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How to reduce the temperature of an infant? Can antipyretics be used? Will grandma's recipes work? We understand the rules of first aid for a baby.

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Dip the cloth in water frequently.

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Increased body temperature in an infant is not a disease in itself, it is only a symptom of the disease. Acute bacterial and viral infections are common causes of fever in newborns. Also, the temperature can jump due to overheating, emotional stress, dehydration, a reaction to vaccination, teething, or damage to the central nervous system.

It is known that at temperatures up to 39 ° C, almost all known viruses and bacteria die, contaminating the body. In this case, intoxication appears and, as a result, the temperature increases, which activates the immune system.

If an infant has a high body temperature, you need to focus not only on the thermometer, but also on the baby’s behavior. If the overall condition of the newborn is normal and the behavior is adequate, there is no need to rush to reduce the temperature with medications.

Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend not reducing the temperature by taking medication, even if it reaches 39°C, provided that the child tolerates it well and remains active. You can try to reduce it physically - remove an additional layer of clothing from the child or undress completely (air baths), ventilate the room, wipe with cool water.

But if the baby has a pale appearance, cold palms and feet, inappropriate behavior (apathetic, capricious, refuses to eat and drink), and the temperature is within 38 - most likely, you cannot do without the help of a doctor and medications.

child of the first two months of life;
a child who has had seizures on previous occasions of high fever;
children with chronic diseases.

Check out the article: how to measure the temperature of a newborn baby (Rules and methods for measuring temperature in newborns: in the armpit with a mercury or digital thermometer, rectally, with a forehead thermometer, with a pacifier thermometer, in the ear with an ear thermometer.)

If the baby has a temperature of 37°C, the child is active, eats well, and has normal bowel movements, there is no need to worry, because... this may be an individual feature and does not require any additional treatment, because In children of the first year of life, the function of thermoregulation has not yet fully formed and they are capable of both quickly overheating and overcooling. (See: An infant has a temperature of 37)

A newborn's body temperature of 38 °C is a protective function of the body. Usually, babies always tolerate it quite well, continue to be active, have a good appetite, and have warm arms and legs. In this case, you should give the child more warm drinks, it is advisable to make herbal infusions to improve and maintain the general condition of the baby. It is not necessary to achieve a mandatory reduction in temperature, because It is in the range from 38 to 39°C that the body’s protective immune functions are activated. While monitoring your child, you can temporarily refrain from using medications.

At a temperature of 39 °C, in most cases the child manifests lethargy, refusal to feed, irritability, the look becomes foggy, arms and legs may be cold, rapid heartbeat and difficulty breathing. Such symptoms clearly require medical attention.

How to provide first aid if the baby continues to have a high fever, what to do to alleviate the child’s condition and how to bring down the fever?

Provide your child with plenty of fluids, possibly herbal infusions that reduce fever.
If your baby is breastfed, put him to your breast more often. Breast milk provides the baby with enough moisture.
Make sure that the baby is dressed appropriately for the temperature in the room, because... an additional layer of clothing will only increase body temperature due to overheating.
It is recommended to do air baths. Undress the child until naked (remove the diaper) and let the baby lie naked for 10-15 minutes.
Place a cool cloth on your child's forehead.

The main requirement for choosing an antipyretic drug for infants is, first of all, safety and effectiveness. WHO recommends only paracetamol (Panadol, Efferalgan) (can be a suspension, syrup, suppositories) and ibuprofen (Nurofen, Ibufen), which fully meet safety requirements, allowed for use by children from the first months of life for use at home and in the hospital.

Giving aspirin to children is prohibited due to the strong side effects on the child's body.

But if your child has a high fever for the first time, it will still be better to refrain from using the medicine on your own and get a doctor’s recommendation.

Video: how to measure a child’s temperature:

When we first encountered this problem, we were very scared. I had a high temperature, called my parents and grandmothers, read what to do on the Internet, and asked a doctor friend for advice. The temperature was brought down with paracetamol (a proven remedy, so to speak), they were given plenty of water, and the temperature was constantly measured. In general, by the morning everything had passed, now we will know what to do.

My grandmother, a doctor, always said that an illness without fever is much worse than when it rises. Temperature means that the body has turned on its protective functions and is fighting. We always try to bring down the temperature at the first symptoms, this is not correct. Then the children are left without immunity. But, of course, you need to know when to stop everything; sometimes you can’t do without churning. If the baby is really unwell, it is better to call a doctor or even an ambulance.

38-39g, old fashioned way. undress the baby, also to the waist. You take it in your arms and press it tightly to your stomach. you walk and pump. the body of an adult (70-100kg) simply takes the temperature away from the baby + in his arms he quickly calms down

So what should we do if the child does not have such a critical temperature that needs to be lowered, but at the same time he is very ill?

After a cold, my baby’s fever lasted for a painfully long time. The pediatrician recommended starting to take Ixim Lupine. The impression of the medicine is extremely positive. Firstly, this is of course something that helps a lot. Where even Panadol did not help, Ixim worked great. Secondly, it has a pleasant taste, they drank without problems or persuasion, even with joy. Thirdly, it is an adequate price. Last time we were treated with Suprax, the cost is sky-high, even though the antibiotic is the same.

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Fever in a child under one year of age is a symptom that accompanies many diseases of an infectious or other nature. When the thermometer creeps up, we take it as a signal that we are sick and take the necessary measures.

However, a high temperature in an infant requires special attention, since thermoregulation in an infant does not yet work perfectly. For this reason, every parent should know how to behave in such situations and what first aid rules exist.

When pathogenic microbes enter the body, our body activates its defenses, provoking the appearance of fever. This often happens with ARVI, sore throat, bronchitis or pneumonia, or intestinal infection. Temperature is a sign of the development of inflammation in the body, which is being fought.

If the thermometer shows more than 37 O C, know that most viruses suspend or stop reproducing. And when the number is above 38 O C, our main defenders - interferons - begin to be produced, and the higher the thermometer readings, the more of them are produced.

An increase in temperature is a good sign of fighting an infection

In hot weather, the efficiency of phagocytosis (the process by which immune cells capture and destroy invading intruders) increases. Moreover, under the influence of high temperature, appetite decreases and physical activity is limited. Thus, all strength and energy are aimed at fighting the infection.

But there is also a downside. Fever is usually accompanied by increased sweating and rapid shallow breathing, which leads to fluid loss, and this condition is dangerous for a newborn. Due to dehydration, the blood thickens and the mucous membranes dry out. The effect of medications decreases.

Fever in a child under one year of age is also dangerous because it can provoke febrile convulsions. In particular, this applies to newborns with diseases of the nervous system. And finally, everyone in the house is tense because the baby cannot tell how he feels, whether he is cold or hot, whether he is thirsty, etc.

Based on temperature, the following types of fever are distinguished:

Low-grade fever- 37.1-38 O C. In children under 3 years of age, up to 37.2 O C is considered normal. At an older age, a prolonged increase within these limits often indicates reduced immunity. They don't knock her down.
Febrile- 38.1-39 O C. The most favorable reaction of the body, which triggers protective mechanisms. As a rule, it is not knocked down. However, there are a number of exceptions in the treatment of children, which we will discuss later.
Pyretic- 39.1-41 O C. This development of events is unfavorable and does not bring any benefit. The temperature must be brought down, otherwise convulsions may occur.
Hyperpyretic- above 41 O C. Life-threatening temperature, showing the severity of the disease.

Parents should also know that even with exactly the same readings on the thermometer, the body’s reaction may be different. Because of this, fever is classified into “pink” and “white”.

"Pink" fever the most favorable, since the vessels under the skin are properly dilated, which means heat transfer occurs in a timely manner. To determine the type of fever, you need to know the symptoms:

the skin is pink, warm, slightly moist, the child feels normal;
the discrepancy between the axillary and rectal temperature is no more than 1 degree;
As the degrees increase, the heart rate and breathing moderately increase.

