Complications with a critical drop in temperature. Caring for febrile patients during various periods of fever. Explanatory work with parents

A drop in body temperature below average is quite common. A similar situation can arise for various reasons, in people of different ages and have different consequences.

Is low body temperature dangerous?

It is generally accepted that the normal temperature reading on a thermometer is 36.6 degrees. In fact, these indicators can fluctuate during the day and depend on the menstrual cycle, food intake and sometimes even mood. Thus, body temperature readings from 35.5 to 37.0 degrees are considered normal.

True hypothermia is dangerous to human health, and in some cases even fatal, and it begins below 35 degrees. If the body temperature is between 35 and 36.6 degrees, a person’s life in most cases is not in danger.

How does the body maintain body temperature?

Thermoregulation is a rather complex process that involves the brain, hormonal system, nerve pathways and even adipose tissue. The main purpose of this mechanism is to maintain a constant temperature in the internal environment of a person. Failures in any of the system components can lead to failure of the entire thermal transfer and thermoregulation system.

How to measure temperature correctly?

In the armpit - is the most common method of measuring body temperature in our country. It is quite simple, but also quite inaccurate. The norm with this method of measurement ranges from 35 to 37 degrees. In children under one year of age, low-grade fever is normal.

Oral thermometry – this method of measuring body temperature is the norm in the USA and Europe. In children, such a test may not be effective because they often open their mouths during the measurement process, which is not recommended.

The rectal measurement method (via the rectum) is the most accurate, therefore it is most often used in children. Measure the newborn's body temperature using rectal thermometry (as there is a high risk of intestinal damage). The average temperature in the rectum will differ from the axillary temperature by +0.5 degrees.

Ear canal thermometry is popular in some countries, but also has significant inaccuracies.

Mercury thermometer – to correctly measure the temperature, you need to hold the thermometer under your arm for at least 5 minutes.

The electronic thermometer must be held until a sound signal is received, after which the temperature is checked. If no changes are observed within a minute, thermometry ends. If the temperature has increased during this time, you need to continue measuring for 2-3 minutes.

The main rule: do not measure the temperature of a healthy person. This provokes the development of increased anxiety for no apparent reason. If you want to do thermometry every day, then this is quite similar to a symptom of anxiety or depression. In this case, you need to consult a psychotherapist.

Causes of hypothermia

A significant number of people around the world have an average body temperature that differs from the standard norm. Some people have a thermometer reading of 37 degrees all their lives, while others often have readings below 36. Therefore, hypothermia can only be a sign of pathology if there are additional symptoms. Reasons for low body temperature may include:

blood poisoning (sepsis);

drug and alcohol use;

Iatrogenesis (drug overdose, medical actions);

passion for diets, fasting;

external influence (long stay in water, frost);

hormonal imbalances – diseases of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, hypothyroidism;

hidden iron deficiency, anemia;

previous bacterial or viral infection.

Past bacterial or viral infection

Any infectious disease, even a very mild one, forces the body to mobilize all the body’s protective resources. After illness, recovery occurs gradually. The fever subsides to low-grade levels, and then to a low temperature. This process is accompanied by general weakness; the person feels recovered within a few days. This condition can last about two to three weeks after the end of the disease.

Anemia

A decrease in body temperature, which is accompanied by weakness, dizziness and some other symptoms, may indicate a lack of iron in the body. This pathology can be detected using a blood test for hemoglobin and by determining ferritin. Among the main signs of anemia and latent deficiency are:

urinary incontinence;

chilliness of feet and hands;

pale skin;

decreased performance and weakness;

inflammation of the tongue;

addiction to unusual tastes, in particular raw meat;

brittle and striated nails;

thinning hair.

After prescribing iron supplements (Sorbifer, Ferretab) for 2-3 months, the symptoms of iron deficiency stop, and at the same time the temperature normalizes.

Hormonal imbalances

The endocrine system influences almost all processes in the human body, including thermoregulation. Thus, brain injuries and tumors can cause malfunctions in the hypothalamus, which is responsible for regulating the temperature of a person’s internal environment, constantly monitoring it. This condition in most cases is clearly manifested by disturbances in hearing, vision, speech, consciousness, vomiting, headache and problems with coordination. Fortunately, such serious brain disorders are quite rare. The most common cause of low numbers on a thermometer is hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not secrete enough of its own hormones. A similar failure can occur with autoimmune inflammation of the gland, after treatment with radioactive iodine or surgical interventions. The disease is quite common (according to some statistics, it is present in 1-10% of the population) and can manifest itself with various signs, including:

bradycardia;

chronic constipation;

memory loss, drowsiness and general lethargy;

brittle nails and hair;

dry skin and itching;

low temperature;

chilliness;

swelling, weight gain;

decreased performance, weakness.

To diagnose hypothyroidism, thyroid-stimulating hormone levels should be checked. When it increases above normal, the likelihood of developing this disease is high. This study is especially relevant for women over 40 years of age whose relatives have thyroid pathologies. After diagnosis, the doctor prescribes replacement therapy, which will allow you to return to normal health and eliminate symptoms.

External influence

Man is a warm-blooded creature that requires maintaining a constant temperature inside the body. However, the skin temperature can quite often be lower than the body’s internal temperature, for example, when staying in a cool room, swimming in cool water and in the cold. In such situations, you need to dress warmly and measure your temperature: the readings will quickly return to normal after the skin warms up.

Iatrogenic hypothermia

Hypothermia, which is associated with the manipulations of doctors, most often occurs in people after surgery. If you leave a person uncovered after a long operation without a blanket, the risk of hypothermia is quite high. Anesthesia suppresses shivering, which is a protective mechanism against cold temperatures. Therefore, postoperative attention to patients is especially important.

Overdose of antipyretic drugs – quite often, this is especially true for children; the temperature decreases after an overdose of antipyretic drugs. Worried parents, when they see a mark on the thermometer above 38 degrees, begin to actively “fight” the temperature. The consequences of such a struggle can quite often be not only disturbances in the process of thermoregulation, but also bleeding and severe pathologies of the stomach.

An overdose of vasoconstrictors (drops) is another reason for a decrease in body temperature in humans. Due to their general effect on the entire circulatory system, such drugs can cause hypothermia. Therefore, if you have an uncomplicated runny nose, it is better to simply rinse the baby’s nose with saline solution, which is safe for the child’s body.

