Subfebrile temperature, the reasons for its appearance.

Elevated subfebrile temperature (the causes of which can be completely different) are often found in children, and this is one of the most common reasons that parents turn to a doctor. Subfebrile body temperature is not always a disease. It is rather a signal that indicates to parents and pediatricians that a more serious disease may be present.

At subfebrile temperature, the child can be hot when touched, or, conversely, the skin can be cool and moist. Breathing and pulse are rapid, the child is sluggish, moody. Any temperature above 37 ° C is elevated.

Symptoms that cause subfebrile temperature in children include cough, inflammation in the nasopharynx, otitis media, dyspeptic phenomena accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, skin rashes with childhood infections, dysuric phenomena, neck stiffness. All of the above symptoms, indicate the presence of any disease (viral, autoimmune or bacterial).

Subfebrile temperature, the causes of its appearance, the appearance of the child and other symptoms are of great importance for assessing the severity of the disease by the doctor. How much the temperature is increased is not always an indicator of a serious illness. Parents need to know the specifics of the child's response to the disease. Sometimes a child never looks sick and weak at a significantly high temperature, and the other can be exhausted and sluggish at a low-grade temperature. It is very important to know how your child reacts to a fever, in order to inform the doctor if necessary.

Subfebrile temperature: causes

Why does subfebrile temperature occur? The causes that cause it in children are very diverse. It can be a high ambient temperature, overheating, hot food and drink, warm clothing (not weatherproof), stress, hysteria or any infectious disease. If you think that the subfebrile body temperature did not appear due to the disease, measure it in an hour.

Statistics show that subfebrile temperature in children is most likely to occur for the following reasons:

1. The main category of causes are viral or bacterial diseases.
2. Then follows the inflammation of the middle ear (otitis).
3. Pneumonia.
4. Urinary tract infections.
5. Reaction to the vaccine, teething.

If the child is older than a year, the parents can independently cope with the high temperature, which lasts for several hours. The doctor's help is required if the subfebrile temperature passes into the febrile (over 38 degrees) and stays at its level if the child's behavior is different from the norm if the child's age is less than a year, if there are previously known chronic diseases that could become aggravated.

However, if the child (however, like an adult) has a long subfebrile temperature, the reasons for which are not clear, self-medication is unacceptable. It is necessary to consult a pediatrician (and other specialists), as well as a full examination, which will result in a diagnosis. Most often these are intracellular infections, autoimmune diseases, helminthic invasion, as well as some internal diseases and tuberculosis.

How correctly to measure temperature?

To measure the temperature, it's not enough just to put your hand on your forehead. Body temperature is necessarily measured with a thermometer. It can be mercury, electronic, or in the form of a strip that changes color depending on the height of the temperature. The temperature is measured in the armpit, on the forehead, in the mouth, in the ear, or in the anus. Traditionally in Russia, the measurement is performed in the armpit. The most accurate mercury and electronic thermometers. Mercury thermometer measurement is carried out for five minutes, and electronic - until the sound signal. Normal body temperature is considered to be up to 37 ° C, after it is considered subfebrile. It is subfebrile up to 38 ° C. It should be borne in mind that the temperature value during the day varies.

Help at temperature

It is necessary to know that antipyretic drugs are used when reaching a temperature of 38 ° C and above. With smaller values, you need to allow the body to fight infection itself, as many viruses and bacteria die at elevated temperatures. It is important to identify the cause of the reaction of the body and prescribe the right treatment.