Depending on the type of fever, your baby will need to be either warmed or cooled.

"White" fever occurs when heat production exceeds heat loss, which is why the body has nowhere to put the excess heat. Symptoms:

the child feels unwell and has a fever;
the skin is pale, marble-colored, lips are bluish;
the discrepancy between the axillary and rectal temperature is more than 1 degree;
too rapid heartbeat;
high temperature persists for a long time.

If such symptoms are present, help should be provided immediately. In addition to antipyretic drugs, antiallergic and antispasmodic drugs are prescribed to relieve vascular spasm and accelerate their expansion. Give half a tablet of No-shpa and thoroughly rub the cold areas of the child’s extremities with your hands.

Depending on the baby’s well-being, a decision is made when to lower the temperature and when to wait. For symptoms of “pink” fever, it is correct to cool the body: wipe with a damp towel, take a bath (where the water is a degree lower than body temperature), and place small bottles of water at room temperature in the area where large vessels pass (armpit and groin area).

There is no need to wrap the patient up too much; provide him with a flow of fresh air and make sure that there is sufficient humidity in the room. Different sources give conflicting statements about when to lower the temperature. Most pediatricians agree that children under 3 years of age need to lower their temperature when the thermometer shows more than 38 O C. For older children, 38.5 O C is acceptable.

Things are different with white fever. The child is shivering, so, on the contrary, he needs to be covered warmly and given the opportunity to sweat. Under no circumstances should you rub down with pale skin and cold hands. The vessels give off heat poorly, and when exposed to cold, they even spasm. If there is no normal heat transfer, the temperature of the internal organs increases. In this case, even a temperature of 37.5 O C can serve as an indication for taking antipyretics.

Let's talk about what medications are used for fever in a child under one year old. Most often they are produced in the following forms: suspensions, suppositories, and occasionally injections. When we talk about children, first of all, the drug must be safe, and, of course, effective. In the arsenal of doctors, they most often use one of two antipyretic drugs:

Paracetamol(Efferalgan, Panadol, Pamol, Tylenol). It has a good antipyretic and analgesic effect, but, unlike ibuprofen, there is no anti-inflammatory effect. Therefore, paracetamol only helps with viral infections. If the temperature in infants needs to be brought down quickly, it is recommended to take paracetamol in the form of syrup. Candles, on the other hand, provide a longer-lasting effect and are given when the temperature does not go off scale. Another indication for which suppositories are preferable is vomiting. According to the instructions, the drug is approved from 2 months of age.
Ibuprofen(Nurofen, Ibufen, Bonifen). An effective antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicine. A universal drug that helps with both viral and bacterial infections. Approved for use from 3 months of age.

Antipyretics can even be selected to suit your taste

As an ambulance option, we can use analgin. Despite the fact that it is banned in many countries due to serious side effects, the drug brings down the temperature where the above remedies failed. When a child has a high fever, the ambulance team gives a “triad” injection: analgin, papaverine (an antispasmodic) and diphenhydramine (an antihistamine, antiemetic).

As for everyone’s favorite aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), taking it to an infant is strictly prohibited! In infancy, it can lead to bronchospasm, stomach ulcers and Reye's syndrome. The excellent antipyretic nimesulide is also contraindicated in children under 12 years of age!

What to do if the temperature rises in a newborn who is barely a month old, because according to the instructions, medications cannot yet be used. There are two options here:

Call an ambulance.
Give paracetamol or ibuprofen at your own risk. You always need to evaluate the situation comprehensively: if it threatens life, choose the lesser evil. Call your local pediatrician as soon as possible.

In some circumstances, dealing with a fever may be urgent. The temperature must be brought down:

for children under 3 years of age, when it is above 38 O C, in other cases - if above 39 O C;
the baby has difficulty breathing;
there is dehydration due to vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to drink;
Previously, febrile convulsions were noted against a background of rising temperature, and nervous diseases.

Any elevated temperature up to 37.5 O C that lasts more than 3 days requires consultation with a doctor.

To prevent dehydration, you need to give your baby plenty of water often.

ATTENTION! All information on the site is for informational purposes only and does not claim to be 100% reliable. No need to self-medicate!

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What temperature should be lowered in a child?

A frequent question from young mothers: when can you reduce the temperature in children?

Pediatricians have established the following temperature limits, depending on which a decision is made to reduce the thermometer readings to optimal values:

mild fever - from 37°C to 38.5°C;
moderate heat - from 38.6°C to 39.4°C;
high fever - from 39.5°C to 39.9°C;
life-threatening fever – 40°C and above.

Doctors do not recommend giving antipyretic drugs up to 38°C if the child’s health is stable. You can bring down the temperature to this level without medication: wet compresses and light rubbing of the skin will come to the rescue. The child needs to be kept cool, drink plenty of fluids and rest.

Pay attention! If the measures taken do not bring results, and the child’s fever does not subside within two hours, then it is necessary to give a medicine to relieve the fever, prescribed by the local pediatrician. If there is a sharp increase in the thermometer readings or “jumps” in temperature from 38°C to 39.5°C, regardless of the baby’s age, immediately call an ambulance.

Don’t panic – a healthy child has a fever

Sometimes an elevated temperature can be noticed in a baby who has barely been born. The thing is that in a newborn baby, the mechanisms of thermoregulation are not fully formed, so the body temperature in the armpit can reach 37-37.5°C. In the evening, the temperature is usually higher than in the morning - new mothers should take this into account.
Temperatures above normal during teething are a common occurrence that worries parents. But in this case the fever does not rise higher than 37.5°C, so to alleviate the child’s condition, you can stick to home remedies: more fluids, less warm clothes and no diaper at least while he’s awake. If signs of fever appear (as well as signs such as nausea, vomiting, reluctance to drink) and the temperature rises, you should consult a doctor.
There are also situations when a healthy infant’s body temperature begins to rise for no apparent reason, and quite significantly. This may be due to overheating (especially at low humidity in the room). This is possible when the mother diligently wraps up the baby and does not open the window in the children's room during the day. As a result, when changing a diaper, she discovers a hot baby who is breathing heavily and the divisions on the thermometer exceed 38°C.

Remember: a child should be dressed only 1 layer warmer than himself! Don't focus on your baby's cool hands and feet. If the baby has warm elbow and popliteal folds, as well as the back, then he is comfortable and does not freeze.

Let's go down: 4 steps to reduce fever without drugs

There is a special table of upper normal temperatures for a person depending on age:

If a child has a fever, the temperature must be reduced to 38.5°C as quickly as possible (rectal temperature to 39°C). What you need to do for this:

Create an optimal temperature regime in the room where the child is located. The room should be moderately warm (about 23°C), but with access to fresh air and well ventilated.
Choose appropriate clothes for your baby. If this is a child under one year old, then it is enough to put a thin blouse or a sleepsuit on him. While the child has a high temperature, it is better to remove the diaper: this makes it easier to control whether the baby is still urinating. Diapers also retain heat, which is the basis for temporarily stopping their use while the baby has a fever.
Place a cool compress from a cloth soaked in water on the child’s forehead; it is also worth wiping the baby with water at room temperature. The baby can be placed in a bath of water corresponding to normal body temperature (37°C). This will help to safely reduce the fever of a sore throat. Frequent rubbing makes it easier to cope with the disease. But rubbing with alcohol or vinegar is not recommended for young children - the skin of babies is very delicate and thin, it is easy for substances to penetrate through it, and in addition to the high temperature, the baby also runs the risk of getting poisoned.
Offer your child to drink a lot and often. If the baby is breastfed, then provide him with round-the-clock access to the breast. Mother's milk is a storehouse of immune factors that will help you cope with fever faster. If the baby is bottle-fed or has already grown up, then offer him plain boiled water. It is imperative to take at least a sip every 5-10 minutes to avoid dehydration.