Starvation

With prolonged strict diets or forced fasting, the human body loses a significant amount of fat reserves. The fat depot, together with glycogen, is responsible for the balance of heat transfer and heat production. As a result, especially exhausted and thin people may feel cold for no apparent reason.

Skin diseases

Diseases of the skin, which affect a large area, quite often provoke a decrease in body temperature. Similar consequences are typical for burn disease, severe forms of eczema, and psoriasis. A significant amount of blood constantly flows to the affected areas of the skin, which provokes a decrease in overall body temperature.

Sepsis

The active proliferation of bacteria in the body and its poisoning with their decay products is known as sepsis. As with any other bacterial infection, septic complications are accompanied by an increase in temperature to high levels. However, in a number of cases (elderly and weakened people), damage to the central nervous system is observed, which also affects the thermoregulation center.

In such a paradoxical situation, the human body responds to the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms by lowering body temperature to 34.5 and sometimes less than degrees. Hypothermia in sepsis is an unfavorable sign. Most often it is combined with dysfunction of organs, depression of consciousness and severe general condition.

Poisoning with narcotic substances and ethanol

Taking alcoholic beverages in large quantities, as well as some psychoactive drugs, can cause a decrease in body temperature. This response is observed due to vasodilation and suppression of tremors, and the intake of such substances also affects glucose levels. Considering also the fact that, due to severe intoxication, people often fall asleep outside in the cold, it is not surprising that such patients often end up in the emergency department. In some cases, the decrease in temperature is critical and leads to immediate respiratory and cardiac arrest.

How to increase the temperature?

First of all, you need to determine whether such a manifestation is the norm or a deviation?

In cases where a person simply measures body temperature and detects a decrease, while the person’s general condition remains normal, there is no need to worry. It is necessary to remember whether the person has had ARVI or other infectious diseases in the recent past. It is quite possible that this is a residual phenomenon.

Also, the reason may be active ventilation of the room on a frosty day. In such cases, you need to close the windows and dress warmly, you can also warm up with tea.

With the exception of the reasons described above, most often such numbers on a thermometer are an individual characteristic of the body.

If depression, weakness and other pathological symptoms are present along with hypothermia, you need to consult a doctor.

Most often, after additional examination, the presence of anemia or dysfunction of the thyroid gland will be determined. Appropriate treatment will help raise the temperature. Children need to stop vasoconstrictor and antipyretic drugs.

When is urgent specialist help required?

A mandatory visit to a doctor is required in such cases when:

body temperature is 35 degrees and continues to decline rapidly;

the person is unconscious;

hypothermia is observed in an elderly person due to poor health;

There are such serious clinical signs of pathology as: severe jaundice, blurred vision and speech, uncontrollable vomiting, hallucinations, bleeding.

It must be remembered that true hypothermia is a life-threatening condition and is observed in hypothermic and seriously ill patients. A slight drop in body temperature cannot seriously harm your health. In addition, at low temperatures, metabolic processes in the human body occur somewhat slower, so many experts are of the opinion that people with this individual feature live a little longer.

Everyone knows that an increase in body temperature is a sign of ill health. However, too low a temperature (hypothermia), especially when observed for a long time, may also indicate the presence of diseases. This condition is dangerous because, unlike fever, it does not cause serious inconvenience: patients usually complain only of weakness, drowsiness, and apathy. Sometimes chills and a feeling of coldness in the extremities are added. Many people with such symptoms do not go to the doctor at all, considering them to be a consequence of accumulated fatigue. Nevertheless, medical intervention is necessary here.

Reduced body temperature is less than 35.8 °C. It can be difficult to establish the factors that caused it without a thorough examination, but most often this condition is caused by the reasons that we will tell you about.

Lack of hemoglobin, which develops due to iron deficiency in the body, often causes a decrease in body temperature and the appearance of associated symptoms (fatigue, loss of vitality and appetite, decreased mental activity, etc.). If these phenomena occur regularly, you need to contact your physician and ask to prescribe a blood test.

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The cause of the development of internal bleeding may be damage or increased permeability of the walls of blood vessels due to injury, tumor growth, metabolic disorders, etc. The chronic process has no active external manifestations, and blood loss only affects general well-being. One of the symptoms is a decrease in body temperature. This is a dangerous condition that requires immediate medical attention.

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Sharp fluctuations in hormonal levels can provoke the development of hypothermia. During a pregnancy that proceeds without pathologies, the temperature returns to normal levels as the woman’s body adapts to the new state.

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Sometimes a decrease in body temperature occurs periodically and is accompanied by such phenomena as headache, dizziness, nausea, intolerance to bright light or loud sounds. This set of symptoms is characteristic of vascular dystonia. Unpleasant sensations appear against the background of a sudden short-term dilation of blood vessels.

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In people with diabetes, the mechanism of glucose oxidation, the main source of energy, is disrupted. At the beginning of the pathological process, they experience constant thirst, increased urination, a feeling of numbness in the limbs, an increase in body weight and temperature fluctuations (including its frequent or persistent decrease).

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Pathology of the adrenal glands

A decrease in body temperature is associated with dysfunction of the adrenal cortex, which causes a deficiency of cortisol, aldosterone and androgenic hormones. The condition is also manifested by hypotension, tachycardia, arrhythmia, loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing and frequent mood swings (hot temper, irritability).

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The center responsible for maintaining a constant temperature in the body is located in the hypothalamus. A neoplasm (malignant or benign) that arises in this zone disrupts the regulation of heat exchange processes. Patients suffering from such tumors, along with headaches and dizziness, often complain of chills and a feeling of coldness in the extremities.

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The direct cause of asthenia is a lack of oxygen in the tissues of the human body. At the same time, the processes of oxidation and energy production by the body slow down. People with asthenic syndrome experience shortness of breath, pale skin, disturbances in balance and vision (“floaters” before the eyes), and apathy.

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Hypothermia often occurs in patients suffering from dermatitis, psoriasis, or severe skin lesions (for example, ichthyosis).

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Seasonal viral infections are commonly associated with elevated body temperature, but this is not always the case. The fever usually persists in the first days of the disease, but during the recovery period, many patients suffer from weakness and hypothermia (in the morning the temperature does not rise above 36 ° C), associated with recent stress and a temporary decrease in the body's defenses.

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The types of curves allow us to distinguish the following types of fever.

1. With constant fever (febris continua), the body temperature is usually high, within 39°, and lasts for several days or weeks with fluctuations within 1°. Occurs in acute infectious diseases: typhus, lobar pneumonia, etc. (Fig. 1).

