The increased temperature in the baby always worries caring parents. When a baby has a fever, young parents often even panic. How and how to measure the temperature of the baby? What to do if a child has risen sharply? What is the normal temperature in the baby? Is it worth it to shoot down? And what kind of medicine? These issues, disturbing many young parents, will be discussed in this article.
Many diseases in babies begin with a sharp increase in body temperature, sometimes a jump is the only symptom, sometimes it accompanies the entire period of the disease. If the temperature in the baby rises, it is imperative to consult a doctor in order to establish the exact cause, correctly diagnose the disease, and of course, choose the only correct treatment. An elevated temperature in a baby should never be ignored, since timely medical attention and proper treatment helps to avoid all kinds of complications, and also significantly speeds up the healing process.
In a newborn baby, the body temperature during several weeks of life can be elevated and, when measured in the armpits, can be 37-37.5 degrees C. The body temperature is finally normal only at the end of the first year of the baby's life.
In order to determine the normal temperature for the child, it should be measured in a row for several days at the same time interval when the baby is calm and completely healthy. The increased body temperature of the infant should be considered a deviation from the figure that you established.
The basic rules for measuring temperature in infants:
- Be sure to take into account the general condition of the baby before proceeding to measure his body temperature;
- the temperature in the baby will be overestimated if measured immediately after strong crying or eating;
- if in doubt, you should measure the temperature several times, and then determine the average indicator;
- To measure the temperature of the child’s body, only digital safe thermometers should be used.
Methods for measuring a child's temperature:
- a digital or mercury thermometer in the armpit;
- nipple thermometer;
- frontal thermometer;
- rectal thermometer;
- an ear thermometer.
Behavior and actions of parents when a high temperature is detected in a child:
- do not panic;
- if possible, you should immediately contact a doctor and discuss all necessary actions;
- should provide the child with plenty of drink;
- if an increase in temperature is found in a child over 2 months of age, but he behaves actively, sleep, appetite are not disturbed, then you should calmly expect the arrival of a doctor;
- if an increase in temperature is accompanied by cold feet and hands, pallor of the skin, then this can indicate a hyperthermic syndrome that occurs with serious violations in the body. In this case, it is necessary to immediately reduce the temperature;
- if febrile seizures occur, it is also urgent to lower the temperature. Since from convulsive contractions even cardiac arrest is possible.
The main methods of lowering the body temperature of the child:
1. Non-medicamentous - effective enough, especially for infants, due to the close and superficial location of the vascular system. Provide a quick, but for a short period of time, decrease in body temperature. These include:
- wiping with cool water;
- a compress of water with the addition of a small amount of vinegar;
- body wash;
- cleansing enemas (using clean room temperature water)
- Wrap the baby with a wet diaper.
2. Medications - the use of antipyretic drugs. For infancy, you can apply:
- Paracetamol (Efferalgan, Panadol) - can be used from the first month of life according to the instructions. Release form - suspensions, suppositories, syrups.
- Ibuprofen (Nurofen) - can be used from six months, no more than three days, clearly following the instructions. Release form - suspensions, suppositories, syrups.