Important! To check whether a child has enough fluid, count his urination - a baby who drinks enough water urinates at least once every 3-4 hours with light-colored urine. If your one-year-old baby refuses to drink fluids or is too weak to drink on his own, immediately consult a doctor again.

How to bring down a child's temperature: folk methods

At high temperatures, the main task of parents is to ensure that the child’s body has the opportunity to lose heat. There are only two ways for this:

sweat evaporation;
warming the inhaled air.

Traditional methods, which are distinguished by their simplicity, safety and the ability to resort to them in any situation, will help relieve fever and improve the child’s health.

Avoiding dehydration

If your baby has a fever and refuses to drink even a little, then this is a direct path to dehydration, which can only be dealt with with IV drips. In order not to bring it to an extreme state, be sure to replenish the fluid deficiency in the baby’s body.

What you can give to drink:

infants: mother's milk, boiled water;
from 1 year: weak green tea, linden blossom infusion, chamomile infusion, dried fruit compote;
from 3 years: tea with cranberries/viburnum/currants, uzvar, still mineral water, etc.

If the fever is combined with vomiting and the fluid is not retained in the body, then to maintain the water-salt balance, you need to dilute the powder of the medicine Regidron according to the instructions and give the child a teaspoon.

Keeping you cool

If a child has a fever, then it is necessary to immediately rid him of clothes that retain heat, thereby overheating and increasing the baby’s painful condition. At any time of the year, ventilate the room for at least 10 minutes, introducing fresh air into the room where the child is resting. A flow of cool air has a beneficial effect on a small patient who has a fever. You can achieve this in the summer by temporarily turning on the air conditioner or fan (without directing the flow towards the child!).

Wet wrap

Wrapping with a wet cloth helps well in extreme heat, improving the child’s condition in the very first minutes. You can use plain water for wrapping. To do this, you need to moisten a soft towel or gauze in water at room temperature and carefully wrap it around the baby’s body. Then lay the child down, cover with a sheet and carry out the procedure for 10-15 minutes. After an hour, if the body reacts well, you can repeat the wrap. For a better effect, you can make a wrap with yarrow infusion - 4 tbsp. freshly cut leaves, pour 1.5 liters of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, cool. The healing composition must be used within 24 hours.

Important! This folk remedy can only be used if the child is “burning” and is very hot. If the baby, on the contrary, is freezing, this means that he has a vasospasm - in this case, the wrap cannot be carried out, but it is necessary to give an antipyretic.

Rubbing with vinegar

This is an age-old method of lowering body temperature. It can only be used in children over 6 years of age, and only with vinegar diluted with water 1:5. Use a solution of one part vinegar and five parts water to wipe the baby's arms, legs, feet and palms with a soft cloth. You can repeat wiping every 3 hours. If skin irritation appears after the procedure, do not resort to this method of relieving fever again.

Therapeutic enema

An enema helps relieve fever and reduces high fever by at least 1 degree during the first hour after the procedure. It is carried out in children over 1.5 years old. Simple solution for therapeutic enema: 1 tsp. chamomile herb is poured into 0.2 liters of boiling water and left for an hour. Then the infusion is filtered through cheesecloth and is ready for use. You can also use a saline enema solution, which is prepared quickly and is very effective: take 2 tsp per 0.3 liter of warm boiled water. fine extra salt and a few drops of fresh beet juice. Mix everything thoroughly and the solution is ready.

Taking a bath

A cool bath will help when the thermometer rises higher and higher, but there are no medications at hand. You need to fill the bath with warm water, but not hot - use a thermometer and make sure that the water is no higher than 37°C. Place your child in the water and gently wash his body with a washcloth. Be careful, touching can be painful in hot weather - in this case, just gently pour water on the child from a watering can. After 15 minutes of bathing, the body temperature will drop by at least a degree and the child will feel better. After the bath, just lightly blot your skin without wiping it dry - the evaporation of water will also additionally have a slight antipyretic effect. You can repeat the procedure up to 5 times a day.

You will also find folk tips for reducing high temperatures in the cheat sheet below.

From 1 to 12 months	Do not reduce the temperature to 38°C with medication, only with gentle home remedies. If the mark is exceeded, use the medicine as prescribed by your doctor.	Undress the child, remove the diaper, cover with a thin, breathable diaper. Provide the baby with a sufficient amount of fluid (breast milk, warm boiled water, from 6 months - baby herbal tea). Ventilate the room where the baby is located for 10-15 minutes; during this time, place the child in another room.
From 1.5 years to 3 years	Temperature ranges from 37°C to 38.5°C within acceptable limits without the use of drugs. If the limit is reached and home remedies do not help, it is necessary to take measures to reduce the fever with the drug.	At 1-2 years old, the baby is already able to drink on his own, so at high temperatures, offer the child plenty of fluids. Rosehip decoction is especially useful - it can be prepared in a thermos (3 tablespoons of berries pour 600 ml of boiling water) and given warm, slightly sweetened with honey. You can offer your baby to take a warm (not hot!) bath - 20 minutes is enough to lower body temperature by a degree.
From 3 years and older	The temperature is above 38.5°C, the child is sleepy, lethargic, “burning” all over and refuses fluids - it’s time to call a doctor and give an antipyretic.	Ventilate the children's room and humidify the air - dry air at a temperature makes it very difficult for a child to breathe. If you don't have a humidifier, hang towels soaked in water around your baby's crib. The child should have liquid available - drink 3-5 tbsp every 10 minutes. water, fruit drink, tea or compote. Leave only light clothing (T-shirt, underwear) on your body. Limit the child's activity; in case of fever, bed rest and rest are important.

And now tips on lowering your temperature from your pediatrician. Watch the video:

From the first days of life until adulthood, only a doctor can prescribe medicine to a child. Therefore, answers to the questions “how to bring down” and “how to bring down” a child’s temperature should be directed, first of all, to the pediatrician. Keep in mind that many of the medications do not begin to act immediately, but after a certain period of time, which can take from 20 minutes to 1.5 hours.

Paracetamol The doctor prescribes it for children in two forms: suspension and suppositories. The suspension tastes more pleasant, so most parents prefer it. The product helps to reduce the temperature not to the normal value of 36.6°C, but by about 1-1.5 degrees. A single “portion” of paracetamol is 15 mg per kilogram of a child’s weight. For example, if a baby weighs 4 kg, he needs to be given 60 mg of this drug.
Ibuprofen(the active agent in medications such as Nurofen, etc.) refers to “reserve” drugs. It is actively used by mothers of children after one year, but not of infants. It is not advisable to prescribe it to children under 4 months of age. Pediatricians also discourage the use of ibuprofen if there is a risk of dehydration, since this medicine negatively affects the kidneys. For a single dose, you need to take 10 mg of ibuprofen per 1 kg of the child’s weight.

