Recommendations for mild fever in a child. Fever in children: types and treatment. Fever in a child. Correct assessment of the reasons

Fever is the body's defense response designed to stimulate defense mechanisms. An increase in temperature improves immunity and prevents the multiplication of pathogens, viruses and cocci. The reasons for the rise in temperature are quite varied. Most often, fever occurs with infectious and acute respiratory diseases, but there may be an increase in temperature and non-infectious nature: central genesis (trauma, tumor, burn, cerebral edema, hemorrhage), psychogenic (neurosis, emotional stress), reflex (pain syndromes), endocrine ; the consequence of allergic reactions and autoimmune processes. In most cases, it is not recommended to sharply bring down the fever. It is necessary to give the body an opportunity to mobilize its forces and fight the infection, it is also important to observe the temperature in order to find out the reasons for its increase.

But there is a risk group - these are young children, alertness is important here. Some infections, such as pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, have serious consequences if not treated promptly. Moreover, in babies, fever proceeds in different ways and it is important for parents to know what it is, to know its symptoms and to distinguish it from the "pink" one. If the baby has pink skin, is moist and hot to the touch, and is feeling well, it is a “pink” fever. "White" fever in children is manifested by inadequate heat production and heat transfer. The child is shivering, the skin is pale, the palms and feet are cold, there is marbling of the skin, tachycardia and increased blood pressure, the difference between rectal and axillary temperatures increases to 1 degree and higher. In case of white fever, be sure to call an ambulance. There is a danger of overheating the body and the occurrence of seizures. Fever is especially dangerous for babies up to 3 months old, as a rule, a serious bacterial disease is assumed, such babies are subject to hospitalization.

If the baby is in a satisfactory condition before taking antipyretic drugs, you can try to lower the temperature by increasing the amount of drinking, after a year it can be fruit drinks. Additional liquid is needed to relieve intoxication and thin the blood. You can wipe your baby with a sponge moistened with water or 40% alcohol (not used for "white" fever!).
Indications for taking antipyretics:
1.The temperature is over 39 degrees.
2. The temperature is above 38 degrees, if there is convulsive readiness, heart defect, severe muscle and headaches, excessive agitation.
3.Children of the first months of life at temperatures above 38 degrees.

As antipyretics, you can use paracetamol, ibuprofen, in the form of children's suspensions and strictly according to the prescribed dosage.

It is unacceptable to use aspirin under the age of 15!

And it is imperative to remember that fever is not a disease, it is a symptom of a disease that needs treatment. Be sure to find out with your doctor what caused the fever in order to prescribe adequate treatment.

In this article, I would like to summarize the entire arsenal of available means for lowering body temperature in case of flu, colds and other diseases, which have already been mentioned on different pages and in different sections of my site. Also give characteristics to various types of fevers (red and white) and talk about ways to lower the temperature in adults and children, as well as during pregnancy, since this topic is interesting to many people and especially to parents.

Let's immediately attend to the terminology, because an increase in body temperature in a person can be called both hyperthermia and fever. So here is the term fever can be used only when the temperature rises and thermoregulation changes as a result of the development of an infectious disease. And the term hyperthermia it is used globally for any other non-infectious cases of increased temperature (this can be observed with heatstroke and overheating, with malignant tumors, disruption of the thermoregulatory center of the brain, radiation sickness).

In general, fever is a protective reaction of the body against the introduction of an infectious agent (virus or bacteria) into the human body. When an alien enters our body, hordes of protective blood cells called leukocytes and macrophages immediately rush to this place, which release endogenous pyrogens (interferons, cytokines, interleukins) into the blood - special substances that in themselves are stimulators of leukocytes and macrophages ( this process can be considered as a way of transferring information between these cells about a foreign agent that has entered our body), that is, they stimulate the body's defense against viruses and bacteria, they also cause an increase in body temperature.

