How to bring down the temperature in a child at home. Fever (high body temperature) The child has a fever and temperature what to do

  • Date of: 20.06.2020

During the neonatal period, the body temperature of a child is slightly higher than that of adults. In the armpits, it ranges from 37–37.4 degrees. In a one-year-old baby, it can vary from 36 to 37 degrees, but often by this age the temperature is set within the usual limits - 36.6 degrees.

After a year, a high temperature in a child is considered to be from 38 degrees. In some cases, it can reach 39.9 degrees. The temperature in the range of 37.1–37.9 is elevated and, as a rule, does not go astray. In any case, with the help of drugs.

Before reducing the temperature in a child, it is necessary to carefully examine his condition. Usually fever is a symptom of a viral disease. In this case, a temperature of 37–38 degrees is even useful, since it prevents the further development of the pathogen. This temperature should not be brought down. But you can alleviate the condition of the child by giving him plenty of drink.

However, if the child has previously been observed or the baby suffers from neurological ailments, diseases of the circulatory and respiratory organs, he must be given an antipyretic even with a slight increase in temperature - from 37 degrees.

The temperature above 38 degrees must be brought down in any case, especially if it is accompanied by chills, muscle pain, pallor of the skin (up to cyanosis).

Ways to lower the temperature

First, you should try to reduce the temperature of the child with folk remedies. First of all, it needs constantly drink . It is not necessary to give the child hot tea - boiling water will only increase sweating, and, therefore, fluid loss. The best option is a warm drink, about 35-40 degrees. The baby should often be applied to the chest and drink water from a spoon. If he refuses to feed and drink, you should immediately consult a doctor.

To reduce the temperature of the child folk remedies will help compresses . For them, you need to take warm water and a little apple cider vinegar. It is necessary to make a solution (1:20) and wipe the face, armpits, inguinal folds, bends of the arms and legs for half an hour. You can also moisten a sheet with the solution, wrap a child over 12 years old in it, cover it with a blanket on top and leave for 10 minutes. Change the compress three times.

Naturally, to bring down the high temperature in a child is possible only with the help of pharmacology. Most safe antipyretic drugs for children, those that contain ibuprofen and paracetamol. The first is more effective and gives a long antipyretic effect. The second is shown to young children who are not allergic to it.

Toddlers who are not yet able to swallow solid food can be given special syrups. They begin to act about half an hour after taking, but provide a longer effect.

Children under 15 years of age are contraindicated in taking amidopyrine, antipyrine and phenacetin due to their toxicity. As for aspirin and analgin, they disrupt the process of hematopoiesis and can cause a severe allergic reaction, up to anaphylactic shock.

Forbidden receptions at a temperature

If you decide to combine antipyretic drugs and folk remedies, you need to do it wisely. You should not act on the principle: "more is better." On the contrary, the abuse of medicines and compresses can lead to the opposite effect.

For example, do not wipe the child with cold water or ice, as the body may react with a new increase in temperature. Also, you can not bathe and pour hot water on the patient - it can provoke heat stroke.

In order not to overheat the child, you can not wrap him up. An exception is chills when the patient is very cold. Then it makes sense to give him warm tea to drink and cover with a blanket.

No need to insist on bed rest if the child does not feel the need for it. A grown-up baby - from three years old - is able to determine his own well-being. If he has a fever - 37.1-37.5 degrees, he is quite capable of playing and even walking. In this case, you do not need to push the child under the covers and cover with compresses.

Do not wipe the child with alcohol, although the ether, evaporating, cools the skin. But it is the skin, not the body from the inside. So after alcohol or vodka compresses, you can easily be deceived by determining the temperature by touch. In addition, it is harmful for a child to inhale alcohol vapors.

And, most importantly, do not combine several medicines at the same time, for example, syrup and tablets, and also do not give them again if the temperature has not risen again. If this warning is ignored, the risk of overdose and poisoning is high.

What to do for mothers of babies

You need to know that a really high temperature in a child under six months old is a symptom of a serious illness. Measures must be taken already at an indicator of 37.5 degrees, otherwise it will be very difficult to bring down the heat later.

To start keep your baby calm - put to bed, eliminate extraneous noise, do not move away from it. Breastfeed frequently and offer water. In addition, swing the baby in your arms, talk, go songs, sleep with him.

You can cover the baby with a blanket if he is chilly, but if he is not cold, dress the baby as usual. Remember, babies don't thermoregulate, so they overheat easily, which is very dangerous. Just leave the standard set of clothes on the child.

If the baby's temperature has not reached 39 degrees before 6 months, you can bring it down with the help of compresses from vinegar and water. It is necessary to wipe the body of the child until the skin turns red.

As an antipyretic for six-month-old children, it is better to use not pills and potions, but rectal suppositories. For example, Viburkol. It is better to enter them at night.

With severe chills and fever, you need to urgently call an ambulance. Before the arrival of doctors, it is better not to give the baby any medications, so as not to complicate the diagnosis.

What causes the temperature to rise

Parents should take into account that only subfebrile (37.1-38 ° C) and moderately high (38.1-39 ° C) temperature is subject to self-treatment. High febrile (from 39.1 to 40.9 °C) and hyperpyrexic (above 41 °C) temperatures require immediate medical attention.

In the last two cases, especially if the temperature rises suddenly, you need to call an ambulance and give the child first aid, giving an antipyretic.

It is also worth considering that an increase in temperature may be accompanied by fever or hyperthermia. These two concepts should not be confused.

If hyperthermia is simply a physiological overheating of tissues due to a violation of thermoregulation, in particular, sweating, then fever means a protective reaction of the body to a viral attack. The first is dangerous and does not bring any benefit. The second is to help fight the infection.

In young children, high fever is not necessarily viral. Fever can be a symptom of teething, overwork, malnutrition, or an allergic reaction.

But most often the causes of high temperature in a child lie in viral diseases of the bronchi, lungs, upper respiratory tract and intestines. A bacterial disease is clearly indicated by a fever that does not go away within three days.

When to ask for help

The reason for calling a doctor at home is a high temperature - from 39 degrees in the armpit and over 40 ° C in the anus.

Also, you need to seek help at the first signs of febrile convulsions, which can occur even at a temperature of 37.5 ° C. This symptom is often observed in children with disorders in the nervous system.