Note! The combination of ibuprofen and paracetamol in medicine is recognized as unsafe - the drugs have shown in practice that they can enhance each other’s side effects. If possible, stick to medications with the same active ingredient when treating your child, or take long breaks between taking different medications (at least 6-8 hours).

newborn	–	–	–	–
1 month	in suspension (120 mg/5 ml) – 2 ml orally before meals, 3-4 times a day with an interval of 4-5 hours	–	–	in the form of rectal suppositories - 1 suppository of 50 mg 2 times a day with an interval of 4-6 hours
4 months 5 months 6 months	in suspension (120 mg/5 ml) – 2.5-5 ml orally before meals, 3-4 times a day with an interval of 4-5 hours	in suspension (100 ml) – 2.5 ml orally 3 times a day with an interval of 6-8 hours	in suspension (120 mg5 ml) – 4 ml orally 3 times a day	in the form of rectal suppositories - 1 suppository of 100 mg 2 times a day with an interval of 4-6 hours
7 months 8 months 9 months 10 months 11 months 12 months		in suspension (100 ml) – 2.5 ml orally 3-4 times a day with an interval of 6-8 hours	in suspension (120 mg5 ml) – 5 ml orally 3 times a day
1 year	in suspension (120 mg/5 ml) – 5-10 ml orally before meals, 3-4 times a day with an interval of 4-5 hours	in suspension (100 ml) – 5 ml orally 3 times a day with an interval of 6-8 hours	in suspension (120 mg5 ml) – 7 ml orally 3 times a day	in the form of rectal suppositories - 1-2 suppositories of 100 mg 2-3 times a day with an interval of 4-6 hours
3 years			in suspension (120 mg 5 ml) – 9 ml orally 3 times a day
5 years		in suspension (100 ml) – 7.5 ml orally 3 times a day with an interval of 6-8 hours	in suspension (120 mg5 ml) – 10 ml orally 3 times a day	in the form of rectal suppositories - 1 suppository of 250 mg 2-3 times a day with an interval of 4-6 hours
7 years	in suspension (120 mg/5 ml) – 10-20 ml orally before meals, 3-4 times a day with an interval of 4-5 hours	in suspension (100 ml) – 10-15 ml orally 3 times a day with an interval of 6-8 hours	in suspension (120 mg5 ml) – 14 ml orally 3 times a day

Important! To lower the temperature to normal values, antipyretic drug therapy alone is not enough - it is necessary to combine them with safer means (rubbing, airing, drinking plenty of fluids).

Tips for parents: what to do if your child has a fever

Always be attentive to your baby’s complaints about his well-being. Even if he mentions that he’s just hot, don’t be lazy to spend five minutes and look at the bar on the thermometer. Treatment started in a timely manner will help quickly identify the cause of the disease and prevent the development of the disease.

Before the list of tips, we recommend watching a short video on how to help a child with fever:

Don't lower your temperature prematurely

If the temperature does not exceed 37.5°C, and the child’s condition is satisfactory, then do not rush to give the child medication. Many pathogens die in the body at this temperature; this is a kind of immune defense that is provided by nature itself.

Remember the rules of behavior when sick

Mothers will have to deal with fever more than once during their children’s infancy, so it’s worth taking note of all the recipes in advance so that they are at hand at the right time. After all, when the baby is sick, there is no time to waste precious time reading forums - it is much better if the cheat sheets are always in sight (you can leave them in the first aid kit).

Have fever medications in your first aid kit

Age-appropriate children's fever medicines should always be in your home medicine cabinet just in case. Fever can occur suddenly, at any time of the day, and it is best if you are prepared to help your child by giving a fever-reducing drug if necessary.

What should you not do?

Allowing a child at a temperature above 38.5°C to run, jump and otherwise exercise physical activity - for a speedy recovery, the child’s body needs peace and rest.
Wrapping your baby in warm clothes, covering him with a warm blanket - trying to get the baby to sweat properly, you can achieve the opposite effect and provoke a new rise in temperature.
Measuring the temperature by force is no new stress for a sick baby. If your baby resists and is afraid of the thermometer, try measuring his temperature after half an hour. Sometimes children are afraid to measure their temperature rectally, in which case there is a reason to use another method of measurement.

Has your baby got a fever? Is your baby getting warm quickly and you don’t know how to help him? First, calm down: everything is fine with your child. An increase in body temperature is a signal of activation of the baby's immune system. Most likely, for the first time in her life she encountered a virus and began to fight it.

It is known that the normal temperature of a baby does not have to be 36.6°C. For a newborn, the acceptable range is from 36.2 to 37.3 ° C, which can be observed during the first weeks of life. Therefore, to the question of what temperature an infant should have, each mother answers herself, taking daily measurements of this indicator at approximately the same time of day.

An increase in “degree” usually indicates the development of an acute respiratory disease. But it can also serve as a symptom of other diseases: bacterial inflammation, intestinal infection, overheating of the baby, etc., and therefore always requires contacting a pediatrician. However, usually the baby gets “hot” in the evening, and you can only get to the doctor the next day, so it is extremely important to know how to bring down the temperature in an infant and when to start doing this.

Pay attention to signs of fever in newborns: lethargy, monotonous crying, redness of the cheeks and skin. The most important difference between high indicators (if the thermometer suddenly gets lost somewhere) is cold hands and feet, but a hot head. This means that the degree has gone off scale above 38. But you still shouldn’t rely on general signs. It is advisable to have a thermometer in your first aid kit and know how to correctly measure the temperature of a newborn.

According to pediatricians, you should start fighting the heating of your baby’s body if you see the number 38.5 on the thermometer. All indicators below do not require reduction. During this period, it is enough just to create conditions for the baby to help the body: ensure the room is cool (18-19°C), remove all excess clothes (a diaper and one vest are enough), normalize the air humidity at 50-70% (wash the floors, turn on there is a humidifier near the crib), drink plenty of water.

What to do if your baby has a fever. Advice from an experienced pediatrician will help the mother stay calm and provide proper care to the baby.

It is necessary to use fever medicine for newborns with a temperature of 38°C or more if:

The child has already had attacks of febrile convulsions, which occur when the body temperature rises. Or they happened to one of the parents in childhood;
you cannot provide normal heat and humidity in the room;
the child refuses to drink.

However, the last 2 points are rather an exception to the rule, since by lowering the body temperature, you disrupt the body’s natural process of fighting the virus, delay the appearance of antibodies to it and increase the duration of the disease from 3-5 days to two weeks.

So, your newborn has a fever, and you need to bring it down as soon as possible. For this you can use:

It is permissible to use two drugs: paracetamol (Panadol, Eferalgan) and ibuprofen (Nurofen). Pediatricians' recommendations on how to reduce a child's temperature include the following aspects:

It is necessary to use the medicine in accordance with the weight, and not the age of the baby (the dosage is indicated in the instructions);
before giving the syrup, you need to warm it to body temperature (hold it in the palm of your hand) to speed up its absorption in the stomach;
Do not give syrup more often than indicated in the instructions (paracetamol - after 6 hours, iboprofen - after 4 hours);
if one drug does not help, after 2 hours you can give another (for example, first paracetamol, then ibuprofen).

The speed of their impact is lower, since the area of contact of the suppository on the temperature for newborns with the rectum is less than that of the syrup with the stomach. But they will become indispensable if:

the temperature “jumped” above 39°C - in many babies during this period the absorption processes from the stomach are suspended;
the baby is vomiting - and there is no point in giving the medicine orally;
the syrup did not help - 2 hours after taking it, you can introduce a suppository with another antipyretic drug (for example, you gave paracetamol in syrup, but the suppository contains ibuprofen).

It is strictly forbidden to use vinegar and alcohol solutions for wiping children, which can cause severe poisoning. It is acceptable to use ordinary boiled water. Its temperature should be 1 degree lower than that of the child’s body, so as not to cause vasospasm in contrast to cold water. Proceed as follows:

heat the water to 37°C (if the thermometer shows 38), prepare gauze or a soft cloth;
moisten the cloth with water and wipe the baby’s body, starting from the limbs towards the chest. Wet the head and hairs, leave them wet;
Dip the cloth in water frequently.

Every mother should have these ways to reduce a child’s temperature. No other means can be called as safe and effective for infants.

A fragment of Dr. Komarovsky’s program about the fight against fever in children.

First aid for fever or how to reduce fever...

What temperature is considered normal for a baby?

If we are talking about the temperature in the armpit, then for a child under 6 months of age a temperature of up to 37.3 °C can be considered normal, and for a baby older than six months – up to 37 °C. Of course, each case must be considered separately: if a child usually has a temperature of 36.6 °C, and one day it rises to 37.3 °C, then this is already a sign of trouble in the body. If the baby constantly has 37–37.3 °C and at the same time he feels good, nothing bothers him, then for him such a temperature will be considered normal.

