Infant temperature

Let's begin with the body temperature of a newborn baby may be slightly elevated during the first few days of life and be 37.0-37.4 ° C when measured in the armpit. Finally, the normal body temperature is set by the end of the child's first year of life.

To determine, what temperature is normal for an infant, you need to measure it several days in a row into oneand the same time when the child is healthy and calm. In the first year of the child's life, an elevated temperature is considered not a deviation from the temperature of 36.6 ° C, but a deviation from the figure you set.

By the way, everyone knows the figure of 36.6 ° C is relevant only in the case, if it is measured in the armpit or inguinal fold. If the temperature is measured through the mouth (orally), the normal rate will be about 37.1 ° C, and the normal rectal temperature (ie, measured in the rectum) is about 37.4 ° C.

The best thing to measure the temperature under the mouse is not an electronic, but a mercury thermometer - it is more precise. Keep the thermometer under the arm of the child should 5-10 minutes, the child's hand should be held so that the thermometer does not fall out. To measure rectal temperature should be a special separate thermometer, electronic (it is more safe), keep it a minute. To measure the temperature orally, there are dummy thermometers, and in this case, a mercury thermometer can not be used either.

Elevated temperature in an infant is not a disease in itself. This is just a symptom of the disease. The most common causes of fever in infants are acute bacterial and viral infections. But the temperature can jump and from overheating, emotional stress, dehydration, teething, CNS damage. It can also be a reaction to an inoculation.

Temperature up to 38.5 ° C with a satisfactory state of health should not be reduced. If your child is less than 3 months old, or hesuffers from diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, or he has a history of febrile seizures, you need to reduce the temperature 38 ° C and above. Good reasons for lowering temperature with medications are 39 ° C or higher, concomitant CNS disease or poor tolerance of high temperature.

The main recommended means for lowering the temperature in infants is paracetamol (only it is necessary to choose special "children's"preparations based on paracetamol). If the child is older than three months, you can use nurofen syrup, in which the main antipyretic agent is paracetamol.

Analgin and aspirin to reduce temperature can not be used!! Analgin is banned due to toxiceffects on the child's body, and aspirin - because of possible side effects (Ray's syndrome). But children older than one year can be given analdim - an antipyretic drug based on analgin.

It is best to give the child medicine in the form of candles. First, a small child is hard to swallowtablet. Secondly, the temperature of the baby is often accompanied by vomiting, so that taken orally the drug may not have time to suck in the blood and begin to act. Thirdly, the effect of candles is usually longer than from tablets, suspensions, etc. Antipyretics in the form of candles begin to act after 30-40 minutes, as a syrup - after 20 minutes.

In addition to reducing the temperature, it is very important to prevent dehydration. To do this, you need to give your child plenty of water - waterand fruit drinks. But it is not necessary to feed the child by force. Still need to often ventilate the room. You can put a wet cloth on the forehead, if the child does not have a fever. Alcohol can not be beaten down by alcohol rubbing: in children, alcohol is contraindicated in any form!

Too high fever in an infant is an occasion to call a doctor. With the doctor's call, you need to hurry if yourA child is younger than six months if you can not bring down the temperature. It is also necessary to urgently call a doctor at the first sign of dehydration, seizures, rashes, drowsiness, apathy, diarrhea, vomiting, in general any deterioration in the child's condition and the appearance of new symptoms.