Based on the foregoing, fever is a normal reaction of the body to the penetration of foreign agents and it is necessary to fight it when the temperature reaction exceeds a certain limit and becomes pathological and dangerous for humans. It is definitely not worth getting carried away with antipyretic drugs - this only increases the recovery time, since we are fighting with our pyrogens, which stimulate the body's protective cells. Hence the long recovery times from commonplace infections, and poor health in combination with a low-grade fever (around 37 degrees), both during and other infections. And all because of the passion for powders and tablets from temperature.

Fever stages

Any fever goes through three stages in its development:

  1. Temperature increase.
  2. Keeping the temperature at a certain level.
  3. Decrease in temperature.
First stage- temperature increase. At this time, an imbalance begins between heat transfer and heat generation in the patient's body. Normally, it looks like this - the heat generated in the body as a result of vital processes is balanced with the processes of heat transfer to the external environment. As a result, the temperature balance is maintained. Due to this, the human body temperature is approximately at the same level - the notorious 36.6 ° C. As a result of the penetration of a foreign agent and a violation of thermoregulation, this ratio changes. As a result, we have:
  • in adults, the body follows a more economical way of thermoregulation and reduces heat transfer to the external environment without significantly increasing heat production, that is, in adults, the temperature rises mainly due to a decrease in heat transfer to the external environment;
  • in children, on the contrary, heat production increases with a relatively stable heat transfer, that is, in children, the temperature rises mainly due to heating.
This is the fundamental difference between the organization of thermoregulation in adults and children in the development of pathological processes, which will be discussed below.

Thus, in adults, in order to implement the mechanism of heat conservation in an infectious disease, at the first stage of the development of a febrile process, peripheral vascular spasm and a decrease in sweating occur. The skin turns pale. There is a spasm of the muscles that lift the hair, hence the so-called "goose bumps" appear. A shiver or chill appears (the mechanisms of the center of thermoregulation of the brain are turned on).

Then comes second stage- keeping the temperature at a certain level. That is, when the temperature reaches a peak and the processes of heat transfer and heat generation balance themselves, but at this high point, not at the normal point. At the same time, chills or tremors disappear and a feeling of heat appears due to the fact that the spasm of the peripheral vessels passes and the blood rushes to the surface of the body. The skin turns pink, becomes moist. Daily temperature fluctuations persist, but at the same time they occur within the exceeded temperature, that is, they decrease to 37 degrees or higher and then rise to their highest values. Usually the temperature rises in the evening.

When you recover, comes third stage, which is characterized by the normalization of thermoregulation processes and a decrease in body temperature. It can be gradual or abrupt. The amount of pyrogens in the blood decreases, our brain perceives the temperature as elevated and begins to connect the factors to lower the temperature, that is, to increase the heat transfer of excess temperature. To do this, the system for removing fluid from the body is enhanced - sweating increases (so-called torrential sweats), and diuresis (urination) increases. The temperature is gradually returning to normal.

Thus, having familiarized ourselves with the processes of thermoregulation during the development of infectious diseases, we can understand why in the first days of an increase in temperature, we do not sweat, and when we recover, even squeeze a shirt and we can move on.

Types and classification of fevers

According to the degree of temperature rise, they are distinguished:

  1. Subfebrile fever (subfebrile condition) means an increase in body temperature not higher than 38 ° C.
  2. Mild fever - an increase in body temperature up to 38.5 ° C.
  3. Moderate fever - an increase in body temperature up to 39 ° C.
  4. High fever - a rise in body temperature up to 41 ° C.
  5. Hyperpyretic or excessive fever - an increase in body temperature of more than 41 ° C.
By the nature of fluctuations in daily temperature:
  1. Persistent fever - long-term sustained increase in body temperature, daily fluctuations do not exceed 1 ° C.
  2. Remitting fever - significant daily fluctuations in body temperature within 1.5-2 ° C. But at the same time, the temperature does not drop to normal values.
  3. Intermittent fever - characterized by a rapid, significant increase in temperature, which lasts for several hours, and then gives way to a rapid drop to normal values.
  4. Hectic, or wasting fever - daily fluctuations reach 3-5 ° C, while temperature rises with a rapid decline can be repeated several times during the day.
  5. Perverted fever - it is characterized by a change in the circadian rhythm with higher rises in temperature in the morning.
  6. Irregular fever - which is characterized by fluctuations in temperature throughout the day without a definite pattern.
  7. Recurrent fever - characterized by alternating periods of increased temperature with periods of normal temperature, which last several days.
The above types of fevers can occur not only with acute respiratory viral infections or other colds, but also with malaria, typhoid fever and other diseases, for which self-medication is unacceptable. Hereinafter, we will consider the standard variant of relapsing fever, with temperature rises more often in the evenings and a decrease in the morning hours, which is characteristic of the common cold in its various manifestations.

Type:

  1. Red or pink fever (aka "hot").
  2. White fever (aka "cold").
The fundamental point, especially in children, is that with white fever there is a spasm of peripheral blood vessels and arterioles. That is, the process develops as an adult. In children, as mentioned above, an increase in body temperature with the development of an infectious pathological process occurs due to an increase in heat production, and not a limitation of heat transfer (the latter type is found in adults).

Management of the patient and manifestations of red and white fever will differ.

Red fever (which is more common in children) is characterized by:

  • the skin is hyperemic, warm and moist to the touch;
    limbs are warm;
  • increased heart rate and respiration correspond to an increase in temperature;
  • the child's behavior is normal, despite the rise in temperature to high values;
  • there is a good effect from the admission;
  • when rubbing the skin with vodka or cool water, the symptom of "goose bumps" does not appear.
White fever is characterized by:
  • the child's skin is pale or cyanotic (bluish tint);
  • cold to the touch and dry (especially hands and feet);
  • the child is lethargic, low in activity, even despite the low temperature figures, incomprehensible excitement, delusional states are also possible;
  • there may be tachycardia (increased heart rate), inadequate fever and shortness of breath;
  • chills;
  • weak effect of taking antipyretic drugs.
What to do and how to reduce fever

From all the material, you already understood that it is better not to reduce the increased body temperature, since this is a natural protective reaction of the human body to the ingress of viruses and bacteria into the body.

When it is necessary to lower body temperature:

  • body temperature above 38.5 at any age;
  • body temperature above 38.0 in children;
  • body temperature is higher than 38.0 in pregnant women;
  • body temperature above 38.0 in patients with epilepsy, convulsive syndrome, with increased intracranial
  • pressure, heart defects;
  • at any temperature with white fever.
Naturally, this applies to relatively healthy individuals who do not have chronic and other aggravating pathology. There are people who cannot stand a rise in temperature, above 37.5 they almost faint, they develop convulsions, such people need to lower the temperature at lower values.

The same applies to pregnant women, high temperatures can harm the baby in the womb. So long-term high temperatures can have a teratogenic effect and lead to violations of embryonic development (in particular, the child's cardiovascular and nervous system suffers). In the later stages, a prolonged increase in temperature can lead to changes in the placenta and premature birth. In any case, it makes sense for a pregnant woman to see a doctor (call at home) with high numbers on the thermometer. It is definitely not worth allowing the temperature to rise above 38 degrees for pregnant women, and it is necessary to start reducing it at lower values.

This does not apply to cases when, due to our natural love for ourselves, we are drawn to antipyretic drugs, even if the temperature has not reached its peak and is balancing around 37-37.5. We must endure. Yes, it will be bad, but there are enough physical methods of lowering the temperature that allow without chemistry to lower the body temperature by a couple of degrees and this is enough to alleviate the condition, but the healing process will not be inhibited by external factors (taking pills, powders and tablets).

Physical methods and chemical methods (use of drugs) can be used to lower the temperature.