It should be borne in mind that for measuring temperature in the mouth or rectum, the normal values are different: in the mouth they are higher by 0.3–0.5 °C, and in the rectum - by 0.5–1 °C compared to the indicators in armpit.

It is very important to take your temperature at the right time. You should not do this during or immediately after feeding, after swimming or walking - the readings on the thermometer may be too high. To obtain objective data, it is better to wait until half an hour has passed since feeding, bathing or walking. Also, the temperature may be elevated if the child is crying.

What could cause a fever in a baby?

The most common cause of fever in a child is an infectious disease. First of all, these are acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI).

Fever can also be caused by allergic reactions, overheating (this especially applies to infants), endocrine and metabolic disorders.

All of these diseases naturally require etiotropic therapy (i.e. treatment of the immediate cause of the disease), which is prescribed by a doctor. But often there is a need to help the child even before the doctor arrives.

An increase in temperature is the body’s protective reaction to inflammatory processes. When the temperature rises, a person produces interferons - substances that fight viruses. A person needs a high temperature to defeat an infection. Therefore, you should not immediately try to bring down the temperature as soon as it rises a little.

A common belief is that you need to reduce the temperature as soon as it reaches 38.5 °C. In fact, everything is individual. It happens that a child can easily tolerate 38.5 or even 39.0 °C, and then it is not necessary to give him an antipyretic. But there are children whose high temperature causes convulsions; they need to lower their temperature starting from 38.0 °C and even from 37.7 °C.

Before we get into how exactly to proceed, let's look at a few general questions.

1. Terminology.

A temperature of 37.0 º – 38.0 º is considered subfebrile, 38.1 º – 39.0 º febrile, hyperthermic – 39.1 º and above.

2. It is important to distinguish between the so-called “red” and “white” fevers.

With “red” fever, the production of heat corresponds to its release. In this case, the child’s skin is slightly reddish, hot to the touch, the arms and legs are warm, and there is an increase in heart rate and breathing.

"White" fever is considered more severe. The child's condition is more serious. His skin is pale, his lips are tinged with cyanosis, his heartbeat and breathing are significantly increased. The child may be lethargic, apathetic, or, on the contrary, agitated; convulsions and delirium are possible.

This condition of the child requires immediate medical attention. In this case, do not hesitate to wake someone up with a late call or disturb the ambulance crew. You can give antipyretics on your own, before the doctor arrives (see below).

3. Should the temperature be lowered?

An increase in temperature is a kind of protective mechanism that largely helps in the fight against the disease, so relatively healthy children should lower their temperature above 38.5ºC. Let us add that this is the case if the child tolerates this temperature relatively easily (feels normal, no chills, muscle pain, etc.). If the child’s condition worsens, measures should be taken.

Who needs to bring down the temperature without discussing its benefits:

1. these are children in the first three months of life.

2. if in the past there were seizures due to fever

3. if the child has chronic heart or lung diseases

4. if the child has a disease of the central nervous system (various brain pathologies)

5. children with hereditary metabolic diseases

Help

If the child’s skin is reddish and hot (a variant of “red” fever), then the baby should be uncovered and, if possible, provided with fresh air in the room (without drafts). Drinking plenty of fluids is necessary. Compotes and fruit drinks are well suited for this. A cool wet cloth is placed on the forehead.

Water-vinegar rubdowns help to enhance heat transfer well: use 9%! table vinegar, mix it with the same amount of water. Additionally, you can add vodka to the prepared solution. 50 ml table vinegar 9% + 50 ml vodka + 50 ml water.

Wipe the child with a piece of cotton wool soaked in vodka - arms, legs, body, lingering longer in those places where the main vessels pass - on the wrists, in the armpits, in the groin folds, under the knees, in the ankle area. You can wipe the child this way twice, and then fan him with newspaper or blow him with a fan for several minutes. It is best to place a cabbage leaf on your forehead - it relieves heat well.

Medicines

To reduce the temperature and improve the child’s condition, it is better to use drugs containing paracetamol. Such drugs include, for example, Panadol, Calpol, Tylinol, etc. Drugs containing ibuprofen are also used (for example, Nurofen for children).

Many drugs are available in several forms - syrups, suppositories.

The best option is to ask the pharmacy for an antipyretic drug that takes into account the child’s age. For example, Eferalgan suppositories for children from 0 to 5 months, i.e. This drug contains an age-appropriate dose of the substance.

If within an hour the temperature, despite all efforts, does not decrease, or the child’s condition worsens, you should call a doctor.

How many times a day and how many days in a row can you give antipyretics?

Antipyretics should not be abused: they are given no more than 2-3 times a day and no more than 2-3 days in a row. The fact is that with a common infectious disease, the high temperature usually lasts no more than two days, and on the third day the so-called low-grade fever appears - 37.0–37.5 ° C. If a high temperature (38.0 °C and above) persists for more than three days, then this is already a reason for a new visit to the doctor. This means that we are already dealing with a secondary infection, complications (pneumonia, pyelonephritis, etc.) or any manifestations of the nervous system, and the child already requires special treatment.

Parents do not need to constantly try to “suppress” the temperature with antipyretics, otherwise the doctor will not have the opportunity to really assess the situation and understand what is happening to the child.

In what form is it better to use antipyretics - in the form of syrup or suppositories?

It depends on the specific situation. If the baby is vomiting, then, naturally, it is better for him to light a candle; if he has diarrhea, there is no point in lighting a candle; it is better to give the child syrup. In other cases, you need to choose what is more convenient for parents and what the child perceives better.

What should you do if your baby has cold arms and legs at a high temperature?

The cause of cold extremities is spasm of peripheral vessels. The baby's feet must be warmed to normalize blood flow. To do this, put socks on the baby’s feet (he can be completely undressed). The pediatrician may advise giving the child, in addition to the antipyretic, an antispasmodic in an age-appropriate dosage - this helps to dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow.

Do I need to feed and water my baby at high temperatures?

Liquid is necessary in such cases. But you don’t need to offer your baby a lot of water at once, otherwise he may vomit. It is better to give the liquid a little at a time - literally a drop from a pipette, wipe his lips with water if they are red, but do this regularly and many times. The same can be said about food: if the baby does not refuse breastfeeding or formula, then let him receive food, but in small quantities.

Swimming is not contraindicated: on the contrary, staying in the water will help relieve the baby’s fever. The water temperature should be below body temperature (approximately 36 °C). But you just don’t need to develop active actions in the water, or go swimming.

How do low-grade seizures manifest in a child and how should parents behave in such a situation?

Seizures are a reaction that occurs at high temperatures. As a rule, they occur in children under three years of age. The child suddenly freezes, stretches out, stops crying, rolls his eyes, and his limbs begin to tremble.

Parents urgently need to undress the child and begin measures to reduce the temperature - rub him down, give him an antipyretic. You should definitely call an ambulance. In case of seizures, doctors suggest hospitalizing the child so that the dangerous condition does not recur.

In the future, if the baby becomes ill, it will be important to bring down his temperature in a timely manner, without waiting for it to rise above 38 °C.

We reduce a child's temperature without medication!

When your child has a fever, and the use of antipyretics is not indicated or does not help, parents often have a question - how to help the child? However, there is no reason to despair. There are many non-medicinal methods for reducing fever.

In hospitals, a child with a high temperature is usually wiped with diluted alcohol, especially the areas of large vessels (on the neck - along the carotid arteries, on the inner thighs - along the femoral artery). But alcohol dries the skin very much, so at home it is better to wipe it with water and vinegar: for one liter of cold water - one tablespoon of vinegar (namely vinegar, not vinegar essence!). You can replace regular apple cider vinegar in the same proportion.

You should first wipe the chest and back, then the arms, and the lower half of the body. A cloth moistened with cold water and vinegar is placed on the forehead. Rubbing can be repeated every 1.5-2 hours. If the child sweats, it is necessary to change the underwear every time.

