Temperature in a child in summer without and with symptoms

A child's temperature in the summer is as common as in other seasons. Naturally, in the cold season, the incidence of illness in children is higher, but viral and bacterial infections also occur in the summer. Therefore, it is important to determine the cause of a child's high temperature, especially if it occurs in the summer.

Causes high fever in a child in the summer

Although a high temperature is the first sign of a child’s condition being compromised, it is also an important sign that the body is starting to fight an infection. An important rule that every mother should know is that the temperature rises to kill the virus or bacteria that caused the infection in the baby’s body. Therefore, the temperature is a protective reaction.

How does body temperature increase? When a virus or bacteria gets on the skin or mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, these pathogens immediately multiply in the upper layers of the body's cells. Active multiplication of bacteria or viruses is necessary so that they can subsequently penetrate more cells and contribute to the development of diseases. Immune cells, which are found on all mucous membranes, are the first to be activated under the influence of pathogens. Lymphocytes are immune cells that are activated when pathogens enter and try to cover and neutralize them. At the same time, lymphocytes secrete biologically active substances that activate more and more cells of the immune system to better fight the infection.

The temperature regulation center is located in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain. It regulates body temperature. This temperature can normally fluctuate, but only within certain limits, it is not higher than 37.5 degrees normally. This temperature allows maintaining a stable environment in the body, and in such conditions the body functions normally and stably.

Thus, it should be noted that the normal temperature of a child under one year old, and even in older children, should not exceed 37.5 degrees.

The other two groups of neurons in the hypothalamus in the thermoregulatory center are the heat production and heat loss neurons. They regulate the temperature and switch to one level or another if necessary to maintain normal temperature.

The concept of "temperature" in a child can have several meanings and does not always indicate a disease. Temperature disturbances can be in the form of fever, physical hyperthermia and hyperthermic syndrome.

Fever is a typical process that is characterized by the restructuring of the thermoregulation center and is pathological, most often it is a response to infection.

Causes are factors that can cause a child's temperature. Pyrogens are the direct cause of a child's temperature.

By origin, exogenous and endogenous pyrogens can be distinguished. Exogenous pyrogens can be of infectious and non-infectious nature. Infectious causes of fever in a child are bacterial toxins, bacterial wall structures, viruses, fungi, rickettsia and other living microorganisms.

Non-infectious causes that can cause an increase in body temperature are blood transfusion, administration of serum, and parenteral nutrition drugs.

The cause may also be endogenous factors – tissue breakdown products, for example, in bone fractures, which can also cause fever.

Risk factors

Risk factors for fever in a child are not limited to viral or bacterial diseases; they can also include physical factors, as well as any disturbances in homeostasis in the body.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of increased body temperature in a child is due to the action of pyrogens. When leukocytes capture pathogens, substances called interleukins are released in the process. They pass through the blood-brain barrier with the blood flow and increase the permeability of membranes for calcium ions in the vessels of the brain. Calcium ions activate phospholipase A2, which releases phospholipids from cell membranes with the subsequent formation of arachidonic acid. Under the action of the enzyme cyclooxygenase, arachidonic acid is converted into prostaglandin E2. The function of this substance is to reduce the sensitivity of the neurons of the set point to impulses coming from the neurons of the thermostat. Thus, normal body temperature is perceived as reduced, which leads to inhibition of heat transfer centers and activation of heat production. This leads to an increase in body temperature. Since many bacteria and viruses have adapted to the human body, the comfortable temperature for their reproduction is a body temperature of up to 37.5. At higher numbers, proteins are destroyed and pathogens die. Therefore, an increase in temperature in a child leads to the death of pathogens and is a protective reaction. Also, an increase in temperature during an infection in a child has other positive aspects - this is an increase in the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics, increased synthesis of antibodies, and increased phagocytosis. An increased temperature helps to increase the antitoxic function of the liver and the excretory function of the kidneys.

Children have some peculiarities when their body temperature rises. Premature babies and babies with hypotrophy do not have fever due to the immaturity of the thermoregulation center. Premature babies and babies under one year are easily overheated and overcooled. In children of the first three to four months, the fever is usually subfebrile, despite the severity of the disease.