2. Laxative, or remitting fever (febris remittens) is characterized by significant daily fluctuations in body temperature (up to 2°C or more), and occurs with purulent diseases (Fig. 2).

3. Intermittent, or intermittent fever (febris intermittens) is characterized by a sharp rise in body temperature to 39-40°C or more and a decline in a short time to normal and even subnormal numbers; after 1-2-3 days the same rise and fall are repeated. Characteristic of malaria (Fig. 3).

4. Hectic, or debilitating fever (febris hectica) is characterized by large daily fluctuations in body temperature (over 3°) and a sharp drop to normal and subnormal numbers, and temperature fluctuations are greater than with remitting fever; observed in septic conditions and severe forms of tuberculosis (Fig. 4).

5. Relapsing fever (febris recurrens). Body temperature immediately rises to high levels, remains at these values for several days, and then decreases to normal. After some time, the fever returns and is again replaced by remission (there are several febrile attacks, up to 4-5). This type of fever is characteristic of some spirochetoses (relapsing fever, etc.) (Fig. 5).

6. Undulating fever (febris undulans). A gradual increase in temperature from day to day with a similar pattern of decrease. There may be several waves of rise and fall in temperature; it differs from relapsing fever by a gradual increase and decrease in temperature. Occurs in brucellosis and some other diseases (Fig. 6).

7. Perverted fever (febris in versa). Morning temperature is higher than evening temperature, occurs in tuberculosis, prolonged sepsis, and has an unfavorable prognosis.

8. Irregular fever is the most common. Daily fluctuations in body temperature are varied, the duration is not determined. It is observed in rheumatism, pneumonia, dysentery, and influenza (Fig. 7).

Based on temperature curves, 3 periods of fever are distinguished.

1. Initial period, or stage of temperature increase (stadium incrementi). Depending on the nature of the disease, this period can be very short and last for hours, usually accompanied by chills (for example, with malaria, lobar pneumonia), or last for a long period of up to several days (for example, with typhoid fever).

2. Stage of high fever (fastigium or acme). Lasts from several hours to many days.

3. Temperature reduction stage. A rapid drop in temperature is called a crisis (malaria, lobar pneumonia, typhus; Fig. 8); a gradual decrease is called lysis (typhoid fever, etc.; Fig. 9).

With a critical decrease in temperature, profuse sweating is observed, often a drop in vascular tone and sudden adynamia. See also Body temperature, Temperature sheet.

The main temperature curve is the daily determination of the rectal temperature in the morning after waking up during the menstrual cycle, in the first half of which the temperature fluctuates around low values. In the middle of the cycle, it increases by 0.6-0.8° due to ovulation, then remains at a relatively high level, and 1-2 days before the start of menstruation it drops sharply.

Fever is a temperature rise above 37 degrees Celsius in adults.

The degree of temperature increase is of great importance for assessing the patient's condition. Fever is accompanied by increased heart rate and respiration, and decreased blood pressure. Patients complain of fever, headache, dry mouth, thirst, lack of appetite and excessive sweating. During fever, metabolism increases, and the amount of water released through sweat per day can reach 8 liters or more. As a result of decreased appetite and fluid loss in febrile patients, body weight decreases, sometimes significantly.

A rapid and significant increase in body temperature is usually accompanied by chills, lasting from several minutes to an hour, rarely more. During chills, the blood vessels narrow, the skin turns pale, and so-called “goose bumps” appear. The patient feels very cold, trembles, and his teeth begin to chatter. With a gradual rise in temperature, only slight chilling is observed. At high temperatures, the skin turns red and the patient feels hot. A rapid drop in temperature is accompanied by profuse sweating. With fever, the evening temperature is usually higher than the morning temperature.

There are six main types of fever

1) Constant fever is characterized by the fact that a high temperature (37.5 - 38.5) lasts for several days or weeks, there is a difference in morning and evening temperatures within 1 degree. Such fever is observed with lobar pneumonia, with typhoid fever.

2) Relieving fever occurs with significant daily temperature fluctuations (usually 1.5-2 degrees). This fever is typical for tuberculosis, focal pneumonia, and purulent infections.

3) Intermittent fever is characterized by the fact that the temperature suddenly rises to degrees Celsius, and after a few hours it drops sharply to normal numbers. After 1-3 days, the temperature rise repeats. This type of fever is seen in malaria.

4) Wasting fever (hectic) is different in that with it a significantly elevated temperature (39 degrees or more) decreases within 24 hours to normal or even lower. This fever is observed in sepsis and severe forms of tuberculosis.

5) Perverted fever, or reverse type of fever. Characterized by the fact that the morning temperature is higher than the evening temperature. This type of temperature curve occurs in tuberculosis and sepsis.

6) Abnormal fever is most often observed with influenza, rheumatism, and dysentery. With irregular fever, daily temperature fluctuations are varied and uncertain.

Fever lasting up to 15 days is called acute; fever lasting more than 45 days is called chronic.

A decrease in temperature is called hypothermia. It is often observed when the temperature drops critically. For 1-3 days after this, the temperature remains at about 35 degrees Celsius. At the same time, the pulse slows down somewhat, and the patient feels satisfactory. Hypothermia is also observed during collapse. After severe bleeding, during fasting, exhaustion, after severe hypothermia.

Caring for febrile patients.

Fever has three main periods. Each of them requires a change in caregiver tactics.

1st period of fever - a period of rising temperature. Accompanied by chills, headache, and general poor health.

During this period it is necessary:

1) cover the patient warmly;

2) put a warm heating pad at your feet;

3) give the patient strong tea;

4) beware of drafts;

5) monitor the general condition of the patient;

6) you can give interferon 5 drops every two hours.

The period of fever is the period of maximum temperature rise

characterized by: 1) increased toxic condition;

2) increased headache;

3) feeling of heat;

4) dry mouth;

5) breaking pains throughout the body;

6) severe weakness;

7) sometimes excitement or hallucinations.

At this stage, the patient cannot be left alone. The higher the temperature and the greater its fluctuations, the more exhausted the patient is and the more dangerous his condition is.

During this period it is necessary:

1) put an ice pack or a cold vinegar compress on your head: 2 tablespoons of vinegar per half liter of water;

2) give plenty of drink (cranberry juice, mineral water, after removing gases from the bottle);

3) monitor your pulse and blood pressure;

4) to avoid dry mouth, take care of your oral cavity according to all the rules and lubricate your lips with any fat.