Physical methods of lowering body temperature

Their essence is to increase the return of excess heat by the body to the external environment. How can this be implemented:

  • do not wrap a person with unnecessary feather beds and blankets;
  • dress cool enough, in light natural fabrics that will absorb sweat and not disrupt heat transfer;
  • you can use rubdowns (vodka or cool water with vinegar (1 tablespoon of 6 percent vinegar per liter of cool water)). We moisten the sponge in liquid and wipe off the patient, paying special attention to places where blood vessels are close: wrists, neck and joints of hands and feet. Naturally, we do this not in drafts, so as not to freeze the patient. You can put a napkin dipped in ordinary cool water on your forehead (no vinegar is needed so as not to irritate delicate skin).
Despite the apparent simplicity, these methods allow you to reduce the body temperature by 0.5-1 degrees and this is enough, in addition, they do not inhibit the development of the body's defense reactions, do not roughly intrude into the processes of thermoregulation. They can be repeated over time and used more often than drugs over the same period of time. In addition, they can be used at lower temperatures, not just above 38 degrees and above, thus alleviating the suffering of the patient.

Medicinal (chemical) ways to lower the temperature

Currently, a huge number of different antipyretic drugs are represented, in more detail the tactics of their use, the composition and mechanism of action of popular antipyretic drugs, I indicated in.

Just remember that you should not use aspirin to lower the temperature with flu, especially in children - it can cause a dangerous complication of Reye's syndrome. In general, it is best not to use this medication for fever in children and adults with colds.

Also, at elevated temperatures, you should not use such folk methods as tea with raspberry jam or steam in a sauna or bath, this is an additional load and additional degrees to an already warmed up body. These procedures will not bring any benefit to the body, it will cope without them, responding to the infection with an increase in temperature.

The need for a sufficient water regime is a common thread throughout the article. You need to drink a lot and enough (watch out for edema in persons predisposed to them, and especially in pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy, it is best to look at the legs, where they appear faster and are easier to diagnose). Children can be drunk by force against their will, for this you can use any liquid (just not soda, rich in chemical sweeteners and flavors), but plain water, tea, with or without lemon, compotes, fruit drinks. Salt solutions such as rehydron (available in pharmacies) can be used.


And finally, I will describe the tactics of behavior for white fever in children, since the topic worries many and the approaches to stopping this condition differ from those for standard pink fever:
  • use the same antipyretic drugs as for standard pink fever (paracetamol and drugs derived from it) in an age-specific dose;
  • it is necessary to use antispasmodic drugs to eliminate spasm of peripheral vessels. No-shpa, which is so advised to use for white fever on the forums, should not be used, since it is necessary to relieve spasms of internal organs and deep vessels, it is better to use drugs such as Papaverine or Nikoshpan (a mixture of no-shpa and nicotinic acid);
  • hands and feet must be warmed with a heating pad or rubbing;
  • give plenty of fluids without fail, while controlling urination.
If the temperature does not decrease within an hour after the above procedures, this indicates serious violations and you need to consult a doctor (call an ambulance).

Such a protective mechanism as fever is discussed in the article. Now you know what types of fevers are and what needs to be done to lower the temperature in adults, children and pregnant women.

It seemed that an hour ago the little one was cheerful, inquisitive and sparkled with cheerfulness. But then the eyes sparkled, the cheeks turned red, and the laughter gave way to crying and whims. With a habitual gesture, Mom reaches out to touch her forehead, after which she immediately runs for the thermometer. So it is: the baby has a temperature. Sound familiar? And as often happens, the family is tormented by thoughts: what caused such changes in mood and behavior and is it worth bringing down the temperature that has arisen for no apparent reason?

Fever symptoms in children

In terms of frequency, fever in children (nothing more than fever or fever) ranks almost first among the symptoms of various diseases. An increase in body temperature is a reaction to the action of all kinds of pathogenic factors (bacteria, viruses, their decay products), and it is inappropriate to bring it down to certain limits - unreasonable and unreasonable use of antipyretic drugs can negatively affect the body's resistance.