Another important factor for children in their first year is that fever develops due to increased heat production during the breakdown of brown fat, and heat transfer in such children is poorly developed due to underdevelopment of vasoconstrictor reactions.

Therefore, when a child has a temperature of 37 in the summer, it is normal, because they cannot regulate their temperature as adults. In such cases, you need to undress the child and ensure normal sweating.

[ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ]

Symptoms high fever in a child in the summer

Symptoms of viral and bacterial pathologies depend on what pathogen has entered the body and what disease will develop.

The first signs of illness are often non-specific. And it is the child's temperature that is the first sign that he is sick.

Viral infections occur even in summer, especially if the child is overheated and then takes a bath, this reduces the body's reactivity and he can get some kind of virus. When viruses get on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, they multiply and destroy the cells of the mucous membrane. This is how the symptoms of the disease appear - mucus discharge from the nose, coughing. Along with this, the body temperature rises. Viral infection has specific symptoms, and since every mother has encountered it, there are no difficulties in recognizing the symptoms. If the child has more pronounced nasal congestion, sneezing, mucous discharge against the background of hyperthermia - this is viral rhinitis. If there is a cough, sore throat and redness of the throat - this is pharyngitis. Often in young children these symptoms are combined, then we are talking about nasopharyngitis.

Such viral infections are not accompanied by a high temperature, but rather a subfebrile or moderate fever.

Why are the hands and feet of a child cold at high temperatures? This is due to the peculiarities of vascular tone regulation. When the body temperature rises, in order to reduce it, it is necessary for the vessels of the hands and feet to expand, which leads to increased heat transfer. But in some children, vascular tone regulation does not occur this way, and their peripheral vessels are narrowed. Therefore, against the background of hyperthermia, the child's feet and hands are cold. This feature reduces the rate of decrease in body temperature in children, so they need a slightly different tactic for reducing the temperature.

A child's temperature without cold symptoms indicates a bacterial infection. When bacteria get on the mucous membranes, they also begin to multiply, and toxins are released that affect the entire body. And in addition to fever, more serious symptoms appear. Bacteria that affect the respiratory tract are not located on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, like viruses. They are able to penetrate the lower respiratory tract with the development of symptoms. Therefore, there are no signs of a cold with a bacterial infection, because the process is much deeper.

Read also: High temperature without apparent cause in a child

If bacteria get into the lower respiratory tract, pneumonia or bacterial bronchitis develops. Symptoms develop suddenly against the background of high fever (39 degrees and above). Cough, general malaise, and chest pain may appear. Since part of the lung tissue is involved in the process of pneumonia, symptoms of respiratory failure often appear - the chest muscles are drawn in.

Severe bacterial bronchitis is sometimes very difficult to differentiate from pneumonia and only a doctor can do this.

Otitis in children in the first six months of life can be the cause of high temperature, even in summer. Such children have a very short auditory tube, so infections easily penetrate the ear. At the same time, the symptoms are completely incomprehensible to the mother - a high body temperature suddenly appears, and the child screams loudly, refusing to eat. These may be the only manifestations of otitis.

A child's temperature without a reason in the summer is less often associated with epidemic diseases of viral and bacterial etiology, but can more often be caused by digestive disorders.

It often happens that in the summer a child's temperature rises at the seaside, then you need to think about poisoning. The sea is a source of various pathogens, as well as a place where children eat different foods. Therefore, if children's body temperature rises and they have a stomach ache, then you need to think about possible food poisoning, even if there were no errors in the food. After all, many viruses and bacteria are transmitted not only with spoiled food, but also with hands and dirty water. Often at the seaside there is an outbreak of viral diarrhea, the cause of which is rotavirus. This is a pathogen that causes an increase in body temperature, abdominal pain, and loose stools. These symptoms require a doctor's examination for proper treatment.

[ 7 ], [ 8 ]

Complications and consequences

The consequences of improper treatment of a bacterial infection are very serious – bacterial complications may develop. If pneumonia develops and is not treated in time, abscesses may form in the lungs. If we talk about the consequences of viral or bacterial diarrhea, there may be severe dehydration of the child, and the younger the baby, the more serious the complications.