3rd period of fever - a period of decreasing temperature. It proceeds in different ways. A sharp drop in temperature from high to low numbers (crisis temperature drop) is dangerous. This period is characterized by:

1) profuse sweating;

2) a sharp drop in blood pressure and a decrease in heart rate;

3) severe weakness;

4) coldness of the extremities and cyanosis of the lips may be observed due to a sharp drop in vascular tone.

Emergency assistance during a drop in temperature:

the patient should be well covered and warmed;

put warm heating pads on your arms and legs;

give plenty of fluids;

change underwear if you are sweating heavily:

If there is a sharp drop in blood pressure, call a doctor immediately.

With a gradual (lytic) decrease in temperature, the patient's condition is characterized by perspiration and weakness. Most often the patient falls asleep. You can't wake him up.

You should know that when the temperature rises by 1 degree, the patient’s pulse increases by 8-12 beats per minute.

Feverish patients are fed in bed, physiological functions are also carried out in bed. The patient's skin is often wiped with water mixed with alcohol or diluted with vinegar or cologne to wash away metabolic products (urea, salts) as a result of sweat evaporation.

With fever, exhaustion and severe weakness are observed. It is necessary to strive to replenish the nutrients and water that the body loses. For this purpose, patients are given complete nutrients. Since the appetite of such patients is reduced, large amounts of food should not be given to them. Food should be high in calories and easily digestible. It should contain a large amount of vitamins and protein. Due to the large loss of fluid, patients are prescribed to drink plenty of fluids.

Observing the reaction of the pupils,

A very dangerous sign is dilated pupils with a lack of reaction to light. This may be a sign of clinical death. Before this happens, the shine in the patient’s eyes disappears, and the cornea may become cloudy. During this period, involuntary urination and defecation occur. The pulse is weak, barely palpable. We need to urgently call a doctor. He will either take measures to resuscitate the patient, or he will soon be forced to declare death.

Signs of clinical death:

1) Complete cessation of breathing.

2) Lack of pulse and heartbeat.

3) Deathly pallor of the skin.

4) Relaxation of muscles, including lowering of the lower jaw.

5) Disappearance of eye shine

6) Loss of sensitivity.

7) Gradual cooling of the body until complete cooling.

8) Pupil dilation with lack of reaction to light.

Prevention and assistance with aspiration of vomit.

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Temperature and types of fevers

Temperature measurement is mandatory when examining a patient. In a healthy person, body temperature fluctuates between 36-36.9 ° C. Measure the temperature for 10 minutes with a mercury thermometer, usually in the armpit area (the skin there should be wiped dry, otherwise the thermometer readings may be underestimated), if necessary - in the rectum (here it is normally 0.5-1° C higher than in the axillary region). A rise in temperature is called a fever. Fever has three stages in its development.

Stage I - a gradual rise, accompanied by severe chills, blue lips and limbs, headache, and poor health.

Stage II is characterized by a maximum increase in temperature, accompanied by headache, dry mouth, flushing of the face and skin, delirium, and hallucinations.

Stage III occurs in different ways: in some diseases, a critical (sharp) or lytic (gradual) drop in temperature is observed.

There are several types of fever (Fig. 19).

Rice. 19. Temperature curves for fever:

A persistent fever is characterized by a high temperature; fluctuations between morning and evening temperatures do not exceed 1 ° C (occurs with lobar pneumonia, typhoid fever).

With a laxative, remitting fever, the difference between morning and evening temperatures is within 2-3 ° C, and the morning temperature does not reach the norm (in case of purulent diseases, focal pneumonia).

In the case of intermittent, intermittent fever, the difference between morning and evening temperatures lies within 2-2.5 ° C, morning temperatures are below 37 ° C (this happens, for example, with malaria).

If debilitating, or hectic, fever develops, temperature fluctuations reach 2-4 ° C during the day (with sepsis, severe pulmonary tuberculosis, etc.). A rise in temperature is accompanied by chills, and a fall is accompanied by profuse sweating. This temperature is very debilitating for the patient.

Undulating fever is characterized by a gradual rise in temperature, and then the same gradual descent, after which a few days later it begins to rise again (occurs in brucellosis, lymphogranulomatosis).

With relapsing fever, periods of increased temperature are replaced by its normalization, after which a new rise is noted (characteristic of relapsing typhus).

In perverted fever, the evening temperature is lower than the morning temperature.

15 reasons for low body temperature

Hypothermia or low body temperature, especially if it persists for a long time, is a good reason to consult a doctor. The reasons for low body temperature in an adult can be different and are not always associated with banal hypothermia or overwork. In addition to completely harmless factors, this symptom can be caused by serious pathologies or a hidden infectious process. To understand why body temperature drops, it is necessary to undergo a full medical examination and take measures to correct health problems.

Low body temperature: pathology or normal?

Everyone knows that a normal body temperature is 36.6°. It can vary slightly throughout the day depending on the time of day, physical activity, age and even mood. This is a natural process associated with the body’s thermoregulation characteristics.

A dangerous deviation is considered to be a decrease in body temperature below 35°C. Moreover, many simply ignore this alarming sign, believing that the weakness, apathy, and general deterioration in well-being that accompany this condition are caused by banal overwork. However, hypothermia is no less dangerous than high temperature, since it can be a sign of exhaustion of the nervous systems or indicate hidden diseases.

Sometimes a slight deviation in body temperature towards a decrease can be an individual characteristic of the body. If a person feels great, then there is no need to worry. But when you feel a loss of strength, weakness, and your body temperature is 35°C and remains stable at this level, you should consult a doctor.

Symptoms of hypothermia

A decrease in body temperature is accompanied by the following symptoms:

pale, cold to the touch skin;
loss of strength, decreased performance, lethargy and apathy;
chills, increased sweating;
lethargy, drowsiness;
low blood pressure, decreased heart rate;
dizziness.

When body temperature drops below 34°C, there is severe chills, weak pulse, speech becomes slurred, and movements become slow. If blood pressure drops, a person may lose consciousness. A sharp drop in body temperature to 32°C is considered a critical condition that can lead to death.

What causes a decrease in body temperature?

In medicine, all reasons that provoke a decrease in temperature are usually divided into two categories:

external (exogenous) factors;
internal (endogenous) factors.