It is also necessary to ensure that the child is not wrapped.

You wipe your child, but the temperature does not decrease or after some time it rises again? This is very likely as the body continues to fight the disease. And then you fill the bathtub with warm, pleasant water and put the baby in it. This bath has a great effect on the intestines, relieves spasms - and the child calms down.

Even better is to make a wrap. This is an ancient method of not only reducing body temperature, but also cleansing the body. Our skin is our second lungs. She also breathes and sweats out harmful substances that accumulate in the body during illness. The skin works especially well as a cleansing organ in a child. For acute illnesses, small children are given a full wrap.

To do this, take a cotton cloth and soak it in water or an aqueous infusion of yarrow.

Usually 1-2 tablespoons of yarrow are brewed according to the following recipe: pour yarrow with water at room temperature in a porcelain, glass or enamel bowl, then place this dish in a boiling water bath and heat with frequent stirring for 15 minutes, then cool and filter through cloth or gauze . A water bath can be replaced with a hot stove, but you need to make sure that the medicine does not boil.

The infusion can be prepared for 1-2 days of use. Store in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight. If the baby has a temperature of about 40 degrees, then the water should be cold (from the tap), and if his temperature is 37-37.5, then the water should be heated to 40-45 degrees.

Changes in the temperature regime in young children occur when the body’s protective functions are activated, which react in this way to infection. When the baby's temperature rises above 37 degrees, most of the viruses and bacteria die, their reproduction in the body of the newborn baby is interrupted, as a result of which the gradual extinction of pathogenic microorganisms occurs.

What is a baby's temperature?

Physiologically, it is designed in such a way that body temperature changes under the influence of the environment. This process is called “thermoregulation of the body,” and its main center is one of the parts of the brain. In infants, this mechanism does not yet function quite correctly, so babies often overheat or cool down. A baby's body temperature is regulated through two processes - heat transfer and heat production.

Heat production in newborn babies works very actively: a child produces much more heat than an adult, but children are unable to release it well due to the underdevelopment of the sweat glands. The source of heat for babies in the first months of life is brown fat, which accumulates in a small body from the end of intrauterine life. The subcutaneous layer of fat in babies is very thin, so the heat generated is not stored inside the body. Since newborns cannot tremble, when they freeze, they actively twitch their legs and arms.

Normal temperature in a baby

In newborns, before they reach one year of age, the temperature indicator can reach 37.4 degrees (if the measurement occurs in the armpits). This conditional temperature norm for an infant is due to imperfect thermoregulation of the child’s body. Sweating in babies is poorly developed, so they cannot give off excess moisture. This necessitates the need to carefully monitor the baby’s temperature changes.

Since each child is individual, the thermometer reading may vary. If an elevated temperature is detected in a baby, and the baby is calm, eats and looks well, then there is no reason to worry. Also, parents should not worry if the baby’s temperature drops slightly (to 35.7 degrees) - this may be due to the individual characteristics of the child’s development.

Body temperature in newborns up to a month

Young parents are interested in what temperature a newborn should have in the first month of life. Despite the fact that thermoregulation in infants has not yet been adjusted, a normal temperature is considered to be between 36.3 and 37.5 degrees. Parents, in addition, need to know that in the evening the thermometer reading of children may rise by several tenths. At the same time, the newborn's temperature drops slightly when he falls asleep. If the baby is hot during the day, his body heats up and, as a result, the temperature rises: in this case, the baby needs to be undressed for a while.

How does a baby's temperature manifest?

Until approximately one year of age, the average body temperature of a baby remains within the range of 36.6-37.4 degrees, while there is no harm to its health. Later, the thermoregulation function improves and the thermometer readings become more stable. If the temperature rises after eating, strong screaming, active movements or crying, this is considered normal. Signs by which an increase in temperature can be determined:

rare urination;
sweating of the body and head;
hot, reddened forehead skin;
hot extremities (the child did not eat or cry);
baby anxiety.

Temperature 37

Pediatricians consider this indicator acceptable for babies under one year old. There is no need to worry if the baby eats well, behaves actively, and has normal and regular bowel movements. A mark of 37 degrees on the thermometer is considered normal, since due to poor thermoregulation, children quickly overheat and become hypothermic. The baby's body is just developing the ability to control physiological processes, so such a temperature in the baby does not require treatment. Mom and dad should be alerted to a situation in which the symptom is accompanied by others:

poor appetite, lack of it;
loose stools;
passivity;
anxiety.

The baby's temperature is 38

This indicator indicates a protective reaction of the baby’s body to any irritant. As a rule, babies easily tolerate this temperature, continuing to be active and having a good appetite. In this case, parents should often give the baby warm water or herbal infusion. It is not necessary to resort to methods of reducing temperature, since in the range between 38 and 39 degrees the body’s immune functions are activated. At the same time, it is important to continue to monitor the baby in order to promptly consult a doctor if other symptoms appear.

Temperature 39

When the thermometer reading is 39 degrees, the baby experiences lethargy, he may refuse to eat, becomes irritable, his eyes become clouded, his legs and arms become cool, and breathing with palpitations becomes difficult. Such symptoms require urgent medical attention, so there is no need to try to help the baby yourself, otherwise the baby may experience serious complications.

Reduced temperature

If the newborn has a relatively low reading (35 degrees or so), and the baby behaves as usual, remaining active and calm, then there is no reason to panic. Perhaps this is the child’s individual norm or is associated with changes in thermoregulation processes. The baby is just beginning to adapt to external conditions, and temperature changes are evidence of such adaptation to the environment. If the child's condition does not worsen, there is no reason to see a doctor.

What temperature should be brought down in an infant?

It is important for parents to know not only what temperature is considered normal in an infant, but also at what thermometer reading it is worth starting to lower it. Most doctors do not recommend reducing the indicator below 38.5, unless the baby is at least 2 months old. In this case, it is better to use available means rather than medications (taking the latter is justified at 39 degrees and above). If the thermometer shows above 37.5 for a long time, this may indicate the presence of childhood infections, so it is worth showing the child to a doctor.

Reasons for rising temperature

One of the brain centers is responsible for thermoregulation, and an elevated thermometer reading is a symptom and not an independent disease. The causes of fever can be different:

infectious diseases that are provoked by viruses and bacteria that enter the baby’s body;
non-infectious (endocrine pathologies, neuroses, high emotional or physical activity, etc.).

In addition, the thermometer readings can go off scale when:

stress;
overheating;
dehydration;
lesions of the central nervous system;
acute reaction to vaccination;
teething.

How to shoot down

Almost any disease causes a fever in the baby, which, in addition, may indicate overheating, a reaction to a vaccine, the onset of teething, or dehydration. If the thermometer shows a not very high value (up to 38.5), nothing bothers the baby: he eats well and behaves actively, his condition can be alleviated by wrapping him in a wet diaper. You can also establish thermoregulation using the following methods:

cooling the room to 20 degrees or lower;
providing the child with plenty of drink in large quantities (water, compote, breast milk, herbal decoction, any other warm drink);
wiping with a damp sponge (suitable for very small babies);
temporary release of the baby from clothes.

Antipyretics for babies

With viral infections and other diseases, there is an increase in temperature and a general deterioration in the health of the newborn. In this case, you need to call a doctor, who will probably prescribe medications with an antipyretic effect. What will bring down the baby's fever:

Children's paracetamol. Analogues are Calpol, Panadol, Efferalgan. Children's medications belong to the category of antipyretics and can eliminate pain. For children under 6 years of age, it is recommended to limit treatment to 3 days. In this case, it is recommended to give syrup to children 6-12 months old at 5-8.5 ml at intervals of at least 4 hours. Rectal suppositories are used for children 3-9 months, 1 suppository no more than 4 hours a day with the same interval before the next dose.
Ibuprofen. An antipyretic drug relieves inflammation and pain. It is prohibited to use the product before reaching six months of age. The drug has no strict contraindications for the duration of use, however, you can give suppositories or syrup to a child no more than 3 times a day. Ibuprofen is used exclusively at high temperatures. The suspension is given at the age of 6-12 months, 2.5 ml (maximum daily dose - 7.5 ml). Suppositories are given to children 3-9 months old every 6-8 hours, for older children - 1 suppository every 6 hours.