Complications of the fever itself often occur in children in the first year of life in the form of simple febrile seizures. This is a twitching of the child's muscles with loss of consciousness, but it stops on its own and does not threaten the child's life.

[ 9 ], [ 10 ], [ 11 ]

Diagnostics high fever in a child in the summer

When a child develops a fever, it is often difficult for the mother to determine what exactly caused it if there are no other signs. And most often, the fever is the first symptom, and then after a day other symptoms appear.

What should a mother pay attention to if her child has a fever? First of all, it is necessary to determine what level of temperature increase and how dangerous it is. Based on this, the mother can predict the severity of the disease and her first actions.

There are several types of fever:

1. subfebrile fever is an increase in temperature to 37.5 - 38 degrees;
2. moderate fever - an increase from 38 to 39 degrees;
3. high fever is a level from 39 to 41 degrees;
4. Hyperpyrexia is a temperature above 41 degrees.

If the mother measured the temperature and determined a subfebrile fever, then it is likely that it may be caused by a cold or it is necessary to repeat the measurement after some time, because it is possible that the fever has not yet reached a sufficient level. In such cases, you should not immediately panic and run to the doctor, because an experienced mother should take the first steps to treat a viral infection herself, and only after a few days, if the condition does not improve or there are symptoms of anxiety, then contact the doctor. It is important that the mother herself can diagnose a viral pathology, because it is not so difficult based on the symptoms that have been listed. This will help to start treating the fever and the viral infection itself earlier, and will speed up the child's recovery.

If the child has a moderate to high temperature, then the diagnosis should be made by a doctor to exclude a bacterial infection, which requires specific treatment. When examining a child with a high fever, it is necessary to pay attention to the anamnestic data with the determination of the duration of the disease. It is important to understand how many days the child's temperature lasts in order to understand the possible etiology of the disease.

The examination should begin with the exclusion of cold symptoms, and then the throat should be examined. A red throat can be a sign of a viral infection, but it can also be a sign of a bacterial infection. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the presence of plaque on the tonsils in the diagnosis.

Tests are often necessary to confirm the bacterial etiology of the disease. But if your child has a high body temperature without other symptoms, or a moderate or high temperature for three days or more, then a complete blood count is required before any measures are taken. A blood test allows us to talk about the seriousness of the inflammatory process and makes it possible to confirm or exclude the bacterial etiology of the disease.

If we are talking about an increase in body temperature against the background of diarrhea, then the tests should exclude rotavirus infection. For this, there is a blood test for the presence of antibodies to this virus, which after a few days makes it possible to confirm the diagnosis.

Instrumental diagnostics at elevated temperature can be carried out to identify the source of infection. Most often, if pneumonia is suspected, the doctor prescribes an X-ray examination of the chest. It is indicated in the presence of auscultatory changes in the lungs, which are characteristic of inflammation, or in the absence of such precise data, but in a child with a high fever for more than three days.

Diagnosis of temperature in a child in summer, especially in children of the first year of life, should be carried out with the exclusion of possible physical overheating of the baby. It has already been shown that thermoregulation in children of this age is not ideal, therefore, when exposed to the sun, high temperature or simply in a stuffy room, the baby's temperature may rise. Therefore, it is necessary to differentiate in such cases and exclude local or systemic overheating of the child.

[ 12 ]

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics of hyperthermia should be carried out primarily between a cold, as the cause of hyperthermia, and a possible bacterial infection. The main differential factor in this is the level of temperature increase: subfebrile temperature is characteristic mainly of ARVI in a child, and moderate and high temperature - for bacterial infections. However, this rule does not quite work for children in the first year of life, and the absence of temperature or its low level does not mean that the child is healthy.

It is necessary to note one more condition that needs to be differentiated when a child has a fever. Hyperthermic syndrome can be observed as an isolated disease of a hereditary nature. This is a pathology of the hypothalamus, which is caused by a gene mutation that disrupts the hypothalamus and leads to dysregulation of the thermoregulation center. This is manifested by a constant high level of body temperature in a child, which does not respond to drug correction in sufficient volume. Such pathology manifests itself immediately after birth or in the first months of life.