The most common exogenous causes include:

hypothermia of the body;
taking certain medications (sleeping pills, sedatives);
fasting, following strict diets;
unbalanced diet, vitamin deficiency;
intoxication of the body with food, alcohol, drugs, chemicals;
chronic fatigue syndrome, overwork;
recovery period after a serious illness;
age.

Internal causes of hypothermia are considered:

A decrease in body temperature is often observed in older people. And in adolescents, this symptom manifests itself with vegetative disorders and hormonal changes. Let's take a closer look at the most common causes of hypothermia.

Causes of low body temperature

Vegetovascular dystonia

Failures in the functioning of the autonomic system often cause disturbances in the body's thermoregulation and, along with low temperature, are accompanied by weakness, pressure surges, nausea, dizziness, attacks of severe headaches (migraines), combined with intolerance to bright light and loud sounds.

If such symptoms appear, you should seek medical help and consult with a therapist, neurologist, endocrinologist, or psychotherapist.

Iron-deficiency anemia

A decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood immediately affects general well-being and leads to a decrease in performance, lethargy, weakness, pale skin, hypothermia, and constant chilliness.

A blood test for hemoglobin will help identify iron deficiency in the body. If the suspicion of anemia is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe medications containing iron (Sorbifer, Ferretab, etc.), which should be taken for 2-3 months.

Viral and bacterial infections

The recovery period after a recent illness is always accompanied by general weakness, since the immune system is just beginning to recover and it takes time for a person to fully recover from an illness. And if in the first days the disease manifests itself with intense fever, then as the patient recovers, hypothermia often occurs in the morning.

During this period, low-grade fever during the day and low temperature at night is often observed. That is, during the daytime the temperature stays at 37.0-37.5°C, and at night it drops to 35°C and is accompanied by severe weakness and increased sweating. The causes of low temperature in a child are often associated with infectious diseases.

Often, after suffering from a cold (ARI), the baby’s body temperature decreases and characteristic signs are observed - weakness, pallor of the skin. This condition is associated with imperfections in the body’s thermoregulation system, which in children under 3 years of age is not yet fully formed. In this case, the body temperature may remain at around 35.5°C, but parents should not panic about this. It is enough to dress the child warmly and give him hot drinks more often.

Pregnancy

The reasons for low temperature in women often lie in hormonal fluctuations before menstruation or during menopause. Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy often contribute to the development of hypothermia.

Such conditions do not cause any particular concern, since as the woman’s body adapts to the new condition, her health returns to normal.

Hypothermia of the body

When exposed to cold wind, icy water or bitter cold for a long time, the body suffers from hypothermia. At the same time, metabolic processes slow down, heat transfer increases and body temperature decreases, that is, the person freezes. The skin becomes cold to the touch, movements slow down, heart rate and breathing decrease, and chills appear.

If the victim is warmed up, the unpleasant symptoms quickly disappear. Rubbing, hot drinks, and a warm bed will come to the rescue. In severe cases, the victim requires medical attention, as severe frostbite leads to severe health consequences.

Dehydration

Food poisoning or intestinal infections cause intoxication of the body, frequent bouts of vomiting, diarrhea, which leads to massive loss of fluid and dehydration. This condition is accompanied by severe weakness and hypothermia. In this case, the victim needs emergency medical care.

Taking into account the severity of the condition, the doctor will prescribe medications at home or refer the patient to the hospital. In case of dehydration, it is important to provide the necessary assistance in a timely manner, otherwise serious consequences are possible - convulsions, a sharp drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness due to dehydration shock. Dehydration is especially dangerous for children.

At home, it is necessary to replace the loss of fluids and electrolytes. To do this, you need to drink Regidron, saline solutions, still mineral water, tea, and dried fruit compote as often as possible.

Endocrine system diseases

Signs of hypothermia are observed in pathologies such as hypothyroidism or hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus (when blood sugar levels drop). With a deficiency of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism), water-salt metabolism is disrupted, which leads to weakness, hypothermia, drop in blood pressure, swelling, dry skin, brittle hair and nails.

In this case, it is necessary to treat the underlying disease with hormone replacement therapy, which eliminates the underlying cause of the disease. With hypoglycemia, the blood sugar level drops sharply, which is manifested by pallor, severe weakness, the appearance of cold sweat, nausea, and a decrease in body temperature.

Acute adrenal insufficiency

This condition is accompanied by dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, heart rhythm disturbances (tachycardia, arrhythmia), loss of consciousness due to a sharp drop in pressure. If you notice such alarming signs in yourself or loved ones, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Tumor processes

A special area in the brain, the hypothalamus, is responsible for maintaining heat exchange processes in the body. And if any neoplasm (malignant or benign) occurs in this area, the functions of the organ are disrupted.

As a result, a malfunction occurs in the thermoregulation system and the person immediately feels unfavorable changes, which are expressed by constant headaches, dizziness, a feeling of coldness in the extremities and a decrease in body temperature.

Internal bleeding

Hidden bleeding can develop with gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, injuries to internal organs, and tumor processes. These are dangerous conditions that threaten serious consequences and require emergency medical care.

External signs of bleeding are pallor, weakness, cold skin, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, tarry stools, fainting.

Unbalanced nutrition, strict diets, fasting - often cause hypothermia and weakness

The body does not receive enough nutrients, vitamins and microelements, which leads to the development of vitamin deficiency and a weakening of the body's defenses. When following strict diets, a person quickly loses fat reserves and depletes the glycogen reserves accumulated in the liver. As a result, the processes of heat exchange and heat transfer are disrupted, and the more a person loses weight, the more he begins to freeze for no apparent reason.

Asthenic syndrome

The main cause of asthenia lies in the lack of oxygen (hypoxia). Organs and tissues do not receive enough necessary nutrients, as a result the energy balance of the body is disrupted, and all vital processes slow down.

The cardiovascular system and brain suffer the most from lack of oxygen. Violation of their functions leads to weakness, lethargy, apathy, dizziness, pallor of the skin and manifestations of hypothermia.

Taking medications

Often, low body temperature is observed with unsystematic and long-term use of potent drugs (sedatives, sleeping pills).

Such medications inhibit the functions of the nervous system, disrupt metabolic processes, and negatively affect the functions of the hypothalamus, which causes weakness and a decrease in body temperature. Another cause of hypothermia is an overdose of antipyretics for colds or vasoconstrictor drops used for a runny nose.

Dermatological diseases

Chronic skin diseases such as psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, ichthyosis are often accompanied by low body temperature. This is due to the fact that damage to large areas of the skin causes a rush of blood in these areas, which provokes a violation of thermoregulation and reduces body temperature.