Do not hesitate to call the doctors if:

  • the child cries incessantly, and any touch hurts him;
  • the patient fell into a state of apathy or aggression;
  • muscle tone is reduced or, conversely, increased, although before that it was normal;
  • breathing is difficult despite the measures taken - cleansing and instillation of drops in the nose;
  • the child suffers from chronic diseases of the cardiovascular or immune systems;
  • an increase in temperature is associated with overheating or thermal shock;
  • the child's body is dehydrated, which can be seen from rare urination, dark urine, reduced salivation, sunken eyes, and drying of the mucous membranes.

Any of these signs is a reason for an urgent call for an ambulance, even at night.

To begin with, let's figure out that each of us has a temperature and normally it is not necessarily 36.6 ° C. This is the “hospital average” value, because in a healthy person it can range from 36.1 to 37.2 ° C and even change during the day. For example, rise after eating or heavy loads.

When we say “The child has a temperature”, we mean fever - a condition in which the body temperature is elevated, that is, the thermometer under the arm shows more than 37.2 ° C.

If you put a thermometer rectally (into the rectum) or measure the temperature in the ear, then the values ​​\u200b\u200bare usually higher Fever: First aid. Then fever - indicators more than 38 ° C. With oral (in the mouth) measurement - above 37.8 ° C.

Why is the temperature rising

Fever is a protective reaction of the body, as a rule, to various infections. At high temperatures, it is more difficult for bacteria and viruses to survive, so the body starts a process that destroys dangerous microorganisms, and at the same time activates the immune system Fever.

The temperature in children rises more often due to respiratory viral infections, those that we call the common cold. But this is not necessary: ​​fever is manifested in many other diseases. In addition to infections, injuries, overheating, oncological, hormonal and autoimmune diseases, and even some drugs that have such side effects can be to blame for the temperature.

Adults notice a high temperature by special symptoms:

  1. Weaknesses.
  2. Headache.
  3. Feeling chills and shivering.
  4. Loss of appetite.
  5. Pain in the muscles.
  6. Sweating.

Children who already know how to talk may complain of discomfort. But the temperature rises in infants who do not know how to describe their condition.

The reason to measure the temperature is the unusual behavior of the child:

  1. Refusal to eat or breastfeed.
  2. Tearfulness, irritability.
  3. Drowsiness, fatigue, passivity.

You can't talk about a fever based on a kiss on the forehead. Only the thermometer shows high temperature.

When and why to lower the temperature

An elevated temperature is a sign of a correct immune response when it comes to infections. Therefore, it should not be reduced so as not to delay recovery. Advice for managing child fever. It usually makes sense to give antipyretics after the temperature has risen. On the safe use of antipyretics in children up to 39 °C - these are rectal measurements. When the temperature is checked under the arm, doctors recommend lowering it after 38.5 ° C, but not before. Don't worry, the fever itself isn't that bad.

Many fear that high temperatures will damage brain cells. But according to the WHO, it is safe for children until they reach The Management of fever in young children with acute respiratory infections in developing countries 42°C.

Fever is not an independent disease, but only a symptom of it. When the temperature is reduced with drugs, the external manifestations of the disease are removed, but they do not cure it.

In rare cases, too high a temperature in children leads to febrile convulsions - involuntary muscle contractions. It looks creepy and makes parents faint, but basically the attacks stop by themselves and have no consequences. Fever. Call the doctors and make sure that the child does not injure himself: put him on his side, hold him, open tight clothes. Do not put anything in your mouth, it only increases the risk of injury.

But everyone tolerates fever differently: someone can read and play on a thermometer even at 39 ° C, someone at 37.5 ° C lies and cannot move. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the temperature for the sake of convenience and improve the well-being of the child.

If the child feels normal, then nothing needs to be done with a high temperature.

The easiest, fastest and most effective way is to give your child an antipyretic based on ibuprofen or paracetamol. They are produced in forms that are convenient for children to use: sweet syrups or candles. Be careful if you give your child syrup: flavors and dyes can cause allergies.

In no case do not exceed the dosage of the medicine. It is usually calculated based on the weight of the child. Children, especially preschoolers, can vary greatly in weight even at the same age, so focus on the number of kilograms, not years.

Remember that the action of drugs takes time: from 0.5 to 1.5 hours. So do not rush to measure the temperature 10 minutes after taking the pill.

Use the measuring cups, spoons and syringes that come with the medicine. Do not collect medicine in the dark or in a teaspoon by eye: you always need to know how much and what medicines you gave your child.

To avoid an overdose, do not give babies combination medicines for cold symptoms. They already have paracetamol or another antipyretic in them, so it's easy not to notice that you overdose if you give several drugs at the same time.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen can be taken on the same day Paracetamol for children, but do not get carried away and do not give the child everything at once. If, for example, you gave paracetamol and it didn't help much, then when it's time for a new dose of antipyretic, give ibuprofen (or vice versa).

Do not give aspirin and analgin: children can develop serious side effects from them.

There are also physical methods, however, ineffective: wipe the child's hands and feet with a damp towel, put a cool compress on the forehead. Just do not take ice for this, it is enough to soak the towel with water at room temperature.

When to Call the Doctor

Experienced parents know that mild SARS can be dealt with on their own, at home. In such cases, a doctor is needed only to write out a certificate or sick leave for parents. But still, you need to see a pediatrician if:

  1. You need to get a doctor's advice, calm down. Or you just think that the child needs medical help.
  2. A feverish baby is less than three months old.
  3. The child is less than six months old, and the temperature is above 38 ° C for more than 1 day.
  4. The child is less than a year old, and the temperature is above 39 ° C for more than 1 day.
  5. The child has a rash.
  6. Along with the temperature, there are severe symptoms: uncontrollable cough, vomiting, severe pain, photophobia.

When to call an ambulance

You need to seek help urgently if:

  1. The temperature has reached high values ​​(more than 39 ° C) and continues to rise after taking antipyretics.
  2. The child has a confused mind: he is too sleepy, he cannot be woken up, he reacts badly to the environment.
  3. Have difficulty breathing or swallowing.
  4. Vomiting was added to the temperature.
  5. A rash appeared in the form of small bruises that does not disappear when you press the skin.
  6. Convulsions began.
  7. There are signs of dehydration: the child rarely goes to the toilet, he has a dry mouth with a red tongue, he cries without tears. In infants, the fontanel may sink.

