Baby's temperature, how to determine what to do?

When can you observe a temperature in the absence of illness?

The thermometer readings in a newborn range from 36 degrees to 37.5. It changes for various reasons, but by the year it stabilizes. What affects the thermometer readings:

• How the measurement was carried out - in the mouth, armpit, or rectum. The baby's armpit temperature will be slightly lower than when measured on the mucous membranes.
• What kind of thermometer was used to measure it? The most accurate thermometer is a mercury thermometer. It is safe when handled carefully. Electronic thermometers allow errors and can even distort the data completely.
• What did the baby do before the measurement - was he immediately after bathing or sleeping under a warm blanket, perhaps you were out for a walk in the heat, and so on.

Important! Often, very active crying can cause higher readings on the thermometer. But this phenomenon is not permanent. After the child has calmed down, you should wait a few minutes before taking the measurement.

When the period of teething begins, the child’s temperature can become a frequent visitor. When tooth growth begins, the child’s body releases substances that soften the gums. This provokes an inflammatory process and weakens local immunity. This is why fever occurs.

Another situation when an increase in body temperature is justified is a vaccination. Doctors recommend that after vaccination, without waiting for possible reactions, the child should be given antiallergic drugs and antipyretics. But not all vaccinations are capable of giving a newborn a fever, so you should check with the pediatrician referring you for vaccination. After vaccination, the fever can reach 39 degrees and last for about three days.

Overheating is dangerous for babies, since thermoregulation is still weak. It is especially harmful to be in the hot sun, in a closed car or in a room where there is no ventilation. If it's a very hot summer, make sure your child has plenty of water. Temperatures up to 38 degrees can cause dehydration.

Allergic reactions are often accompanied by fever. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish it from infections, because the symptoms are very similar: stuffy nose, redness of the throat mucosa, maybe a cough, and so on. When the allergen is eliminated, the fever will disappear on its own.

In response to the stress experienced by the baby, his body can give a temperature of up to 38. Stress can be a long trip, just a long cry, an excess of new impressions, especially if there are nervous diseases.

What temperature is considered normal for children?

Before you think about how to determine whether a child has a fever, you need to understand what indicators are normal.

These values ​​are relevant for measurements in the axillary, elbow, and inguinal folds. In the mouth, the indicators are 0.2-0.3 units higher.

Often the difference between temperature values ​​when measured in the right and left armpit reaches 0.1-0.5 degrees.

Temperatures change throughout the day. The highest are at 16-17 hours. The daily difference in values ​​can reach 0.3-1 degrees, depending on the age of the child.

In young children, the thermoregulation system does not work properly, so body temperature may change under the influence of external factors. Signs of hyperthermia can be caused by wearing too warm clothing, prolonged exposure to the sun, active games, stress or overexcitement. Eliminate provoking factors - the indicators will return to normal.

Often, temperature deviations from the norm can be an individual characteristic of the body. To determine the norm specifically for your child, take measurements when the child is healthy. This should be done twice a day at the same time for a week.

Infection and thermometer readings

When you notice that your baby is warmer than usual, may sweat a lot, is thirsty all the time, and has rapid breathing, the baby is most likely sick. If bacteria or viruses enter the baby’s body, then in addition to elevated temperature, there will be other symptoms:

• Red throat;
• Discharge from the nose;
• Nasal congestion;
• Red throat;
• The baby may cough;
• Pulse faster than usual;
• There may be chills.

Nausea in newborns can be a sign of infections such as influenza. Gagging or vomiting, as well as diarrhea accompanied by fever, are signs of a respiratory or intestinal infection. If you are faced with a viral infection, the fever increases very quickly. In this case, it must be monitored constantly. These and other symptoms indicate the possible onset of the disease. In this case, you should definitely call a doctor.

Signs of low temperature

A decrease in temperature below normal (hypothermia) is a sign of weakened immunity, cancer pathologies, dysfunction of the adrenal glands and thyroid gland. A slight or short-term decrease in indicators in children is considered normal; the problem often occurs with hypothermia and severe fatigue.

Symptoms of hypothermia:

• increased irritability, nervousness, hysterics;
• general weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, lethargy;
• headache, fainting;
• decreased blood pressure, slowed heart rate and breathing;
• refusal to eat;
• pale skin;
• chills;
• cold sweat

Often, a low temperature persists for some time after recovery. This indicates that the body has spent a lot of energy fighting the disease. Increase the amount of fruits, vegetables and greens in your child's diet. Or ask your pediatrician to choose an effective vitamin complex.

Hypothermia, like hyperthermia, often occurs in children during the period of active growth, in adolescence, and in babies under one year old.