Sepsis (blood poisoning)

With septic complications, active proliferation of bacteria in the blood occurs and the body is poisoned by their waste products. This condition is usually accompanied by a sharp rise in temperature to high values, but in elderly and weakened patients the opposite situation is often observed.

The reason for this is damage to the nervous system, which disables the thermoregulation center. Hypothermia during sepsis is especially dangerous, since a drop in body temperature below 34°C entails disruption of the functions of all vital organs, is accompanied by depression of consciousness and can result in death.

Less common causes that can provoke hypothermia include poisoning with narcotic substances or ethanol, immunodeficiency conditions (HIV, AIDS), severe liver damage (hepatitis, cirrhosis), intoxication with poisons or aggressive chemicals.

Low body temperature - what to do?

If, when measuring your body temperature, you notice a deviation from the norm, you should not panic. With normal general health, this is most likely a natural process associated with hypothermia or overwork. Often a slight deviation from the generally accepted norm is just an individual characteristic of the body.

If you are cold, you need to dress warmly, drink a large mug of hot milk or tea with honey and jam, and your health will soon return to normal. Often, a decrease in temperature is a symptom of vegetative-vascular dystonia, and in this way a person can react to a change in weather, a stress factor, or severe mental and physical stress. In this case, resting in a calm home environment and taking a light herbal sedative will help.

If a low body temperature is accompanied by a deterioration in general well-being, you should seek medical help to find out the causes of this condition. You should first make an appointment with a therapist. After examination and receipt of laboratory test results, the doctor will make a preliminary diagnosis and prescribe treatment. If concomitant pathologies are suspected, the patient will be referred to specialists - an endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist, oncologist, urologist or gynecologist.

When is urgent medical attention needed?

There are a number of life-threatening conditions accompanied by hypothermia. In what cases should you call an ambulance?

if body temperature drops to 34°C and continues to decrease;
the person’s condition worsens to the point of loss of consciousness;
when poor health in an elderly person is accompanied by severe hypothermia;
Such dangerous symptoms appear as a sharp drop in blood pressure, visual and hearing impairment, uncontrollable vomiting, abdominal pain, and tarry stools.

These signs indicate the development of severe life-threatening complications, so it is necessary to provide qualified medical assistance as soon as possible.

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Before using medications, consult your doctor!

The third period is a period of decreasing temperature

The second period is the period of temperature preservation

The first period is the period of temperature increase

During the course of fever, there are 3 main periods that the nurse needs to know, because. The tactics of her behavior have their own characteristics. During the period of fever, it is necessary to especially carefully monitor the condition of the patient’s skin and take all measures to prevent bedsores. Such patients need to be fed to bed. You should also not allow visitors to the sick person, because he should not get tired. It is necessary to frequently change underwear and monitor the general condition of the patient.

During this period, heat generation prevails over heat transfer; heat generation increases by 20-30%, and sometimes by 50% or more.

The increase in heat production is due to increased oxidative processes, primarily in the muscles - muscle tone increases, sometimes turning into trembling. Metabolism is activated, basal metabolism increases, spasm of skin blood vessels occurs, which leads to a decrease in its temperature and a decrease in heat transfer: this is also facilitated by a decrease in sweating. A decrease in skin temperature due to vascular spasm is subjectively perceived as a feeling of cold and the patient tries to warm up, despite the increase in body temperature. With a rapid increase in body temperature (influenza, lobar pneumonia), chills occur; with a slow development of fever (bronchopneumonia, typhoid fever), this does not happen.

The maximum temperature rise does not exceed 42 degrees. C., when measured in the rectum and rarely exceeds 41.1 g. WITH.

The patient experiences an increase in temperature, accompanied by severe chills, blue lips, cyanosis of the extremities, headache and general poor health.

When the body temperature reaches a level corresponding to the displacement of the “set point”, a further rise in body temperature does not occur, because heat production again occurs in equilibrium with heat transfer.

Heat production remains somewhat increased, but at the same time heat transfer also increases, and excess heat is “discharged”. This is accomplished by hyperemic, hot skin, and the chills stop.

This period is characterized by increased toxicity, headache, feeling of heat, dry mouth, severe weakness, and aches throughout the body. At the height of fever, delirium and hallucinations are possible.

As a result of dilation of the blood vessels of the skin and increased sweating, heat production decreases and heat transfer increases.

This period proceeds in different ways. Body temperature can drop critically - quickly from high to low numbers (from 40 to 36 ° C) - This is often accompanied by a sharp decrease in vascular tone, a drop in blood pressure, and a thready pulse. Such a sharp drop in temperature is accompanied by weakness and profuse sweating. The limbs become cold to the touch, the lips are cyanotic. This condition is called a crisis and requires urgent action. A critical drop in temperature can be observed with lobar pneumonia, as well as with some infectious diseases.

A gradual decrease in body temperature is called lysis or lytic. Lysis is accompanied by the appearance of slight sweat on the skin and weakness. Usually, after the temperature drops, the patient falls asleep. You can't wake him up, because... Sound sleep is the best way to recuperate.

Sapa Irina Yurievna

In children, compared to adults, an increase in body temperature (hyperthermia) is observed more often. This is due to the insufficient development of the thermoregulation center in babies.

The most common causes of increased body temperature in children:

acute infectious diseases (ARVI, pneumonia, intestinal infections);
dehydration of the body;
overheating;
damage to the central nervous system.

Normal body temperature, measured in the axillary region in a child over one year old or in the thigh fold in babies under one year old, ranges from 36 to 37 degrees, but on average - 36.6 0. The temperature in the oral cavity and rectum (anal temperature) is 1 degree higher.

An increase in body temperature in the armpit from 37 to 38 degrees is called subfebrile, from 38 to 39 degrees - febrile, from 39 to 40.5 - pyretic (from the Greek pyretos - heat), and above 40.5 - hyperpyretic.