There are several types of fever in children. So, depending on how high the body temperature is, the fever is divided into:

  • Subfebrile when the thermometer shows 37-38 ° C;
  • Febrile (moderate - 38-39 and high - 39-41 ° C);
  • Hyperpyretic if the temperature exceeds 41 ° C.

In addition, the febrile state is divided by duration:

  • Ephemeral (usually the temperature returns to normal after a few hours or days);
  • Acute (fever lasts up to two weeks);
  • Subacute (the baby can be sick for about one and a half months);
  • Chronic (it takes more than six weeks to cope with the disease).

According to clinical manifestations, fever in children is divided into pink and white (pale). The first option is more favorable, since in this state the amount of heat given off by the body is approximately equal to its production. The baby's skin is pink (hence the name) and warm, overall well-being is quite satisfactory.

With white fever, symptoms in children are more severe and noticeable in severity. The baby has behavioral disturbances - he may become moody, lethargic, or, conversely, behave too excitedly. The skin becomes dry and pale, the baby shivers, the limbs become cold, and the lips and nails become bluish. This condition is fraught with quite serious complications: convulsions, delirium, hallucinations.

Causes of fever in children

Since an increase in body temperature is a kind of protective reaction of the body, there can be countless reasons for fever in children.

The most common culprits for this condition are viral and bacterial diseases. It should be borne in mind that symptoms may differ depending on the infection. Also, the causes of fever in children can be various disorders of the endocrine system, tumors and even banal allergies.

Do not forget: in a child, the mechanism of thermoregulation of the body is imperfect, therefore, ordinary overheating can also lead to an increase in body temperature. If the little one walked in the sun for a long time or a caring mother wrapped him up in “seven clothes and all with fasteners”, then it is quite predictable that after a while he may feel bad and then get hot.

Treatment of fever in children

If we talk about the use of antipyretic drugs, then this issue must be approached as carefully as possible. First of all, it is necessary to take into account to what extent the child feels unwell, what symptoms accompany the fever, how serious its manifestations are.

If the baby is in a fever, certain rules for caring for him must be observed by those around him:

  • Be sure to provide the child with rest and bed rest;
  • In no case should you persuade the baby to eat - eating only at will. Food should be easily digestible and liquid (various broths, mashed potatoes, cereals and jelly). It is better to forget about fatty, spicy and fried foods;
  • As much warm drink as possible. Try to give it in small portions, but often - the body needs to replenish the fluid lost with sweat, urine, breathing;
  • As long as the temperature is kept at a high level, you cannot bathe the child. As a last resort, wipe it off with a warm, damp towel;
  • Monitor the reading of the thermometer in the room. If a baby is sick, the room should be about 25-26 ° C, for older children, a temperature in the range of 22-23 ° C is acceptable.

You can slightly reduce the fever without the use of drugs using warm compresses on the forehead or general rubdowns. In no case should you apply cold, since this can provoke vasospasm, and as a result, the deterioration of the child's condition. Also, the recently popular method of wiping the skin with diluted alcohol or vinegar can play a cruel joke. The fact is that penetrating through the pores, such solutions can lead to poisoning of the body, and this will further aggravate an already unhappy situation.

Returning to the question of taking antipyretics in the treatment of fever in children, it must be said that it is most advisable to prescribe them at a body temperature above 38 ° C. Do not forget to monitor the general condition of the baby: if the state of health worsens every minute, the child is pale and shivering, then the medicine must be given immediately.

Which means to give preference to? Naturally, as safe as possible. Modern pharmacology is replete with various medicines specially designed for children and with antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Recently, doctors have abandoned the use of aspirin and analgin in pediatric practice, preferring drugs containing ibuprofen or paracetamol.