How to help a child with a fever

The main thing that we can help in the fight against temperature is to eliminate its cause. If the case is a bacterial infection, they are needed (only as prescribed by a doctor). If other diseases are to blame, they must be treated. And only viruses pass by themselves, you just need to support the body, which will destroy these viruses.

Let's have a warm drink

At high temperatures, the moisture that is in the human body evaporates faster, so there is a risk of dehydration. This is especially true for children: they are small and they need very little to lose 10% of the liquid. With a lack of water, the mucous membranes dry up, it becomes more difficult to breathe, the child has nothing to sweat with, that is, he cannot dump heat on his own. Therefore, a warm drink at a temperature is very, very important.

Give your child juices, compotes, tea, water more often, persuade him to drink at least a few sips. Babies need to be offered breasts more often, but if the baby refuses, it is better to give him water or a special drink than to wait until he returns to breast milk.

Buy a humidifier

In order not to increase the loss of fluid with breathing (and we exhale steam, in which there is a lot of moisture from the mucous membranes), humidify the air in the room. To keep the relative humidity at 40-60%, it is best to buy a special humidifier. But you can also try.

Get out

Every day, carry out wet cleaning in the room: wash the floors and collect dust. This is again necessary to facilitate breathing. Do not be afraid to open the windows and ventilate. Fresh air is especially necessary for a person whose body is fighting a disease, because ventilation is one of the ways to disinfect a room. From an open window it will not get worse, but from hot, dry and full of microbes air it will.

By the way, the child can be bathed if he has a fever.

Of course, when the baby wants to sleep and lie down, you don’t have to drag him to the bathroom. But if the general condition is normal, the child moves and plays, you can wash.

Diet

Feed your child healthy food: don't give kilos of sweets just because he is sick. If the baby does not have an appetite, do not force him to eat. Lunch eaten through force will not help to cope with the infection. It is better to boil chicken broth and give it to your child: it is liquid, food, and help in the fight against inflammation.

What not to do when a child has a temperature

The best way to survive the unpleasant period of illness without problems and losses is to provide the child with good care. For some reason (according to tradition, on the advice of grandmothers, on advice from the forums), many harmful actions are considered mandatory in the treatment of temperature. How not to make mistakes:

  1. Don't wrap your baby. If the temperature is high, then warm clothes and two blankets will only aggravate the process. It is better to persuade him to drink another cup of warm compote.
  2. Do not place a heater near the child. In general, if the temperature in the room is above 22 ° C, it is necessary to reduce it. For a child with a fever, it will be better if the room is 18-20 ° C: inhalation of such air will not dry out the mucous membranes.
  3. Don't sweat your feet, don't make you breathe over a pot with something hot, don't put mustard plasters: These procedures have no proven effectiveness, and the risk of burning and overheating is higher than any possible benefit. In addition, these are unpleasant activities, and the child is already bad. If you really want to help the baby, it is better to figure out how to entertain him when he is having a hard time.
  4. Do not rub the child with vinegar and vodka. These methods help little, but they are very toxic to children.
  5. Do not put the child to bed if he does not want to go there. The patient himself prescribes bed rest. If he has the strength to play, then it's good.

What to do if the temperature rises after vaccination

Some vaccines cause temporary body reactions - redness at the injection site, irritability, a slight increase in temperature. These are not complications, everything will pass by itself in 1-3 days.

You can eliminate unpleasant symptoms in the same way as in the case of any other temperature: antipyretics and a suitable regimen.

Usually the temperature after vaccination is not higher than 37.5 ° C. But if the fever rises, see a doctor.

How to bring down the temperature in a child at home. consequences of high temperature. Broken mercury thermometer what to do. Medications to reduce fever in a child.

The child's temperature rises suddenly and rises rapidly. At the first symptoms, measure it regularly.

    Acetic rubdown

    Use apple or table vinegar 9%. Mix vinegar with warm water in a glass or enamel bowl in a ratio of 1 tbsp. 500 ml of warm (not hot) boiled water. Next, moisten the sponge and wipe the baby's skin with it: first the back and tummy, then the arms, legs, palms and stacks. Then fan the baby so that the liquid evaporates faster. The procedure is repeated every 2-3 hours.

    Rubbing with vinegar solution does not bring down the temperature for good, but only reduces it to a comfortable level. It is easier for the body to cope with the disease. Complications from elevated temperature are excluded.

    Wipe the following areas of the body: armpits, elbow bend, knee bend, behind the ears, forehead, neck.

    Remember! Do not rub with pure vinegar - damage the skin of the child.

    Cold wrap

    Lay down a terry towel or blanket. Place a wet diaper or sheet on top. Lay the undressed child on a wet cloth. Wrap with a damp diaper, and on top with a thick warm blanket. After half an hour, unfold, wipe and change into dry clothes. Perform a cold wrap once a day. Used only at temperatures above 38.5. Before this aisle, do a warm wrap.

    Cleansing enema

    Dissolve 2 tsp in a glass of cold water. salt. Add 10-15 drops of beetroot juice. After that, collect the prepared solution in an enema. 50 ml of water is enough for the baby.

    If the baby has a sick intestinal tract (colitis), then it is better to do a cleansing enema with healing properties. Add chamomile to the solution. Brew like this: 3-4 tbsp. put chamomile flowers in an enamel bowl. Pour one glass of hot boiled water, cover and heat in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes.

    Then it is cooled at room temperature for 45 minutes, filtered, the remaining raw material is squeezed out, and the amount of the resulting infusion is diluted with boiled water to a volume of 200 ml.

    Mix chamomile infusion with sunflower oil, for small children - in half, for older children, add 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil to 700-800 ml of the solution.

    Warm compress

    Soak a washcloth in warm mint tea, then wring it out thoroughly.

    Put prepared compresses on the forehead, temples, wrists, inguinal folds. Change these compresses every 10 minutes. This method will help to quickly bring down the temperature in the child.