Main periods of development of hyperthermia:

gradual increase in temperature (initial period). Often accompanied by chills, headache, and deterioration in general condition. In children of the first year of life, vomiting often precedes a rise in temperature;

period of maximum increase. There is a further deterioration in the general condition: there is a feeling of heaviness in the head, a feeling of heat, severe weakness, and aches throughout the body. Excitement often occurs, and convulsions are possible. Sometimes delusions and hallucinations appear. During this period, you should not leave the child alone in bed without the supervision of any family member, as children may fall out of bed or hit themselves;

period of decrease in body temperature. The process can proceed critically (crisis) or lytically (lysis). A rapid drop in body temperature, for example from 40 to 36 degrees, is called critical. And a gradual decrease is lytic. With a critical decrease, a sharp decrease in vascular tone and blood pressure occurs. The pulse becomes weak and thread-like. The child develops severe weakness, profuse sweating, and his hands and feet become cold to the touch. With a gradual (lytic) decrease in temperature, slight sweating and moderate weakness appear. As a rule, the child falls asleep peacefully.

The treatment procedures that can be carried out at home before the baby is examined by a doctor and the use of antipyretic medications depend on the period of the child’s process.

Help during the initial period of fever:

the child should be put to bed;
cover thoroughly;
apply a warm heating pad to your feet;
provide an influx of fresh cool air, but without drafts;
drink tea. If the baby refuses tea, offer other drinks (compote, juice, rosehip infusion);

Help during periods of maximum temperature rise:

Continue to give the baby plenty of water: give liquid in the form of fruit juices, fruit drinks, mineral water, herbal infusions. When body temperature rises above 37 degrees for each degree, an additional 10 ml of liquid per 1 kg of body weight is required (approximately 20-30% more than the usual volume). For example, an 8-month-old child weighing 8 kg at a temperature of 39 degrees needs 160 ml of liquid in addition to the daily diet;

do not insist on eating if you have no appetite. A child's diet at high temperatures should be gentle, with limited animal proteins (meat, milk). It is better to feed the baby more often and in small portions;

if dry mouth and cracks appear on the lips, then they should be lubricated with a weak solution of soda (1 teaspoon per glass of warm boiled water), petroleum jelly or other fat;

For severe headaches, cold is used on the head - an ice pack is placed, but always through a diaper or a linen towel folded in 3-4 layers. At home, you can use water-filled and pre-frozen heating pads or small plastic bottles. Today in pharmacies you can buy special packages with gel (usually this inert gel is blue in color), which, after cooling in the refrigerator, are used on any area of the body. The use of such gel packs is very convenient, since they take on the contours of the area of the body on which they are applied and can be reused;

Cold compresses with cold water can also be applied to the forehead area, but they should be re-wetted and changed as they warm up (approximately every 2-4 minutes). It is better to use two napkins alternately. While one is placed in a zone of increased temperature, the second is cooled in cold water. You can use vinegar water for compresses (1 tablespoon per liter of water);

in the armpits and thigh folds, pressing the legs slightly to the stomach, place small bottles of ice (10-20 ml), wrapped in a gauze napkin;

when the temperature rises above 38 degrees, the child should be uncovered and a fan can be blown on him;

wipe the skin with an alcohol or vinegar solution.

How to rub down a child to reduce the temperature:

prepare a small container of 200-300 ml;

pour 50 grams of alcohol or vodka into it;

add the same volume of water;

moisten a gauze napkin or a piece of cloth measuring 20x20 or 30x30 cm;

wring out the napkin;

Use a moistened napkin to wipe the child’s skin (chest, stomach, back, thighs), especially carefully rubbing the palms, soles, and inner surfaces of the arms and legs. In young children, the skin is very delicate, so wiping should be carried out so as not to injure the skin. The alcohol solution quickly evaporates from the surface of the body and due to this, heat transfer increases and the temperature decreases. For vinegar rubdowns, add one tablespoon of vinegar (but not vinegar essence) to one liter of cold water. You can use apple cider vinegar in the same proportion. Rubbing can be repeated every 1.5-2 hours. If the child sweats, it is necessary to change the underwear every time.

after drying, the child is dressed in regular pajamas;

put the baby to bed. You should not wrap children very warmly, as the temperature may rise again.

Recently, questions have been discussed about the advisability of using vinegar compresses and vinegar rubdowns for hyperthermia. Some authors believe that external use of acidic or alcoholic solutions increases intoxication. However, over my many years of practice, I have never encountered a worsening of a child’s condition when using two or three vinegar or alcohol rubs during the day. Repeated persistent increase in body temperature after physical cooling requires the use of medications.

If a child has a hard time withstanding an increase in temperature or has previously had convulsions against this background (so-called febrile convulsions), then one should begin to reduce the temperature already at 37.5-37.8 o, without waiting for the rise to 38 degrees.

Help with rapid critical reduction of elevated temperature:

the child needs to be warmed;
apply a heating pad to your feet;
give strong tea to drink;
Make sure that the child’s clothes and underwear are dry. If the bed becomes damp due to sweating, the bed linen must be changed.

With a gradual lytic decrease in temperature It is enough to ensure that the baby is not woken up at this moment, since during sleep he regains his strength and to check whether his clothes and bedding are dry.

How to do full body wraps to reduce high body temperature:

fill a container with at least 1 liter of cold tap water or pour in an infusion of herbs (chamomile, yarrow, St. John's wort);

a cotton sheet or cloth is moistened in the prepared solution;

squeeze;

quickly wrap around the child’s body so that the arms remain free and the legs are wrapped on all sides except the feet;

wrap the child in a sheet or thin blanket, then in a thicker blanket or blanket, but the face and feet remain free;

put socks soaked in cold water on the feet, and woolen socks on top;

leave the child in such a general cold compress for 45-60 minutes;

if it is noticeable that the child is freezing, then he should be covered additionally with something warm or a warm heating pad should be placed at his feet;

During the wrapping, children are given a warm drink. The stronger the secretion, the faster the body temperature will drop;

prepare a bath with warm water before the end of the procedure;

turn the child around;

buy it back quickly;

blot with a towel;

put to bed;

After 15-30 minutes, put on clean underwear. You can rinse your baby in the shower instead of a bath. If the child falls asleep during the procedure, he should not be woken until he wakes up on his own.

Cold wraps for babies should be done this way:

lay a terry towel or blanket across the crib or changing table;

moisten a folded diaper in cold water;

place a wet diaper on top of a towel or blanket;

lay the undressed child on his back on a wet diaper;

picking him up in his swaddling clothes;

wrap the loose ends of the wet diaper around the baby's chest;

wet and wring out the second diaper;

apply the second diaper to the baby's chest;

then wrap the baby in a dry towel, blanket or blanket;

after 30-45 minutes, unswaddle the baby;

wipe with a dry towel and put on dry underwear.