When giving a child any medication, it is necessary to very carefully observe the dosage according to age, in no case increasing it. If your baby has white fever, or even more convulsions, call an ambulance as soon as possible.

Text: Tatiana Okonevskaya

4.85 4.9 out of 5 (27 votes)

Fever in a child: what to do?

It is difficult to remain calm and sober of thought when your baby's mercury thermometer goes over the 38 mark. High temperature is much harder for children than for adults, and if not treated promptly can lead to tragic consequences.

A pediatrician told our magazine how to properly help a child with a fever.

A fever in a child is probably one of the most common reasons for going to a doctor. The term fever is understood as an increase in the temperature in the armpit above 37.1 ° C or in the temperature in the rectum above 38 ° C.

Normal in both adults and children Body temperature is equal to 36.5 ° C. It is usually measured in the armpit. It is not easy to hold a thermometer under the armpit of an infant, so you can measure the temperature in the mouth or rectum, but it should be borne in mind that it will be about 0.5-0.8 ° C higher.

How to measure the temperature correctly?

When measuring temperature, you can use both a mercury and an electronic thermometer. Although thermometers for instantaneous temperature measurement are usually not very accurate.

Under normal conditions, body temperature fluctuates during the day within 0.5 ° C. It is minimal in the morning, and rises in the evening.

Very warm clothes, high ambient temperatures, hot baths, physical exercises raise the body temperature by 1-1.5 ° C.

Hot food or drinks can raise the temperature in the mouth, so temperature measurement should be carried out before meals or one hour after.

A slight increase in temperature is possible in cases where child is restless crying.

Causes of high fever in children

Infectious diseases are the most common causes of fever. Changes in the weather, long travel, overexcitation weaken the child's body, and any infection may cause a rise in temperature.

In small children the temperature can rise due to simple overheating. Very caring parents, wrapping the child in a warm room, create a "microsteam" for him, effectively

Children of the first two months of life still do not know how to "give away" warmth.

Another reason for the rise in body temperature can be teething , but it should be remembered that in this case, the temperature is usually does not rise above 38.4 ° C.

What is a fever?

An increase in body temperature is a natural protective process, aimed at mobilizing the body's own forces, increasing immunity, since microbes do not tolerate high temperatures poorly, stop in their development and even die. That is why the temperature does not always need to be lowered.

Fever (increased temperature) may be subfebrile (up to 38 ° C) and febrile (more than 38 ° C). Fever is also excreted. "White" and "red" types.

  • "Red" fever

    • In case of "red" fever, the skin is pink, moist, hot to the touch, the child's behavior practically does not change. This fever is easier to deal with.

  • "White" fever

    • With "white" fever, the skin is pale with a "marble" pattern, the tint of the lips and fingertips may be bluish, and the baby's arms and legs are cold to the touch. A sensation of coldness, chills are characteristic. There is an increase in heart rate and shortness of breath, convulsions may be noted.

How to lower the temperature?

It is necessary to reduce the temperature if it is more than 38.5 ° C. Exceptions are situations if the child does not tolerate an increase in temperature or his age is less than 3 months, in these cases it must be reduced already at 38 ° C. Most importantly, no panic! It is better to calm down and think than to help the baby.

More liquid!

With a fever, as a rule, appetite decreases sharply, and this must be resigned to. The main thing is that the baby has enough breast milk, and at high temperatures - and additional drinks. A child with a fever should drink more than a healthy child. An increase in body temperature causes increased evaporation of fluid from the skin and mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

Drink more!
For each degree of increase in body temperature, the child should receive fluids 20% more than the daily norm.

If the baby is breastfed, then in the event of an increase in temperature, the use of drugs, appears the need to supplement it with water, even if you haven't done it before. Children over 6 months old can be given warm (slightly warmer than room temperature) tea, cranberry and lingonberry juice, linden blossom infusion, as well as fennel and chamomile.

