High temperature in the child and cold extremities. Emergency

Quite often mothers of babies ask the doctor the question: "What to do if the child has a fever and cold extremities?" Many of them noticed that if the knobs and legs remain cold at high temperatures, then it can not be knocked down. So they hurry to find out from the specialists what this is connected with.

What is the temperature

In the human body, two processes are constantly occurring: the formation and release of heat. Normally, they are in equilibrium, approximately at 36.6 ° C. When any inflammatory process begins, the heat build-up increases and at the same time significantly exceeds the possibilities of heat release.

Therefore, the first medical aid to the patient is directed first of all to either reduce the formation of heat or increase the heat transfer. To do this, as advised by Dr. Komarovsky, the child should be offered quiet games and activities, not to force him to eat until he asks, and constantly offer a plentiful drink.

How correctly to measure the temperature of the baby?

The heat of the baby does not need to be afraid. For example, such a phenomenon as high temperature, Komarovsky considers a bright indicator of the strength with which the child's body fights against hostile microorganisms, because the heat is perhaps the most powerful protective mechanism in the human body.

The most reliable instrument for measuring temperature is still a mercury thermometer. However, in order to ensure that its indicators are not distorted, you need to follow certain rules:

• The temperature is measured only after half an hour after eating, sleeping or bathing, otherwise its indicators will be overestimated;
• Also, you can not take measurements from a crying baby, you need to calm him first;
• Temperature indicators in the buttocks and in the mouth are almost half a degree of similar indications under the armpit.

If you want to measure a baby's temperature anally, then do not forget to first lubricate the anus with a baby cream.

What can be dangerous 40 ° C?

If the temperature is kept within 39 ° C, it is called febrile and it promotes the production of interferon and a decrease in the activity of the infection, which, in turn, leads to recovery. The temperature, which is kept at values close to 40 ° C, is called pyretic, and it is dangerous for the weakened by the disease of the child's organism complications in the form of violations of cardiac activity or seizures. And increasing it above 41 ° C can cause irreversible reactions in the brain.

So, to allow a child to have a temperature of 40 ° C or higher, it is dangerous for his life!

When to start to bring down the temperature correctly?

By the way, about what indicators it is worth starting to knock down the temperature, many doctors argue. Some believe that 38 ° C is the limit to which it is better not to shoot down at all, while others insist that to rely on in this case, the mother can only experience his child's behavior and well-being in such conditions. After all, every child is an individual. And if one at 39.5 ° C still keeps cheerfulness and desire to play, then the other already at 37 ° C becomes absolutely listless and apathetic.

In one the doctors are unanimous: if the child has a high temperature, then the baby is vitally important for regular fluids, since the body loses a lot of liquid in such cases. Breastfeeding in such cases often require an uninterrupted stay at the breast in the arms of the mother.

Why it is extremely dangerous to rub the baby with vodka or vinegar

Speaking of high temperature, we can not help talking about such an old method, as rubbing the body of the baby with vodka or water and vinegar. It has long been believed that due to this procedure, the child will increase heat transfer and, as a result, the temperature will drop faster. And if he, despite the fact that the heat, cold hands, then the spasm of blood vessels will be removed safely. From the point of view of physics, this is so. But we have a baby in front of us, and therefore we must not forget what exactly we rub it.

The thing is that the skin applied to the baby's skin and vinegar, and alcohol are easily absorbed into the blood and because of this, alcohol poisoning occurs. And the drier and hotter the skin, the faster it happens. In addition, when rubbing, the child also inhales vapors of alcohol, that is, poisoning also occurs through the respiratory tract. Therefore, the World Health Organization categorically does not recommend rubbing the child with either vinegar or any alcohol-containing substances.

In what cases will emergency medical care be required?

Whether it is necessary immediately to address to doctors, parents solve proceeding from the state of health of the child and indications of the thermometer. But in some cases it is better not to postpone consultation with a specialist. These include the following situations:

• The kid has not yet turned 3 months old, and the temperature has risen to a mark of 39 ° C.
• The temperamental child is very apathetic and listless: refuses to drink, pisses rarely, and his urine becomes concentrated, dark yellow.
• The rise in temperature is accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea.
• The use of antipyretic procedures or agents has no effect.
• The baby has cramps at a temperature.

In all these situations, medical attention is needed. Do not hesitate, call an ambulance and follow the advice of doctors.

What is white fever?

If your baby has fever, be sure to pay attention to the condition of his limbs. The fact is that in modern pediatrics there are two types of temperature increase: the so-called pink and white fever. In the first case, in the case of a tempering calf, the ears and cheeks, as a rule, have a pink color. And all of it (and legs, and handles, including) to the touch evenly hot. In the second case, the baby's face and ears are pale, grayish. And, despite the fact that the child has a high fever, his hands and feet are cold.

This state is quite dangerous and, as a rule, indicates that the baby has a vasospasm. He, among other things, will not allow the temperature to drop even after taking antipyretics, and in addition, the described condition can provoke the development of convulsive syndrome in a child. Hence, the primary task of parents in this situation will be to remove spasm and restore normal circulation of blood.