A decrease in values ​​may also be a reaction to vaccination. Reduced temperature readings are observed in premature babies.

How to understand that a fever has begun without a thermometer

Sometimes the symptoms of a baby’s illness can take parents by surprise because they don’t even have a thermometer at hand. How can you tell if your baby has a fever? What to do if measurements are not available? Since the little ones will not yet say that they feel bad, you should know a set of certain signs and techniques on how to measure temperature without a thermometer. When you understand your child without words, determining body temperature will not be difficult.

1. Most often, parents touch their forehead to feel if it is hot. But the forehead often sweats, so it can have time to cool down. In addition to the forehead, you need to feel the child’s temperature on the neck under the chin.
2. Don't try to tell if you have a fever by looking at your legs and arms. They are often cold due to vasospasm.
3. After you've checked your forehead and neck, look at your cheeks. You may notice an unhealthy pink blush against the background of pale skin. It is more difficult to notice this sign on a dark-skinned child.
4. Now pay attention to the behavior of the baby. If a baby has a fever, then most likely he is lethargic, looks tired, and sleeps a lot. He may even refuse to eat or drink. Some children tolerate fever quite poorly. Then they are moody because they may have a headache or feel aches in their muscles.
5. If your baby's urine becomes bright or dark, this indicates dehydration. When a newborn's temperature rises, fluid evaporates from the body faster. Dehydration can occur within hours.
6. There is such a reaction to an increase in temperature as chills. If the little one is trembling, and the surroundings are not cold at all, then most likely the fever is rising.

From these points it is easy to understand how to determine the temperature of your child without a thermometer. Do you suspect a fever is occurring? Then consult a doctor immediately. The baby requires special attention. Call a doctor at home; under no circumstances take a sick child to the hospital. Even if you already know how to determine temperature without using thermometers, don't rely on chance when it comes to your baby.

How to measure temperature correctly

It often happens that signs of high or low temperature are present, but the thermometer shows no deviations. You may be taking the measurements incorrectly. In electronic thermometers, a similar problem often occurs when the batteries run out.

Measurement Rules:

1. You need to take your temperature between meals, an hour after active games or physical activity.
2. Always use the same thermometer, it is advisable that the child has his own thermometer.
3. The skin at the measurement site must be completely dry.
4. If the child cries or is naughty, take the temperature later.
5. The thermometer should be warm so as not to provoke discomfort in the child.
6. Measurement time with a mercury thermometer is 5-7 minutes, with an electronic one – 1-2 minutes.

Mercury thermometers are considered more accurate, but less safe. Next year, such devices may completely disappear from pharmacies. Therefore, if you are used to trusting only such thermometers, take care of your purchase in advance.

Alternatively, you can buy a mercury-free glass thermometer. Outwardly, it is no different from a mercury thermometer, but inside there is a metal alloy that is safe for humans.

An electronic thermometer is not as accurate as a glass one, but it will not break. This thermometer is best used to measure the temperature in the mouth or anus.

Strip thermometers and nipple thermometers are very convenient, but the measurement error often reaches 1 degree. Infrared thermometers allow you to find out the temperature in a few seconds. But such devices are considered the least accurate and are quite expensive.

The most accurate way to measure temperature in young children is rectal. But kids don’t like it at all; there is a risk of damaging the intestinal walls.

Should I lower the temperature?

When should you start fighting the temperature? It is believed that as long as the thermometer does not exceed 38 degrees, this is absolutely safe for the baby. But this is very relative. Some newborns have a hard time even 37.5. Others feel quite comfortable with 39.

Important! It is necessary to monitor the baby’s well-being. This is the determining factor in whether to reduce it or not.

The life-threatening edge is a thermometer reading of 41 or higher. You shouldn't wait for this number. In some situations, the temperature is difficult to control. Do not miss such a fever, as convulsions, bluish skin, and difficulty breathing may begin.

If the baby has previously experienced such convulsions, then you will have to bring down the temperature even if it barely reaches 38.

How to measure high temperature without a thermometer

An increase in body temperature (hyperthermia) is a symptom of the presence of an infectious process in the body. This is how the immune system reacts to the penetration of pathogens, and the body begins to fight the disease. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend not to rush to bring down the temperature; if the child is feeling normal, antipyretics should be taken when the readings are above 38-38.5 degrees.

Signs of elevated temperature:

• Red cheeks;
• tearfulness, eyes are cloudy or very shiny, often children complain of pain and pain in the eyes;
• hands and feet are hot, with white fever - icy;
• lethargy, moodiness, drowsiness, decreased or complete lack of appetite;
• sometimes there is increased activity and anxiety;
• hot belly and neck – such symptoms occur when readings are close to 39 degrees;
• the urine becomes bright yellow, strong thirst often occurs, and the breath becomes hot;
• sweat appears on the forehead even in a calm state;
• convulsions, chills;
• headache, usually localized in the forehead and temples.