Small ones should be more often applied to the chest and given water or chamomile tea. Even if the child is naughty, unhappy, be persistent. Only do not give too much liquid at once to avoid provoking vomiting.

Fresh air

Try to keep the air temperature in the room no higher than 22-23 ° С, ventilate the room more often. Do not wrap your child up with a cotton blanket.

From a home first aid kit

Of the drugs, those are mainly recommended where the active ingredient is paracetamol ... These are "Paracetamol", "Panadol", "Efferalgan", "Tylenol", "Tsefekon D" and others. They are produced in the form of syrup, rectal suppositories, tablets. A single dose of paracetamol is 10-15 mg / kg (up to 1 year from 50 to 120 mg at a time), can be repeated up to 4 times a day.

If paracetamol does not help, children from 6 months can be given Nurofen syrup (Ibuprofen) (daily dose - 5-10 mg / kg, divided into 4 doses). It is possible to take the drug from 3 months, but only as directed and under the supervision of a doctor.

It should be remembered that aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is contraindicated for children under 15 years of age! Analgin is prescribed only by the attending physician according to strict indications.

When the temperature rises, especially in infants, do not self-medicate, call a doctor. The specialist will help to correctly assess the severity of the child's condition and prescribe adequate treatment.

Folk remedies for temperature

Physical methods of cooling are used: the child must be undressed, a cold compress must be put on the forehead and changed periodically, the body must be wiped with a mixture of water and vodka in equal amounts (wipe, but do not rub the baby, otherwise cause the opposite effect). The procedure can be repeated several times until the temperature drops to 38 ° C.

You can do an enema (always lowers body temperature by 1 ° C). The enema is given with water at room temperature. For children 1-6 months - 30-60 ml, from 6 to 12 months - 120 ml. But this method should not be overused.

Attention: special case!

With "white" type fever, the temperature does not drop well due to vasospasm of the limbs, which is why the child's feet are cold. In this case, you can additionally, in addition to antipyretic, give the child Papaverine or No-shpu (¼-½ tablets), and at the same time an antihistamine (Suprastin, Fenistil, Zirtek) and give the child hot tea.

You can make a cold compress on your forehead, but you cannot wipe the child. You need to put on woolen socks on the baby and wait until the legs are warm and the skin turns pink.

Urgently see a doctor!

If the temperature does not drop 30 minutes after taking paracetamol, or even rises, loose stools or convulsions appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Be considerate of your baby. Even with the outwardly good condition of the child, you need to remember the likelihood of unfavorable dynamics and be on the lookout.

If, during the heat, a person's body turns pale, and his temperature has gone far beyond 38 degrees, then this is the first sign of white fever. Most often, it appears in young children, adults are rarely worried about this condition. When this ailment occurs, it is necessary to the body as much as possible and to achieve a normal pinkish skin tone.

What is white fever

A common fever is a certain reaction of the body in which the body temperature begins to rise sharply. This happens due to the ingestion of a virus or harmful bacteria. A protective reaction is activated in the body, due to which the temperature rises rapidly, severe chills and aches appear. But such a serious condition does not arise in vain, because most infections begin to die at high temperatures. Our immunity is entering an active stage in the fight against disease.

White fever also occurs as the temperature rises, causing chills and aches at the same time. But a distinctive feature is a change in the shade of the skin - a person simply turns pale. There is severe dizziness, weakness, limbs grow cold. When such a condition develops, it is necessary to lower the body temperature in the near future, usually this is done with the help of "Paracetamol" or "Ibuprofen" tablets.

White fever in a child

Almost always, white fever occurs in childhood, this is less common in adults. Therefore, it is worth taking with all the attention to the study of the first symptoms of white fever and its treatment.
What a parent needs to know about childhood white fever:

How it proceeds. At first, the body temperature rises sharply. A high temperature reading is fixed for some time. After taking measures, the temperature drops (abruptly or smoothly) to normal values.

