition does not improve against the background of anxiety in adults who look at thermometer indicators every night.
Prolonged subfebrile condition does not have any specific symptoms. In young children, an appetite disorder, increased irritability can be noted. At an older age, weakness, headache, increased sweating occur. However, as a rule, a persistent temperature of 37 does not cause serious discomfort to the child. Parents most often identify it completely by accident, continuing to measure it after eliminating the common cold.
Subfebrile condition should be treated. According to experts, this condition is stressful for the child’s body, undermining his immune system.
Treatment should be based on the elimination of functional disorders of the central nervous system, which provoked heat exchange disorders.
To eliminate the condition, acupuncture is prescribed. The standard course includes twelve to fifteen procedures.
In some cases, the doctor may prescribe medication.
However, a prerequisite for stabilizing the condition of the child is the correct regime of the day. At the same time, you should not limit school attendance, you do not need to transfer the child to home schooling. In addition, there is no need to exempt him from physical education. Teachers should be warned that the child has such a state, and he can get tired faster, unlike peers. Be sure to temper the baby.