At elevated temperatures, breathing and heart rate increase. If the pulse is 15-20 beats higher, breathing is rapid, the child has hyperthermia.

Norms for children

How to determine high temperature without a thermometer? You can touch your lips to your forehead, but it is better to check the indicators on your neck from the back of your head. But this method will help you determine that the values ​​are elevated. But it is impossible to determine the difference between 37.5 and 39.5 degrees using it.

How to find out a very high temperature without a thermometer? If the values ​​approach 40 degrees, then the child stops sweating and the mucous membranes of his eyes become inflamed.

If similar symptoms and fever appear after taking an antipyretic drug, immediately call an ambulance. Before the doctors arrive, wipe down with water at a temperature of 35-37 degrees.

At high temperatures, additional symptoms almost always appear - cough, runny nose, sore throat or stomach, vomiting and diarrhea, various rashes. If hyperthermia is caused by a reaction to a vaccine, the injection site will be red, painful, and swollen.

How to reduce the heat

The main thing to remember is: if the child feels well, then there is no need to rush to take medicine. To get started, carry out the following procedures:

1. Undress the newborn, remove the diaper, cover with a light blanket.
2. Ventilate the room, but avoid drafts.
3. Keep all heaters away from your child.
4. Give your baby water more often.
5. Wet a towel with room temperature water and dry your skin.

Remember! Do not wipe the baby with alcohol, vodka or vinegar! This can cause poisoning and an acute allergic reaction.

Do not wrap your baby in cold, wet cloth. Newborns easily develop vasospasm.

Medicines that are appropriate for babies up to six months are children's paracetamol or ibuprofen. Medicines are made for children in the form of rectal suppositories or tasty syrups.

If the situation gets out of control, call an ambulance immediately:

• The heat has reached 40 degrees and continues to rise;
• The baby is less than 3 months old;
• any symptoms other than fever, such as rash, vomiting, diarrhea;
• Pallor and blueness of the skin; cramps;
• If the child is unconscious or does not respond to external factors;
• In the case where antipyretics have no effect.

While the doctors are on their way to you, you need to make sure that the baby does not overheat additionally. If convulsions begin, place the baby on a hard surface and monitor his breathing. Necessary artificial respiration can be done only when the convulsive attack is over.

Reasons for rising and falling temperatures

How much should a 2 month old baby eat?

A temperature value above 38°C is considered elevated. It is necessary not only to know how to understand that a newborn has a temperature, but also the reasons for this phenomenon. It may increase as a result of the following factors:

1. Hyperthermia associated with environmental conditions such as excessive shelter, proximity to heat sources, or high air temperature;

Important! If overheating occurs, immediately remove the infant from the hot environment and monitor for a rapid and spontaneous drop in temperature.

1. Reaction to vaccinations. In many infants, vaccine injections cause various reactions in the body, including a short-term increase in temperature above 38°C;
2. A completely unformed thermoregulation system;
3. During teething, the temperature can rise to 39°C. However, this condition does not last long. Additional signs are restlessness, crying, poor sleep, excessive salivation. The gum above the erupting tooth is red and swollen, painful and itchy.
4. Conditions that require increased energy expenditure, for example, breastfeeding or active play.

Causes of increased temperature associated with pathological processes in the body:

1. The most common cause is infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract: acute respiratory infections (colds), rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and otitis media. These are usually infections caused by viruses;
2. Infectious diseases of the urinary tract;
3. Gastrointestinal tract infections;
4. Constipation that does not stop for a long time.

Reduced temperature values ​​are considered to be values ​​less than 36°C (rectal measurement). Infants lose heat much faster than adults, so hypothermia is especially dangerous for them.

Reduced temperature values

Important! When the temperature drops below 36°C, the heart, nervous system and other organs cannot function normally.

Reasons for low temperature:

1. A transient decrease in temperature in newborns during the first hours of life during adaptation to new conditions;
2. Finding thermoregulatory processes in the formation stage;
3. Exposure to low temperatures for a long time, resulting in hypothermia;

Important! It is very easy for a newborn to become hypothermic if he is not properly dressed, or if he is in a draft or comes into contact with cold surfaces.

1. As a result of treatment with antipyretics;
2. When using excessive doses of vasoconstrictor drugs;
3. Very rarely, the temperature drops during severe infections, such as meningitis and sepsis;
4. During sleep and after waking up, as a rule, temperature values ​​are lower than during wakefulness.