    Hypertonic saline

    At high temperatures, it is worth drinking hypertonic solutions. Calculate the dose as follows: prepare 1-2 teaspoons of salt for 1 cup (200 ml) of warm boiled water (cool water will cause cramps and pain in the baby).

    The prepared solution helps the absorption of water through the intestinal walls and removes toxins along with feces.

    For babies up to 6 months old, inject 30-50 ml of the prepared solution.

    Children from 6 months to 1-1.5 years old should be given 70-100 ml.

    Children 2-3 years old - 200 ml.

    Children of preschool age - 300 - 400 ml.

    Children 12-14 years old need to enter 700-800 ml of water per 1 liter of water 1-2 tablespoons of table salt without top.

    Plentiful drink

    At high temperatures, the body rapidly loses fluid through the skin. To reduce the temperature you need to sweat a lot. Therefore, let the baby drink tea, infusion or fruit drink as often as possible. It is important that the drink is not hot soap, but always warm. Useful properties are: linden infusion, cranberry juice, juice from red currant berries, lingonberry juice, infusion of wild rose berries, raisin decoction, older children are given dried fruit compote. Raspberry tea is best given after any other drink, so as not to provoke dehydration.

    Room ventilation

    Ventilate the room regularly. Fresh air must be constantly available. It is important to ensure coolness in the children's room (18-20 ° C). The child should not be in the room.

    Wet environment

    In dry air, the body will lose more fluid. Therefore, often wipe the floor with a damp cloth or hang wet towels near the crib. Use a humidifier. Optimum room humidity is 50-60%.

    Cool water bath

    The child is placed waist-deep in a slightly warm bath, the procedure lasts up to 20 minutes and is repeated twice. The body must not be dried. As the body dries out, heat will be released through the skin.

    Proper clothing

    Too warm clothes for the baby are dangerous. Will lead to overheating and heat stroke. If the child is not chilly, dress lightly, do not cover with thick blankets. Do not dress your baby in synthetic clothing. Give preference to natural fabrics.

Symptoms of fever in a child

An elevated body temperature in a child may be indicated by:

  • temperature between 37.2°C and 38.0°C - slight fever, requires supervision of the child
  • temperature between 38.0°C and 38.5°C - moderate fever, the child should be cooled without the use of antipyretic drugs
  • temperature above 38.5 ° C - high fever, requires the use of antipyretic drugs and its intensive reduction
  • temperature above 40°C is a medical emergency

Fever in a child - possible causes

A high temperature in a child can appear both due to teething or a common cold, or be a symptom of a very serious illness. Therefore, whenever a child has a fever, you should consult a doctor.

The most common causes of fever in children are:

The temperature may rise during the mandatory vaccination period (along with other symptoms such as: redness or swelling at the injection site, restlessness, drowsiness), as well as teething.

Other possible causes of fever in children and infants are:

Attention! Meningococci, pneumococci and rotaviruses are especially dangerous for young children.

Meningococci are bacteria that cause meningococcal disease, which occurs as sepsis or meningitis.

Pneumococcus can cause many diseases. The most common infections are:

Rotaviruses are very dangerous pathogens that cause acute, watery diarrhea (up to several times a day), high fever (up to 40°C), and upper respiratory tract infections.

Febrile seizures are a reaction of the nervous system to a rapidly rising temperature. A child with a high temperature (usually over 39°C) has rhythmic muscle twitches, sometimes with loss of consciousness. An attack of febrile convulsions resembles an attack of epilepsy and lasts for several minutes. In this case, call a doctor as soon as possible.

Before the doctor arrives, place the child on its side and unbutton the clothes. In this situation

It is better to use an antipyretic in a suppository. After an attack of febrile seizures, the doctor prescribes a neurological EEG examination to rule out brain damage to the child.

In a child, the temperature regulator is finally formed after the first year of life. Therefore, young mothers should not panic if the child has a temperature of 37.2 without symptoms on the thermometer. This temperature may be due to


A temperature without symptoms occurs in a baby if:

The temperature in a child can rise with a sharp decrease in hemoglobin.

When to see a doctor with a fever in a child

It all depends on the age of the child and the accompanying symptoms. Urgent consultation is necessary for a newborn or infant with a fever. Younger and older children should see a doctor when a fever is accompanied by other warning signs:

Fever that lasts no longer than 3 days with mild symptoms can be reduced without consulting a doctor.

How to take a child's temperature correctly

The child should have a separate thermometer, which should be disinfected as often as possible (wipe with alcohol or at least rinse with warm water). For an accurate orientation in the baby's body temperature, you need to measure the baby's temperature in a healthy and calm state. For measurement accuracy, it is better to do this in the morning and in the evening. But when the baby is sick, it is advisable to measure the temperature three times a day and preferably at the same time. After each measurement, the results should be recorded in a "temperature diary", based on which the doctor will be able to judge the disease.

Types of thermometers:

Also, make sure that at the time when he measures the temperature of a child, he is calm, because if he is capricious and crying, then the readings can differ significantly from the real ones. You can measure it in any of the following places: in the armpit, rectum or in the groin. To measure the temperature in the mouth, it is better to use a special thermometer in the form of a dummy.

Remember that the temperature measured in the rectum is usually 0.5 degrees higher than that measured in the mouth and one degree higher than that in the armpit or inguinal fold. But just as much depends on the child himself, because for everyone this difference can be significant. At the same time, evening indicators are usually higher than morning ones, so it is worth judging by the average.

You can measure temperature in several ways:

How to measure body temperature in the armpit:

  1. If you are using a mercury thermometer, bring the mercury down to 35-35.5˚C
  2. Place the tip of the thermometer under your arm. Skin must be dry
  3. Fix the thermometer by pressing the child's elbow to the side, and placing the palm on the chest. The measurement time is 4-5 minutes for a mercury thermometer or until the electronic beep. If possible, try to keep the child calm and move as little as possible during the temperature measurement.
  4. Thermometer readings above 37.2˚C indicate an elevated body temperature

When measuring rectal temperature:

  1. Lay your baby on your side or on your lap with your stomach down.
  2. Lubricate the tip of the thermometer with petroleum jelly or baby oil and carefully insert it to a depth of 1.5-2 cm for children under 6 months, 2-3 cm for older children
  3. During the measurement, hold the child's buttocks with your hands so that by accident, the child does not harm himself by twitching.
  4. Time - measurements 2 minutes or until beep

This method is best used once a day. After using the thermometer, wash the tip with warm soapy water and wipe with alcohol.