Treatment high fever in a child in the summer

Treatment of elevated temperature involves several things - etiotropic treatment, that is, aimed at the source of the temperature increase, as well as pathogenetic treatment. Pathogenetic treatment is aimed at eliminating the main element of hyperthermia - inhibition of the cyclooxygenase enzyme. This treatment just involves the use of antipyretic drugs, and the mother should always start with it, and then figure out the cause.

Antipyretic drugs for children are limited to only two drugs that can be taken by children up to one year and older. There are other drugs, but they can only be taken from the age of 12, and some are not used at all in children due to toxicity.

1. Paracetamol (Infulgan, Panadol, Piaron, Cefekon) is an antipyretic drug that is approved for use in children. The method of its use may be different, which depends on the age of the child. The mother can use the most convenient method, since the drug is available in the form of tablets, capsules, suppositories, and also in the form of syrup. The dosage of the drug is carried out based on the child's weight, which is important to consider, since if the dose is insufficient, the drug may be ineffective. Therefore, it is necessary to correctly calculate the dosage of the drug. How to do this? Regardless of the form of release, the drug is dosed at 10-15 milligrams per kilogram of the baby's weight. The dosage is often indicated on the packaging according to the child's age. But modern children often do not fall within their age range, so you need to calculate the dose based on weight. For example, a child of 9 months weighs 10 kilograms (this weight is typical for a one-year-old child), then the dose for his weight is 100 milligrams (10 kilograms per 10 milligrams of medicine equals 100 milligrams). In Paracetamol syrup, the dosage of the substance in 5 milliliters is always indicated on the package - this is 120 milligrams in this case. Since we need 100 milligrams for our child of nine months weighing ten kilograms, this corresponds to four milliliters of medicine. So, a single dose of the drug is 4 milliliters. Precautions - the drug, like other drugs, cannot be overdosed. It is also not recommended for use in children with liver pathology and prolonged jaundice.
2. Ibuprofen (Nurofen, Bofen, Ibufen) is the second antipyretic drug, approved for use in pediatric practice. This drug also comes in different forms. In addition to its antipyretic properties, it has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. The dosage of the drug is 8-10 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. The dose should also be calculated individually according to the child's weight. Precautions - it is not recommended to use it for chickenpox, as well as for kidney pathology in a child. Side effects may be in the form of an effect on the stomach, the hematopoietic system.
3. Mefenamic acid is a drug whose active ingredient is the drug of the same name, which acts on the principle of all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. According to the instructions, the drug is used from the age of five, but for better safety it is recommended to use it from twelve. Method of administration in the form of tablets. The dosage is from half to one tablet per dose, but not more than three per day. Precautions - do not use in case of cardiovascular pathology. Side effects may be in the form of allergic reactions and reactions from the regulation of pressure.
4. Analdim is a combined antipyretic for children, which includes analgin with diphenhydramine. The drugs included in this drug are not approved for use in pediatric practice. But if the child has a temperature that is very high and does not respond well to other methods, then this drug can be used. The method of using the drug is only rectal in the form of suppositories. The drug is dosed at 100 milligrams and 250 milligrams in one suppository. For children from one to four years old, a dosage of 100 is prescribed, and for children from 4 years old - 250. Precautions - do not overdose on the drug, as it can cause a hypnotic effect. Side effects can be liver damage, suppression of hematopoiesis, development of bleeding from the stomach.

Read also: Why does a child's high temperature not go down and what to do?

These are the main drugs that a mother can use to reduce body temperature at home, while the cause of hyperthermia is still unclear. After the diagnosis is clarified, complex treatment is carried out, but it should be understood that only antipyretics affect the temperature and when it rises, these drugs should still be given, even despite other etiological drugs. The common belief that antibiotics treat fever is incorrect, they only affect bacteria, but they do not affect the thermoregulation center in the brain.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies for treating hyperthermia are sometimes very useful and can be used along with medications. Sometimes, when the temperature is very high and it is necessary to reduce it quickly, folk remedies can be very useful.