How is spasm of peripheral vessels manifested and caused

If warm skin, pink and moist, as it was mentioned before, when the temperature rises, then the presence in the child's body of a balance between production and heat output is indicated. That is, the baby's organism releases into the environment the same amount of heat that it produces. By the way, the child's well-being in this case is poorly disturbed and often does not require any special measures to reduce the temperature.

If there is a high temperature in the child and cold extremities, and to these symptoms Pallor of the skin and chills join, it gives the available vasospasm. As a rule, the state of the baby at the same time deteriorates noticeably - it becomes very lethargic and apathetic. Incidentally, it is the lack of fluid in the child's body that most often provokes such phenomena: blood as a result of temperature increase and evaporation of the liquid becomes more viscous, and its movement in the capillaries slows down.

In addition, the baby can already have abnormalities in the CNS and be lowered blood pressure, which also contributes to the appearance of spasm.

How is vasoconstriction removed at high temperature

So, if the child has a high fever and cold extremities, then, to ease his condition, he should warm his hands and feet. For this, by typing hot (but not scalding) water in the basin, lower them there in turn. Heat the legs first, wipe, put on socks, then warm the handles. On the forehead, put a cool wet napkin, let's drink a lot, make sure that the temperature in the room is kept around 19 ° - 20 ° C - and the baby's condition will noticeably improve.

By the way, if the baby has cold extremities, do not rush to give him antipyretic or wipe it with cool water, as this can increase spasm and even cause seizures. If the spasm of the vessels does not pass, then the child should be given a drug No-shpa, which will help restore normal blood circulation.

About drugs that help to bring down the temperature to the child

The most effective for lowering the temperature in children are preparations "Paracetamol" and "Ibuprofen", as well as their analogues. They are produced in a variety of forms - in the form of syrups, suppositories, tablets, capsules and injectable solutions. And, as a rule, if there is a fever in a child 6 months or younger, then syrups or suppositories are used to reduce it.

The parents are most likely to use candles to reduce the temperature. But you need to know that they "work" up to a temperature of 38.5 ° C. And if you increase it above 39 ° C, the child can spasm not only peripheral vessels, but also blood vessels in the digestive tract, which leads to poor digestibility of the drug. Roughly speaking, it lies in the stomach or in the rectum, without exerting any effect on the patient's body.

In the event that the effect of taking one antipyretic in an adequate dose after 30 minutes has not come, then it can be replaced by another means ("Ibuprofen" - "Paracetamol" or vice versa). But the interval between receptions of the same antipyretic should not be less than 4 hours.

Permissible dosage of antipyretics

In the case when the child's high temperature and cold extremities, as mentioned earlier, it can only be knocked down after the baby's arms and legs become warm. In general, this symptom is sufficient to call a doctor, but if it is impossible for him to arrive or is postponed, it will be necessary to knock down the temperature on his own.

The following doses of drugs are used:

• "Paracetamol" is taken at the rate of 10-15 mg / kg. The maximum dose is to take this antipyretic 4-5 times a day. Hence, the daily dose of the drug should not be above 60 mg / kg.
• "Ibuprofen" is taken at the rate of 5-10 mg / kg. The maximum dose is to take this antipyretic 4 times a day. Hence, the daily dose should not be above 20 mg / kg.

When using these agents in the form of candles, the amount of absorbing substance is greatly reduced, so the dose of the injected substance is multiplied by 2.

In what cases are medicines necessary for lowering the temperature

As mentioned above, do not immediately, as soon as a child has a fever, take antipyretics. There are less harmless ways to reduce it, which we have already mentioned above. But in some children, due to individual characteristics, such methods do not work. So, the temperature must be knocked down necessarily:

• If the baby does not tolerate it well;
• If the fever causes the child to behave inappropriately;
• If the baby's temperature causes shortness of breath and difficulty breathing;
• If the child to sweating adds additional fluid loss in the form of vomiting, diarrhea;
• If the child can not be drunk;
• If the baby has concomitant diseases of the nervous system (epilepsy, cerebral palsy, consequences of craniocerebral trauma, etc.);
• If the child had earlier convulsions at a temperature;
• If the temperature rises above 39 ° C.

Let's sum up the results

So, let's repeat once again what to do if the baby's fever rises. First, pay attention to the state of the child. If he feels well, cheerful and drinks a lot, then you do not need any special events. If your child, for example, cold feet at high temperature, noticeable lethargy and pallor of the skin, then we have a case when you should immediately seek help from a doctor.

Prior to his arrival, you can pre-warm with a warmer or massage the limb of a baby, provide him with normal conditions. To do this, the crumb is put on things made from natural fibers (the baby should not be hot or cold), in the room do a wet cleaning, air it and ensure a temperature of no higher than 22 ° C. A child must necessarily drink a lot!

Only if the temperature continues to increase or the child does not tolerate even low values does it require antipyretic agents (Paracetamol and / or Ibuprofen). Do not be ill!