Cold wraps are performed once a day. They can be alternated with rubdowns - vinegar or alcohol. It should be remembered that cold wraps are used only when body temperature rises above 38 degrees. Low-grade fever (37-37.5) requires the use of hot wraps.

Another method of non-drug reduction of body temperature is enemas. This procedure allows you to rid the body of toxins, which themselves can cause an increase in body temperature. But for such an antipyretic enema, you should use a hypertonic 5-10% saline solution: 1 tablespoon of salt per glass of water. Use slightly warm water. The enema balloon (bulb) must have a soft tip. The volume of enema for children, depending on age, is as follows: up to 6 months - 30-50 ml, from 6 months to 1.5 years - 70-100 ml, from 1.5 to 5 years - 180-200 ml, 6 - 12 years - 200 -400 ml, over 12 years – 500-700 ml. You can use chamomile infusion (3 tablespoons of flowers per glass of water, boil in a water bath for 15 minutes or brew in a thermos) as the basis for a hypertensive enema.

How to give an enema to a child:

before use, the enema bulb should be boiled for 2-5 minutes;

after cooling the pear, it is filled with the prepared solution;

remove excess air by slightly squeezing the balloon until liquid appears from the upward-facing tip;

the tip is lubricated with Vaseline;

An infant is placed on his back with his legs raised up, and older children are placed on his side with his legs pulled up to his stomach;

the tip of the balloon is inserted into the anus very carefully so as not to injure the mucous membrane of the rectum, without force, to a depth of 3-5 cm for young children, 6-8 cm for older children;

gradually squeeze the bulb and squeeze out the liquid into the rectum;

After emptying the cylinder, without unclenching it, carefully remove the tip

To retain the injected fluid in the intestines, you should squeeze the child’s buttocks with your hand for several minutes. After this, bowel movement occurs. Currently, in pharmacies you can purchase disposable sterile plastic balloons with tips and ready-made solutions for cleansing enemas of various sizes, including for very young children.

For inflammatory bowel diseases with the threat of ulcers, erosions or cracks in the rectum or large intestine, performing enemas at home without consulting a doctor is contraindicated.

Thus, at home or on vacation, in the country, you should use non-drug methods to reduce high body temperature before consulting a doctor to prevent complications associated with hyperthermia. As parents accumulate their own experience, they begin to figure out which procedures the child tolerates more easily and which of them are the most effective. It is these methods that need to be used in the future with repeated episodes of a pronounced increase in body temperature.

Sapa Irina Yurievna

In children, compared to adults, an increase in body temperature (hyperthermia) is observed more often. This is due to the insufficient development of the thermoregulation center in babies.

The most common causes of increased body temperature in children:

acute infectious diseases (ARVI, pneumonia, intestinal infections);
dehydration of the body;
overheating;
damage to the central nervous system.

Main periods of development of hyperthermia:

The treatment procedures that can be carried out at home before the baby is examined by a doctor and the use of antipyretic medications depend on the period of the child’s process.

Help during the initial period of fever:

the child should be put to bed;
cover thoroughly;
apply a warm heating pad to your feet;
provide an influx of fresh cool air, but without drafts;
drink tea. If the baby refuses tea, offer other drinks (compote, juice, rosehip infusion);

Help during periods of maximum temperature rise:

if dry mouth and cracks appear on the lips, then they should be lubricated with a weak solution of soda (1 teaspoon per glass of warm boiled water), petroleum jelly or other fat;

in the armpits and thigh folds, pressing the legs slightly to the stomach, place small bottles of ice (10-20 ml), wrapped in a gauze napkin;

when the temperature rises above 38 degrees, the child should be uncovered and a fan can be blown on him;

wipe the skin with an alcohol or vinegar solution.

How to rub down a child to reduce the temperature:

prepare a small container of 200-300 ml;

pour 50 grams of alcohol or vodka into it;

add the same volume of water;

moisten a gauze napkin or a piece of cloth measuring 20x20 or 30x30 cm;

wring out the napkin;

after drying, the child is dressed in regular pajamas;

put the baby to bed. You should not wrap children very warmly, as the temperature may rise again.

Help with rapid critical reduction of elevated temperature:

the child needs to be warmed;
apply a heating pad to your feet;
give strong tea to drink;
Make sure that the child’s clothes and underwear are dry. If the bed becomes damp due to sweating, the bed linen must be changed.

How to do full body wraps to reduce high body temperature:

fill a container with at least 1 liter of cold tap water or pour in an infusion of herbs (chamomile, yarrow, St. John's wort);

a cotton sheet or cloth is moistened in the prepared solution;

squeeze;

quickly wrap around the child’s body so that the arms remain free and the legs are wrapped on all sides except the feet;

wrap the child in a sheet or thin blanket, then in a thicker blanket or blanket, but the face and feet remain free;

put socks soaked in cold water on the feet, and woolen socks on top;

leave the child in such a general cold compress for 45-60 minutes;

if it is noticeable that the child is freezing, then he should be covered additionally with something warm or a warm heating pad should be placed at his feet;

During the wrapping, children are given a warm drink. The stronger the secretion, the faster the body temperature will drop;

prepare a bath with warm water before the end of the procedure;

turn the child around;

buy it back quickly;

blot with a towel;

put to bed;

Cold wraps for babies should be done this way:

lay a terry towel or blanket across the crib or changing table;

moisten a folded diaper in cold water;

place a wet diaper on top of a towel or blanket;

lay the undressed child on his back on a wet diaper;

picking him up in his swaddling clothes;

wrap the loose ends of the wet diaper around the baby's chest;

wet and wring out the second diaper;

apply the second diaper to the baby's chest;

then wrap the baby in a dry towel, blanket or blanket;

after 30-45 minutes, unswaddle the baby;

wipe with a dry towel and put on dry underwear.

How to give an enema to a child:

before use, the enema bulb should be boiled for 2-5 minutes;

after cooling the pear, it is filled with the prepared solution;

remove excess air by slightly squeezing the balloon until liquid appears from the upward-facing tip;

the tip is lubricated with Vaseline;

An infant is placed on his back with his legs raised up, and older children are placed on his side with his legs pulled up to his stomach;

gradually squeeze the bulb and squeeze out the liquid into the rectum;

After emptying the cylinder, without unclenching it, carefully remove the tip

For inflammatory bowel diseases with the threat of ulcers, erosions or cracks in the rectum or large intestine, performing enemas at home without consulting a doctor is contraindicated.