1. The main thing to do when there is a temperature is to increase the area for heat transfer. To do this, you need to undress the child as much as possible, unwrap him and give him enough to drink so that he sweats, and thus heat transfer increases.
2. If the fever is high, you can rub the child's forehead with water at room temperature. The use of any alcohol solutions or acetic acid is not recommended for children.
3. In case of hyperpyrexia that does not respond to medication or is difficult to correct, cold compresses with cold water can be used. To do this, fill bottles with tap water, but not ice water, wrap the bottles with gauze and apply to the area of the main vessels - this is along the body, in the groin area.
4. Another method that can be used in a hospital setting is a cleansing enema. This method also helps to reduce body temperature. To do this, you need to calculate the volume of liquid according to the child's age and perform the procedure correctly, so it is better to have medical personnel do this.

Herbal treatment of hyperthermia can be used as a means of rehydration in viral and bacterial infections. After all, some herbs have an anti-inflammatory effect and an antipyretic effect, which promotes recovery.

1. Elderberry tea has natural antioxidant properties. It can be used as a frequent drink for children with symptoms of respiratory pathology. To do this, take dried elderberry flowers and fruits and steep them in hot water for several minutes. Drink instead of tea, you can add a few drops of lemon juice or sugar.
2. Raspberry tea can be very useful, but only if you use dry pods from the bush. The raspberry fruit itself, although useful, can cause allergies in children, so raspberry jam is not recommended. But you can steam the pods from the bush in hot water, insist and drink every two hours in small portions.
3. The herb coltsfoot has anti-inflammatory properties, as well as expectorant. Therefore, tea from this herb can be used for bronchitis. To prepare, take five leaves of the herb per glass of boiled water and leave for some time. It is better to take several teaspoons six times a day.

Homeopathy is widely used today in the treatment of many viral diseases that occur in children and are accompanied by hyperthermia. There are many combination remedies, but the most common among them are the following:

1. Aflubin is a combined antiviral homeopathic medicine, which includes aconite and bryonia, which are known for their tropism to the respiratory system. The method of using the drug is in the form of a solution in drops, which can be taken in pure form. The dosage depends on age and for children from two years old, it can be used from two drops to eight times in the acute period. Side effects can be in the form of allergic reactions to the components of the drug.
2. Influcid is a complex multi-component homeopathic preparation. Method of application - tablets for children from one year. The dosage from one to twelve years is one tablet up to eight times in the acute period, and then you can switch to a preventive dose. Side effects are rare, there may be a relative deterioration in the general condition in the first few hours of treatment, then everything should be fine.
3. Rinital is a complex homeopathic preparation with a specific action, which can be used in children with severe rhinitis. The method of administration of the drug in the form of tablets. Dosage - one tablet up to 8 times in the acute period. Side effects are rare, there may be slight dizziness, in which case the dosage should be reduced.
4. Viburcol is a homeopathic medicine that has anti-inflammatory properties, reduces anxiety and relieves pain, and can also be used as an antipyretic from birth. This is the advantage of this medicine, because only it can be used according to the instructions from birth. The method of using the medicine is only rectal in the form of suppositories. The dosage for children from birth to six months is one suppository twice a day, from six months - one suppository three times a day. Side effects are very rare, sometimes an allergic reaction is noted.

Is it possible to go for a walk in the summer if the child has a fever? The answer is clear - a sick child definitely needs fresh air. You can go for a walk if the child's fever has gone down and he feels better, but you can't force him to go for a walk. You also need to take the weather into account.

[ 13 ]

Prevention

Prevention of fever in children is prevention of infections. How can this be done? A child can get sick, and this cannot be avoided, because he or she is developing immune memory. But complications must be prevented by proper nutrition, a healthy lifestyle, and the child's regime. An important part of serious diseases is vaccination, as a specific method of protection.

[ 14 ]

Forecast

The prognosis for children is favorable, most viral infections are self-eliminating conditions, so you just need the right tactics for caring for your child during the illness.

A child's temperature in the summer can be caused by any factor, including illness, regardless of the time of year. The main thing that a mother should understand is what tactics should be used in a given situation and how to control the child's body temperature.

[ 15 ], [ 16 ]