Measurement body temperature in the mouth:

  1. Take the measurement no earlier than 30 minutes after a hot or cold drink
  2. Place the tip of the thermometer under the tongue, the child can lightly press it with the tongue. You can hold the thermometer with your lips or fingers, but not with your teeth. Breathe calmly through your nose without opening your mouth
  3. Measurement time - 3 minutes or until the beep

Measurement body temperature on the forehead:

  1. For this, a non-contact infrared thermometer is used.
  2. The thermometer should be held perpendicular to the center of the forehead and brought closer or removed until one point of light is obtained on the forehead
  3. When this dot appears, the thermometer is ready for an accurate measurement.
  4. The normal temperature on the forehead is 36.4°C.
  5. When the temperature drops, sweat can form on the forehead, which lowers the temperature of the skin.
  6. In this case, you can measure the temperature on the neck, from a distance of about 2.5 cm below the earlobe

To measure ear temperature necessary:

Broken mercury thermometer what to do

It is necessary to process the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room where the thermometer crashed.

We clean with a solution of potassium permanganate or bleach. To prepare a manganese solution, it is necessary to dilute 2 g of potassium permanganate per 1 liter of water. If these things are not at hand, they can be replaced with a soap and soda solution.

It is prepared as follows:

Such a solution needs 0.5 liters per square meter of the room. This cleaning is recommended to be performed within 5 days. The room in which the thermometer crashed must be constantly ventilated.

Broken thermometer what to do with mercury

Mercury is a metal. It becomes a liquid at room temperature. It looks like silver-white beads or balls (globules).

Liquid mercury easily evaporates into the air, even at room temperature to form mercury vapor (gas). Mercury vapor is dangerous. Two grams of mercury can spread to almost six thousand cubic meters.

There is little mercury in the thermometer (about 3g). This is not enough for poisoning. But if you inhale or swallow large amounts of mercury, then symptoms may occur:

If symptoms appear, rinse your eyes, rinse your mouth and call an ambulance immediately!

In some cities, there are organizations that dispose of broken thermometers. But they don't come to the scene. These organizations personally accept cracked or broken, as well as failed thermometers or tonometers from the townspeople.

How to collect mercury from a broken thermometer

If you broke a thermometer and spilled mercury, you need to collect all drops of mercury in a glass dish with water. For this we use:

After collecting mercury, in no case should you:

Mercury balls reflect light, so the flashlight quickly finds any beads.

Medications to reduce fever in a child

For children, there is a limited number of antipyretic drugs. We will consider them, as well as methods of administration, side effects, contraindications below.

Drugs to reduce the temperature in a child are: Paracetamol and Nurofen.

Panadol suspension 120 mg/5 ml, 100 ml

Syrup and suspension Panadol differ from tablets in speed of action and ease of use. Small children do not know how to swallow tablets, and if they are crushed beforehand, usually some of the medicine remains on a spoon or in a baby bottle. Thus, it is difficult to correctly determine the dose of the drug.

According to the instructions, you need to take Panadol depending on body weight:

The interval between doses is always at least 4 hours.

If the temperature rises in a child under 3 months of age, Panadol is prescribed 2.5 ml.

  • hypersensitivity
  • neonatal period (up to 1 month)
  • severe impairment of liver or kidney function

Side effects:

  • allergic reactions (including skin rash, itching, angioedema)
  • hematopoietic disorders (anemia, thrombocytopenia, methemoglobinemia)

Nurofen for children, suspension 100 mg/5 ml, 100 ml, strawberry

Many of my patients prefer Nurofen to other antipyretics. First of all, because it brings down the temperature almost immediately (within 15-20 minutes), and its action is enough for 6 hours.

How to take Nurofen:

Contraindications for use:

  • hypersensitivity to ibuprofen
  • bleeding and clotting disorders
  • stomach ulcer in history or present
  • bronchospasm
  • rhinitis

Side effects:

  • allergic reactions of varying severity
  • dyspeptic disorders
  • stool disorder
  • rarely - stomach bleeding

Babies are often prescribed medicines in the form of rectal suppositories - suppositories. Use


Many parents remember that using to reduce the temperature

The action of such drugs is faster than in the form of tablets.

Rectal suppositories are best used for children under 3 years old, older kids are recommended syrups.

If taking pills, syrups and suppositories does not help, there is one more proven remedy. An injection of analgin and diphenhydramine with papaverine in a dosage of 1 ampoule for adults and children over 14 years of age. For young children, the dosage is 0.1 ml per year of life. For example, for a child of 5 years old, the dosage is considered as follows: 5 * 0.1 = 0.5 ml.

Make a decision about the method of treating a child only after consulting a doctor! And be healthy.

The question of how to bring down a high temperature in a child is very popular among queries on the Internet and at pediatrician appointments.

Fever is a protective and adaptive process in response to the action of infectious and non-infectious factors, stimulating the body's immune defenses. The temperature rises with a stroke, a growing tumor, autoimmune diseases, brain injury, heat stroke, sunstroke. Most often, children have a fever with acute infections of the upper respiratory tract, intestinal infections, overheating, teething in infants.

In the child's body, pyrogen substances are formed, activators of protective cells - phagocytes. Endogenous pyrogens penetrate the brain, where through a series of chemical reactions they stimulate the formation of prostaglandins E. Their activity leads to an increase in body temperature in children. The degree of its increase and duration depend on the content of endogenous pyrogens in the blood and the rate of their excretion from the body.

What temperature should be brought down in a child

Temperature level

Child's age

Related factors

Does not matter
  • epilepsy;
  • malignant tumor;
  • increased intracranial, arterial pressure;
  • heart disease
Less than 3 months___
Up to 3 yearsConsequences of perinatal CNS disorders, extremely low birth weight
39°C or moreDoes not matter___

Fever "white" type

Does not matter___

According to Dr. E. O. Komarovsky, it is possible and necessary to prescribe antipyretics to children only in 3 cases:

  1. The temperature is over 39°C.
  2. Feeling unwell with high fever.
  3. Impaired brain function.

It is better not to reduce the temperature below 38 ° C - this reduces its immune, protective function.