What not to do

It is forbidden to wipe the baby with vinegar, vodka or alcohol, as these liquids are quickly absorbed into the skin, causing serious intoxication. In addition, children who are too young should not be wrapped in a wet, cold cloth - this can cause vasospasm, as a result of which such treatment will cause convulsions. Do not wrap children in warm blankets or wear too much warm clothing. Any medications and measures to reduce temperature may only be used after consultation with a doctor.

It is not recommended to treat babies with Analgin, since the medicine can cause dangerous side effects: in many countries this drug is prohibited or strictly limited (used exclusively in hospital settings). List of other medications that are strictly prohibited for newborns, after taking which serious negative effects may occur:

Phenacetin;
Amidopyrine;
Antipyrine.

Video

It is necessary and very important for all new mothers to know how to lower the temperature of an infant at home using ordinary folk remedies if it has exceeded 38 ºС.

We read the article: what is the normal temperature for an infant and if the temperature is higher than normal. then it’s worth taking the first measures!

In general, it is best to bring down the temperature of infants with suppositories, because they are not yet able to swallow a pill. And if the temperature is accompanied by vomiting, then the orally taken suspension may not have time to have the necessary effect.

How to measure a baby's temperature?

The use of conservative methods of lowering temperature is used in the following cases:

Before reaching three months of age when the thermometer shows 38 ºС;
After three months - at around 38.5 ºС;
If the temperature continues to rise;
If the child has a chronic disease;
If the fever is accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting.

Of course, if the temperature rises strongly, a doctor must come.

At the same time, all mothers need to know traditional methods and ways to quickly lower a child’s temperature at home using improvised means, if the doctor has not arrived yet.

First of all, you should undress the child so that he does not become even hotter in his clothes. But everything is within reason. The baby may be shivering at this time, so a light T-shirt or tank top may still remain on him;
Rub the baby with cool water. Here, too, you need to treat it without fanaticism - no cold water from the refrigerator or from the tap. The water should be at room temperature. Avoid places on the body below the knees and elbows so as not to overcool the baby, because in this case the temperature will rise even more;
If the above methods are ineffective, then you can give your baby an antipyretic.

The drug that has the most effective effect in lowering the temperature in infants is called paracetamol. As a rule, it forms the basis of all antipyretic drugs and is directly the active ingredient. And it doesn’t matter in what form you give it to the child - in suspension, syrup, or use candles.

But any medications containing paracetamol should not be used more often than once every 4 hours and 6-8 times a day. For children, there are children's medications with a lower dose of the active substance. Children should not be given medications containing analgin or aspirin.

Folk remedies for fever in an infant

With the help of folk remedies, it is very easy to bring down the temperature today. The child should be provided with plenty of drinks from fruit drinks and should also be given infusions or decoctions of medications to drink. Quite effective remedies for fever are:

Cranberry or lingonberry juice;
Infusion of burdock roots;
Redcurrant juice;
Elder flower infusion.

Drinking plenty of these infusions will help lower your baby's temperature. The child can drink a little, but often. But remember that elevated temperature is only a sign of some disease, the cause of which must be sought.

A cold compress placed on the forehead, wiping with cool (not cold!) water, and an enema with boiled water (the water temperature should be about 20 ºC) will also have a positive effect.

All these procedures should not be long. If you don’t know how to lower your child’s temperature using folk remedies, then calling your pediatrician can help with such a difficult issue.

On the topic of treatment of fever in infants:

Baby's temperature - what to do and how to reduce it?
An infant has a temperature of 37
Medicines for fever

Body temperature in children can rise above normal for various reasons. Most often it increases against the background of a disease, viral or bacterial. Children from 6-8 months may begin teething, and this process is often accompanied by high fever and sometimes vomiting. While the baby is breastfed, he has a fairly strong immune system, and diseases bypass him. As the baby grows, especially after he goes out into public places (kindergarten, playground, school), fever, runny nose, and cough will become frequent unwanted guests in the life of a little person. At the first unpleasant symptoms, you should consult a doctor. But sometimes it is impossible to quickly get to the hospital when a child has a fever and you need to help him somehow.

Causes of high temperature in a child

Normally, an increase in body temperature is a protective reaction of the body to any infectious or non-infectious diseases or damage. Infectious agents entering the body produce toxins that cause an increase in body temperature. The body, in turn, also produces substances that contribute to fever. This mechanism is protective, since against the background of high temperature all metabolic processes are accelerated and many biologically active substances are synthesized more intensively. But when the fever becomes too severe, it itself can cause various complications - for example, febrile seizures. Why does a child have a high temperature: infectious diseases (ARVI, “children’s” and intestinal infections, other pathologies); non-infectious diseases (diseases of the nervous system, allergic pathology, hormonal disorders and others); teething (this is one of the most common causes in young children); overheat; preventive vaccinations. There are other causes of fever in a child. These also include many emergency conditions and acute surgical pathologies. Therefore, if your child has any increase in temperature (especially above 38oC), you should immediately consult a doctor.

How to correctly measure the temperature of a small child

Rules for measuring temperature in children: the child must have his own personal thermometer, which is treated with warm water and soap or alcohol before each use; during illness, the temperature is measured at least three times a day (morning, afternoon, evening); The measurement should not be carried out when the child is heavily wrapped up, crying or excessively active; high room temperature and taking a bath also increase body temperature; food and drinks, especially hot ones, can increase the temperature in the oral cavity by 1-1.5oC, so measurements in the mouth should be carried out an hour before or an hour after eating; temperature determination can be carried out in the armpit, rectum or inguinal fold - with any thermometers; measurements in the mouth are carried out only with the help of special dummy thermometers.

Temperature reduction methods

To reduce the temperature in children at home, medications, rubdowns, and folk remedies are used. The methods listed above should be used if the child’s condition is stable and there are no seizures. Otherwise, you should immediately consult a doctor. Each of the home methods for reducing fever has its own characteristics, however, when using any of them, it is important to adhere to several important rules:

the sick child should be kept in bed,
the air in the children's room should be cool, fresh,
When it is hot, the child should be dressed in light clothing made from natural fabrics,
It is important to remember that frequent urination speeds up recovery, so the child should be given plenty of liquid, warm tea and compotes are suitable.

Some features of the use of various dosage forms: medications taken orally begin to act faster - 20-30 minutes after administration; the effect of suppositories occurs after 30-45 minutes, but lasts longer; if the disease is accompanied by vomiting, it is better to use suppositories; Medicines in suppositories are convenient to use when the child’s temperature rises at night; preparations in the form of syrups, tablets and powders contain flavorings and flavoring additives, and therefore often cause allergic reactions; if it is necessary to use different dosage forms of drugs (for example, syrup during the day, suppositories at night), choose products with different active ingredients to avoid side effects; re-use of antipyretic drugs is possible no earlier than 5-6 hours after the previous dose; If the temperature does not decrease sufficiently, or if it increases again in a short time, you should not experiment - it is better to immediately contact a specialist for additional help.

Analgin (Spazmalgon)
Paracetamol (Panadol, Efferalgan)
Ibuprofen (Nurofen)
Viburkol suppositories

Medicines not used in children

Medications that are not used in children include:

Currently, drugs such as amidopyrine, antipyrine or phenacetin are not used as antipyretics due to the large number of side effects.
Medicines based on acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) are practically not used in children because of their ability to reduce the number of platelets in the blood, cause bleeding, allergic reactions, as well as a very serious complication characteristic of children - Reye's syndrome.
Analgin and other drugs containing metamizole sodium as an active ingredient also have a large number of side effects, such as inhibition of hematopoiesis, severe allergic reactions, excessive decrease in temperature with loss of consciousness.