What are the symptoms... Symptoms for white fever are varied, and they can also occur individually or all at once:

  • dyspnea;
  • lethargy, weakness;
  • aversion to food and water;
  • cardiopalmus;
  • dehydration;
  • vasoconstriction / dilation;
  • pallor of the skin;
  • blue lips;
  • cold extremities;
  • capricious state, crying.
Causes of occurrence... The main cause of white fever in a child is a severe infection. If this condition occurs in a baby up to 3 months old, then it is necessary to call an ambulance in the next minutes and go to the hospital.

How to treat it... First of all, the child needs to be provided with a regular abundant drink: warm fruit drink, dried fruit compote, green tea. Then give him antipyretic drugs: Panadol (paracetamol) or Nurofen (ibuprofen). You can wipe your baby with a damp cloth soaked in room temperature water. Under no circumstances wrap up with a warm blanket. After a doctor's examination, antibiotics will likely be prescribed.



How to calm a child... During a feverish state, parents need to be with the child all the time, try to distract him with interesting conversations, you can pick him up and hug him - this way the baby will be calmer and more comfortable.

The danger of white fever for a child according to Komarovsky

Any type of fever (including white) negatively affects the condition of the child. If you do not take action in time, then you can only aggravate the situation.

Experts have found that three percent of children with white fever develop febrile seizures, which negatively affect the development of the central nervous system.


Another adverse effect of white fever is dehydration. Therefore, parents should give their child more fluids to drink. If the child's condition only worsens, then call an ambulance immediately.



Do not take the following medications during white fever:
  • Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid);
  • "Analgin" (metamizole);
  • "Nimesulide".
In no case should you take the following measures:
  • Wrap the baby in a blanket or dress it warmly.
  • Wipe with vinegar, vodka or other alcohol-containing products.
  • Strongly knock down the temperature after the onset of seizures.
  • Force-feed the child (in this case, the body's forces go to digest food, and not to fight the disease).

Increased body temperature in a child (video)


For a more detailed study of white fever and methods of dealing with it, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the video in which Dr. Komarovsky talks in detail about the increase in body temperature in a child.

White fever in an adult

In adults, white fever is rare and usually occurs with infectious diseases or complications. Sometimes it manifests itself with a head injury or brain tumor. In very rare cases with allergies.

What an adult should know about white fever:

  • How it proceeds. One of the first signs of the disease is considered to be a rise in high temperature, and with white fever, it is accompanied by severe chills, aches, pallor and weakness. Taking medications for fever is sometimes useless. After some time, the patient's condition stabilizes, the temperature drops, the skin color returns to normal.
  • What are the symptoms... The main symptom of white fever in an adult is vasoconstriction, pallor, and high fever. Minor symptoms include tremors, cold hands and feet, chills, and weakness. Possibly blue lips.
  • Causes of occurrence... First of all, any fever occurs due to a special immune response to the appearance of an infection in the body. White fever provokes the vascular system to provide maximum blood and warmth to the internal organs, due to which the limbs begin to turn pale and cold.
  • How to treat it. White fever is not treated, it is not a disease, but a simple reaction of the body to the appearance of an infection in it. You need to treat the disease that provokes the onset of white fever. If the patient has too high a temperature (more than 39 degrees), then you should give him antipyretic drugs ("Paracetamol", "Ibuprofen"), then invite a doctor for an examination to establish a diagnosis and prescribe more effective drugs. In some cases, antibiotic treatment will be required.

    Before the arrival of the doctor or the arrival of an ambulance, the patient can be given antispasmodics ("Drotaverin", aka "No-shpa"), rubbing the limbs and drinking a large amount of liquid. If after a few hours the patient does not get better, the temperature does not subside, the white fever does not go away, then it is necessary to urgently hospitalize him.

  • Patient care... When the patient is in a state of white fever, he must be surrounded with care and attention, offered to take medication and try to follow the rules of patient care.
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