Types of hyperthermia in children

According to the level of temperature rise, fever is:

  • subfebrile - no more than 37.9 ° C;
  • moderate (febrile) - 38-39 ° C;
  • high (pyretic) - 39.1-41 ° C;
  • hyperthermic (hyperpyretic) - more than 41 ° C.

According to the manifestations, fever is “red” (“pink”, “warm”) and “white” (“pale”, “cold”).

Allocate fever without a focus of infection (FBOI) with a combination of symptoms:

  • age under 3 years;
  • high fever without acute inflammation and other symptoms indicating the place or cause of the disease;
  • the child does not have a serious condition with impaired consciousness and breathing, cyanosis (blue) of the extremities.

In order to make a correct diagnosis for a child, in addition to a medical examination, a thorough questioning of parents about how the disease developed, detailed information about:

  • injuries;
  • surgical operations;
  • transfusions of blood and its components;
  • travel to another area;
  • contacts with infections and pets;
  • nutrition;
  • allergies;
  • chronic diseases.

If fever occurs with bacteremia (bacterial toxins in the blood), there are:

  • painful appearance of the baby;
  • refusal to drink;
  • apathy or irritability;
  • difficulty in contact with the child;
  • lengthening the time of filling the capillaries of the nail bed (its redness, pinking after blanching when pressed and released) for more than 2 seconds.

Fever of unknown origin lasts more than 3 weeks or in the form of periodic peaks over the same time. The temperature is more than 38.0 ° C, and the cause is often not found out even in a hospital.

white fever

With "white" fever, the child's skin is pale with a marbled vascular pattern. The color of the tips of the fingers and lips is bluish, the extremities are cool. Children feel cold, shortness of breath.

Increased heart rate. At an early age, excitability or lethargy is observed, sometimes convulsions, at an older age - delirium.

In severe situations, when the concentration of endogenous pyrogens in the brain increases sharply, a stunning chill begins (with septicemia, malaria, influenza, which occurs in a toxic form).

When adaptation mechanisms are disrupted, hyperthermic syndrome develops with prolonged high fever, dysfunction of internal organs, and metabolism.

Energy resources are depleted, which is especially dangerous for the brain and heart.

Sometimes malignant hyperthermic syndrome develops with severe dehydration or as a complication from taking certain medications.

red fever

With a fever of the "red" type, the child's skin turns red, it is hot and moist.

Although the temperature is elevated to 39.0°C, children's behavior usually does not suffer. This is a benign fever.

The hands and feet remain warm, the increase in respiratory movements and heart rate corresponds to the temperature.

According to the general rule, for every degree above 37ºС, the respiratory rate increases by 4 respiratory cycles (inhale-exhale) per minute, the heart rate increases by 10 beats/min.

How to bring down a high temperature

If the headache, muscle pain is severe, the child is given Paracetamol or ibuprofen even with subfebrile condition as an anesthetic.

Do not do this with the simultaneous presence of fever and abdominal pain. An anesthetic tablet eliminates the symptoms of a serious illness, such as appendicitis, and makes diagnosis and timely treatment more difficult.

You need to drink plenty of water to reduce the content of pyrogens in the blood.

With "red" fever, you can not wrap the child, so as not to disrupt the release of heat during sweating and prevent internal overheating of the body. With "white", on the contrary, you will have to cover the child.

How to reduce the temperature in an infant with medication

The danger of a temperature in infants above 38 ° C is due to the risk of developing febrile convulsions. They can flow from ten seconds to minutes, cover the entire body of the baby, cause loss of consciousness.

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Usually, fever-reducing drugs relieve febrile seizures well, in contrast to seizures in meningitis and meningoencephalitis.

Paracetamol is used in age doses and dosage forms (syrup, suppositories, powders, chewable tablets), which are indicated in the instructions for use. Small children prefer Paracetamol or Viburkol suppositories.

Hospitalization with high fever is necessary for young children, since their deterioration is sudden, constant medical monitoring of the baby's condition is needed.

Rules for taking antipyretics

The choice of antipyretic depends on its safety in children and tolerability. The international medical community favors Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. The form and dose of the drug is prescribed appropriate for the age of the child. Do not give antipyretic courses for more than 3-5 days daily.

Antipyretics are needed only to reduce the temperature, with a 4-5-hour break between injections. "Red" fever, if the condition of the child as a whole does not suffer and sweating is well caused, usually does not require the use of antipyretics even at high temperatures. With a "cold fever", changes in consciousness (pronounced lethargy, drowsiness and more severe disorders), an ambulance call, the appointment of antipyretics, antihistamines that prevent the development of cerebral edema are necessary.

Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) is forbidden to be used in children under 12, and some doctors even up to 15 years old, since its role in the development of Reye's syndrome with severe toxic damage to the brain and liver has been proven. Due to toxic effects and complications, Analgin should not be given at home to children under 12 years of age. For the same reasons, the use of Amidopirine, as well as Phenacetin and Antipyrine, as antipyretics in children is prohibited.

Paracetamol preparations

Paracetamol is the safest drug for children. Even a 2-3-fold excess of its dose does not cause complications. Although this increase in dose, of course, should not be.

This remedy reduces the level of temperature, anesthetizes, has a slight anti-inflammatory effect.

Paracetamol quickly reduces the temperature in non-severe infections. If this does not happen, perhaps the child's illness is more serious than a simple SARS and teething, it is urgent to call a doctor.

The drug is produced in different forms (suspensions, syrups, suppositories, tablets) under different trade names:

  • Kalpol;
  • Tylenol;
  • Dofalgan;
  • Efferalgan;
  • Meksalen;
  • Panadol;
  • Dolomol.

In the form of suppositories, for example, Cefecon D, Paracetamol should be kept at home in case it is necessary to bring down the temperature in the baby.

Ibuprofen preparations

Ibuprofen has the same effects as Paracetamol, but they are more pronounced, the effect lasts longer - up to 8 hours. From 3 months, children can be given Nurofen or Ibufen syrup. Up to 3 months it is better to put rectal suppositories with ibuprofen. Nurofen is also produced in tablets for children from 6 years old.