How to reduce a child's high fever without medication

Ice compresses and rubdowns will help reduce a child’s temperature without pills. These methods are simple and effective, but have a number of contraindications. Thus, it is not advisable to use ice to combat hyperthermia in children under 1 year of age. The best way is to wipe the baby with water, which will lower the body temperature. Rubbing with alcohol and vinegar is also effective, but doctors have conflicting opinions about them. Before the procedure of alcohol or vinegar wiping, it is recommended to consult a pediatrician.

With ice

Careful use of ice can relieve a child's condition during fever.

To prepare ice compresses, you will need ice, a bubble, cold water, a towel or diaper.
Contraindications: age up to 1 year
Preparation for the procedure: fill the bubble to half the volume with crushed ice, add cold water to 2/3 of the volume, tightly close the ice bubble and wrap it in a towel (diaper).
Performing the procedure: a bubble wrapped in a diaper is applied to the area of the crown, elbow joints, popliteal fossae, and groin. To avoid hypothermia, the compress is periodically removed; the time of continuous exposure should not exceed 5 minutes.
The procedure can be repeated after 15-20 minutes.

Rubbing with vodka and vinegar

It is necessary to take measures to reduce the temperature if:

temperature above 38 degrees;
have diseases of the nervous system (epilepsy, cerebral palsy);
previously experienced convulsions due to high fever;
there are problems with the cardiovascular system; the child is in a delusional state;
there is shortness of breath, heavy breathing, etc. You can quickly and effectively reduce a child’s high body temperature at home with vodka and vinegar.

To prepare the tincture, mix vodka, vinegar and warm water in equal proportions. Water is added so as not to burn the skin. After preparing the mixture, you need to take a piece of gauze or a piece of cotton wool, moisten it in the prepared product, squeeze it out, and then wipe the baby’s forehead and body. Care must be taken to ensure that the solution does not get into the child’s eyes. Many pediatricians are against rubbing a child with vodka and vinegar, as they believe that vodka, which penetrates the pores of the skin into the body, can cause poisoning. But, as the practice of many parents of young children shows, this is practically the only remedy that can reduce the temperature before going to the hospital or calling an ambulance. Vodka and vinegar can also be used to rub adults at high temperatures. It is not recommended to use the solution for children under one year of age.

Folk remedies for reducing fever in children

It is possible to reduce a child’s temperature using folk remedies if the child is over 3 years old, has no serious illnesses and generally tolerates high fever well. How to lower a child’s temperature at home if he is very small? You just need to give him as much fluid as possible. Infants can be given breast milk, and older children can be given warm water, compote, juice or tea with chamomile. The baby should drink a lot, since a lot of fluid is lost at fever, especially if there is vomiting or diarrhea.

Chamomile enema

In an effort to reduce the temperature of a child under 1 year old, mothers have a limited number of methods: as a rule, these are medications and enemas. The use of decoctions and other home recipes internally for children under 12 months is not possible. If you want to overcome a high fever without medication, you should use an enema with chamomile infusion.

Preparation for the procedure: pour 3 tablespoons of chamomile into a glass of water, boil for 15-20 minutes, strain, cool, add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.

Performing the procedure: fill a clean rubber bulb with liquid (30-60 ml), remove excess air, lubricate the tip with Vaseline, insert the bulb into the child’s anus, carefully squeeze out the liquid.

Raspberry decoction

Drinking plenty of fluids and consuming raspberry decoction cause increased sweating, which reduces fever. After a good sweat, the baby will certainly feel better. It is impossible to replace the consumption of water and tea with raspberry decoction alone, however, a tasty and healthy drink will significantly diversify the composition of the liquid consumed. Raspberry broth is prepared according to many recipes, here are the most famous of them.

Ingredients: dry raspberries (2 tablespoons), a glass of water.
Application: pour boiling water over the raspberries, leave for about 30 minutes, strain. Drink 1 glass of raspberry broth 2-3 times a day.

A decoction of raspberries, oregano and coltsfoot

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of dried raspberries, coltsfoot, 1 tablespoon of oregano, water.
Application: pour the mixture of herbs and raspberries with water, pour boiling water for 20 minutes, strain. Drink the decoction several times a day, 1/3 cup.

Oranges

Salicylic acid contained in oranges helps reduce a child's fever. Fresh fruits, decoction with peel, and juice effectively combat heat. To prepare a delicious, effective orange drink you will need: 100 ml orange juice, 100 ml lemon juice, 100 ml apple juice, 75 ml tomato juice. The listed ingredients are mixed and consumed immediately after preparation. You need to drink an orange drink 3 times a day, not forgetting about other liquids - tea, water.

Consequences of high fever in a child

One of the most common complications of high fever in a child is febrile seizures. They usually occur in children under 6 years of age with a temperature above 38oC. Often this reaction to fever appears in children with diseases of the nervous system. Signs of febrile seizures in a child: convulsive muscle twitching, which can be either pronounced (with throwing back the head, bending the arms and straightening the legs) or small, in the form of shuddering and twitching of individual muscle groups; the child stops responding to his surroundings, may turn pale and blue, and hold his breath; often, convulsions may recur during subsequent increases in temperature. When the temperature is high and the child has convulsions, you must immediately call “03”. Urgent measures at home will be: lay the child on a flat surface and turn the head to the side; if there is no breathing after the end of the convulsions, begin giving the child artificial respiration; you should not try to insert a finger into a child’s mouth, a spoon or other objects - this will only cause harm and injury; You should undress the child, ensure the room is ventilated, use rubbing and antipyretic candles to reduce body temperature; You should not leave your child alone during an attack. Children who have had seizures need observation by a neurologist, as well as a full medical examination to exclude the onset of epilepsy. Therefore, you should not wait for your child to have a high fever for a week. Contact your doctor promptly for diagnosis and treatment. Before use, you should consult a specialist.

The use of antipyretics will temporarily reduce the baby’s body temperature, but will not cure it. Parents should remember that lowering the temperature is not a cure. With a sore throat, especially a purulent one, it is very difficult to bring down the temperature in young children. First you need to get rid of inflammation in the throat. At home, you can prepare a solution of baking soda and salt for your child and let your child gargle. For small children under one year old, you can (as a last resort) wipe the mouth cavity and the edge of the neck by wrapping a piece of gauze around your finger and moistening it in water and soda. The product is effective, but it must be used with great caution. Sometimes body temperature can be a symptom of a dangerous disease, such as pancreatitis, appendicitis, etc. Therefore, if it is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the stomach or navel, you should immediately consult a doctor.

First aid for fever or how to reduce fever...

What temperature is considered normal for a baby?

What could cause a fever in a baby?

The most common cause of fever in a child is an infectious disease. First of all, these are acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI).

Fever can also be caused by allergic reactions, overheating (this especially applies to infants), endocrine and metabolic disorders.

Before we get into how exactly to proceed, let's look at a few general questions.

1. Terminology.

A temperature of 37.0 º – 38.0 º is considered subfebrile, 38.1 º – 39.0 º febrile, hyperthermic – 39.1 º and above.

2. It is important to distinguish between the so-called “red” and “white” fevers.

At "red" fever heat generation corresponds to its release. In this case, the child’s skin is slightly reddish, hot to the touch, the arms and legs are warm, and there is an increase in heart rate and breathing.

"White" fever considered more severe. The child's condition is more serious. His skin is pale, his lips are tinged with cyanosis, his heartbeat and breathing are significantly increased. The child may be lethargic, apathetic, or, on the contrary, agitated; convulsions and delirium are possible.