Combined drugs

Combined drugs combine the positive effects of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. Next for children from 12 years old and adults has stronger analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. The combined drug of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen is Ibuklin with a fast onset and long-term antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.

In children from 3 years of age, Ibuklin dispersible tablets are used. Before taking them, they are dissolved in 1 tsp. water. Ibuklin tablets are also available for adults and children from 12 years of age. Treatment should not exceed 3 days. Novigan, in addition to Ibuprofen, contains 2 more active ingredients, and its effect is stronger than Ibuprofen.

A complex homeopathic remedy in the form of rectal suppositories Viburkol has shown itself well in infants with cutting teeth, anxiety, colic and mild SARS. In addition to lowering the temperature, Viburkol reduces muscle spasms, inflammation and pain. With a fever, his candles are placed every 20-30 minutes for the first 2 hours, then you can put up to 4 r / day, taking into account age. Viburkol is used even in newborns.

The appointment of any drug and its dose should be agreed with the pediatrician in order to take into account not only the age, but also the condition of the child, possible contraindications.

How to bring down the temperature of a child at home

With a thermal, sunstroke, the baby is transferred to a cool place, laid horizontally, and undressed. You need to call an ambulance. Cover the baby's head with a wet, cold diaper. The child is wiped with cool water until his temperature is below 38.5 ° C.

If he is conscious and can drink, he should be given a glucose-salt solution: ½ tsp. salt and baking soda and 2 tbsp. sugar per 1 liter of water, or give juices without pulp. If the child does not want what is offered, let him drink any liquid that suits him. Stop soldering if the child does not become thirsty and urination is restored.

With "red" hyperthermia, the baby should be opened and given plenty of water to increase sweating. Best of all, according to Dr. Komarovsky, raspberry decoction copes with this. When indications for drug treatment give Paracetamol orally at a dose of 10-15 mg / kg, but not more than 60 mg / kg / day. In suppositories, Paracetamol is used at 15-20 mg / kg for 1 use.

The dose of Ibuprofen is 5–10 mg/kg of the child's weight after 6 months of life, but not more than 30 mg/kg/day. Use it in the absence of the effect of Paracetamol or its intolerance. Physical cooling methods are used.

Paracetamol or Ibuprofen can be re-introduced no earlier than after 4-5 hours. With the rapid disappearance of the antipyretic effect of one drug, it is good to combine it with another using a different route of administration: if syrup was given during the day, then a rectal suppository is administered at high temperature at night.

If the temperature has not decreased by ½ degree after 30 minutes, the “red” fever is treated as “white”.

With malignant "white" fever, the child is also plentifully watered, warmed (hot-water bottles to the limbs). You can’t rub the skin, because it is dry and damaged from this, an infection can get into microcracks. Give the child Paracetamol or Ibuprofen in the same doses. Effective treatment of "white" fever is considered when it passes into "red".

A high temperature in a child is a phenomenon that parents often encounter. Adults should know several ways to bring down a child's fever at home.

The first aid kit should always have medicines for fever in children. If necessary, parents should correctly apply folk methods, use available methods to combat high temperatures. Pediatricians advise what to do if the thermometer reaches 39–40 degrees in a baby and an older child.

Reasons for the rise in temperature

Most often, high temperature indicators accompany the following conditions and diseases:

  • bacterial and viral infections;
  • stress, strong emotional experiences;
  • eruption of milk teeth;
  • overheating, heat stroke.

In infectious diseases (intestinal flu, pneumonia, measles, and others), other unpleasant symptoms are often observed. The child develops diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, cough, a rash appears, general weakness is noted. With indicators from 39 degrees and above, muscle soreness and convulsions occur. With a combination of negative symptoms, a rapid deterioration in the condition, it is important to immediately "ambulance".

Dangerous indicators

Physicians draw the attention of parents to the following data:

  • up to 38.5 degrees is a slight fever;
  • from 38.6 to 39.5 - moderate fever;
  • from 39.5 degrees and above - high fever;
  • from 40.5 to 41 degrees - a milestone after which high rates threaten life.

What temperature should be brought down in a child? Up to 38 degrees, doctors do not recommend giving antipyretic drugs if the health of a small patient is stable. Use rubdowns, wet compresses, give antipyretic tea, keep cool, drink plenty of fluids. If the measures do not bring results, for an hour or two the fever does not subside, the thermometer rises, give a medicinal syrup, taking into account age. With sharp jumps, an increase in indicators up to 39.5 degrees, especially in babies, immediately call an ambulance.

How to bring down the temperature in a child at home

Perhaps you know some recipes for dealing with fever in children. Read the material: for sure you will find useful information, learn new, effective ways to bring down the heat. Follow the advice exactly, follow the measure when using folk recipes and antipyretic drugs.

Sufficient liquid

Dehydration is dangerous. Be sure to give your child more fluids to replenish the balance.

Adviсe:

  • boiled water is suitable for kids, for older children - mineral water without gas;
  • a good option is unsweetened, not very strong tea, preferably green;
  • give up sugary drinks that provoke a new round of thirst;
  • when combined with fever with vomiting, diarrhea, small portions, but often give Regidron powder. A useful solution will restore the water-salt balance, protect against dehydration.

Antipyretic tea

The thermometer will surely fall if you offer the children one of the proven compositions:

  • lime blossom tea;
  • tea with cranberries;
  • uzvar (dried fruit compote), necessarily, not very sweet;
  • raspberry tea;
  • tea with black and red currants;
  • chamomile decoction;
  • tea with viburnum.

Note! The proportions for all teas are the same: for a glass of boiling water, you need a teaspoon of berries or flowers. Infuse a healthy tea for 20-30 minutes, let it drink in small sips. If you are not allergic to bee products, add a teaspoon of fragrant honey.

How to keep cool

How to proceed:

  • do not wrap the baby, remove excess clothing: overheating has a bad effect on the body in extreme heat;
  • if the little patient is “freezing”, he cannot warm up, check the temperature again: perhaps the thermometer has risen above 38.5 degrees. In this case, give an antipyretic;
  • keep + 20-21 degrees in the room. The heat in the room adversely affects the patient's temperature;
  • air conditioning or a fan will help to achieve a pleasant coolness. Make sure that the cold air flow does not fall on the child.

Medical wraps

A good option for strong heat in children of different ages:

  • prepare a water infusion of yarrow. In a thermos or jar, put 3 tbsp. l. finely chopped plant, add one and a half liters of boiling water;
  • in an hour the infusion is ready. Filter the healing composition, moisten gauze or a soft towel, wrap around the body for 15 minutes;
  • cover the child with a sheet so as not to catch a cold;
  • with good results, do another wrap in an hour;
  • if there is no yarrow at home, use plain water;
  • after the procedure, blot the skin. It is impossible to wrap a small patient.

Advice! If you do not know if it will be possible to make a wrap, apply a compress of gauze or soft cloth moistened with cool water or yarrow decoction to your forehead. Change the compress as the fabric warms up.

Acetic rubdown

How to bring down the temperature with vinegar? Method for children 5 years and older. For babies, do not rub the skin with vinegar, even diluted with water: irritation may occur.

How to proceed:

  • combine in a bowl 5 parts of warm water and 1 part of vinegar;
  • dampen a soft cloth, wring out lightly;
  • gently wipe the feet, palms, arms, legs;
  • repeat the procedure every two hours.

Enemas for fever

Find recipes for healthy solutions to fight fever in children in advance so that you can quickly find the right formulations in the turmoil. Most solutions for therapeutic enemas are prepared from available components.

Take note:

  • recipe number 1. Salt solution is prepared simply: for 250 ml of warm water - 2 teaspoons of salt plus 3-4 drops of beetroot juice. For an enema from a temperature in babies up to six months, use 50 ml of liquid, up to one and a half years - no more than 100 ml, at 2-3 years old, 200 ml of liquid is enough;
  • recipe number 2. Chamomile decoction. The proportions are traditional: for 200 ml of boiling water - 1 tsp. colors. Infuse the healing liquid for 40 minutes, then strain through cheesecloth.

For colitis, constipation, combine the healing and cleansing effects of an enema. To remove feces from the intestines, add high-quality sunflower oil. For babies, dilute the chamomile decoction by half. For older children, reduce the amount of oil: at 12–14 years old, a couple of tablespoons of oily liquid is enough for 700 ml of broth.

cool bath

If the thermometer rises higher, try the proven method. For maximum effect, follow the instructions exactly.

What to do:

  • Type warm, but not hot water in the bath. Reduce the temperature of the liquid gradually: when immersed in cool water, the effect may be the opposite: chills will appear, the heat will increase;
  • bathe the child, gently massage the body with a washcloth to improve blood circulation;
  • The optimal procedure time is from 15 to 20 minutes. During this period, there was a decrease in indicators by 1 degree;
  • after the bath, blot the skin, but do not dry it. Cover a small patient with a sheet, a light blanket to avoid overheating;
  • if after an hour the temperature readings change upward again, repeat the procedure.

Medicines for fever

Sometimes you can not do without drugs that reduce the temperature. What can bring down the temperature? Ask your pediatrician which medicines are suitable for children of different ages.

When completing a first aid kit for a newborn, be sure to put in it:

  • children's Paracetamol;
  • drug ibuprofen.

Paracetamol is weaker than ibuprofen. For this reason, immediately give a more “light syrup”, if there is no effect, use a stronger composition. Always follow the dosage, frequency of administration, so as not to exceed the daily dose. The instruction contains all the necessary data. Remember: per 1 kg of weight in children, 15 mg of Paracetamol and 10 mg of Ibuprofen are allowed per day.

If the temperature rises quickly, inject analgin with diphenhydramine and papaverine. For babies, dosage: for each year of life - 0.1 ml of the drug, for example, at 4 years old: 0.1 x 4 \u003d 0.4 ml. From the age of 14, 1 ampoule of the drug mixture against temperature is recommended. If the indicators do not return to normal, the fever increases, injections, wraps, compresses do not help, urgently call an ambulance. Do not allow the thermometer to stay at 39.5-40 degrees and above for a long time: this is very dangerous for all organs.

In what cases it is necessary to call an ambulance

Call your healthcare provider right away if:

  • the baby is not 2 months old - the temperature has risen to 38 degrees;
  • age up to 3 years - rectal temperature has reached 40 degrees, under the arm the indicators are kept at 39 degrees.

Call an ambulance if a fever is combined with other negative symptoms:

  • convulsions appeared, the child is shaking. Sometimes a dangerous phenomenon is observed with a sharp temperature jump from normal values ​​to 38 and above;
  • vomiting plus fever. A dangerous combination that threatens dehydration. If indomitable vomiting develops, diarrhea (diarrhea) is added, contact an ambulance immediately: severe symptoms accelerate fluid loss. Before the arrival of the team of doctors, drink the child: give 1 teaspoon or tablespoon of water / Regidron every 5-10 minutes;
  • there is a meningeal triad: vomiting + headache + temperature;
  • combination of fever with rash. Bright nodules, pimples, sores, large spots on different parts of the body should alert. Sometimes such symptoms develop with a dangerous pathology - meningococcal sepsis or meningococcemia.

Listen to the opinion of pediatricians:

  • be attentive to the child's complaints of malaise, always measure the temperature in case of weakness, poor health of babies / older children;
  • do not bring down the temperature below 38 degrees if the condition is satisfactory. Antipyretics at 37.5 interfere with the body's fight against the pathogen, do not allow the immune defense to fully manifest itself;
  • learn the rules of behavior at a high temperature in children. Write down recipes for tea against heat, rubdowns, compresses, learn how to do body wraps;
  • Always store anti-fever medicines at home, taking into account age. Remember what medicines are not given to children, for example, Aspirin cannot be used under 12 years of age;
  • with the development of dangerous symptoms, a combination of fever with other signs, do not delay calling an ambulance. The later you turn to the doctors, the more severe the consequences may appear, the more dangerous the condition will be. Remember: the brain, heart, blood vessels suffer from prolonged exposure to temperatures of 40 degrees and above.

Now you know how to bring down the temperature in children at home. Use folk methods, give a healthy tea, prevent dehydration. If rubdowns, body wraps, syrups, fever pills give a weak effect, call the ambulance team. Be attentive to the rise in temperature, always find out the cause of the failure in the body, draw conclusions from each case.

Tips from a pediatrician to reduce a child's temperature in the following video: