An increase in body temperature accompanies many diseases that occur in children. This symptom not only worsens the baby’s well-being, but can also have serious consequences, especially when it comes to the baby’s health in the first years of life. When a child has a high temperature and his hands and feet are cold, what to do in this case ?
A condition in which a person has a very high temperature and cold extremities is called fever. The cause of this condition is a sharp disruption of the blood supply to the extremities due to spasm of peripheral vessels. Fever can trigger febrile convulsions, so if parents see that the child has a fever, but his feet and hands are cold, then help should be provided immediately.
Signs of fever in children include:
This condition is considered the most dangerous for children under 1 year of age, since their thermoregulation system, due to its development, is far from perfect. Against this background, the baby may experience severe convulsions, overheating and even severe intoxication. If a baby has symptoms of fever, it is necessary to immediately call a medical team - the child needs urgent medical attention!
Coldness of the extremities against a background of high temperature is a dangerous condition that threatens the occurrence of seizures, so it is important to take appropriate measures to avoid them.
A child has a high temperature and his hands and feet are cold, what to do:
What to do if a child has a high fever, and his hands and feet are cold, and, in addition, convulsions begin:
If convulsions persist, a medical team should be called. The same should be done if there is persistent vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration.
When a child has a high temperature, it is forbidden to give aspirin, since this drug has a negative effect on the liver and kidneys. If there are any doubts regarding solving the problem of high fever in children, you should consult a doctor, because self-medication can be extremely dangerous.
Cold extremities are a common problem; this phenomenon can be caused both by the peculiarities of thermoregulation and by certain chronic diseases.
But cold hands and feet at high temperatures are an unusual phenomenon, most often found in young children or adults suffering from complex chronic diseases with impaired immune defense function. Popularly, this condition was aptly dubbed “white fever.”
This phenomenon refers to the body's defensive reactions. A malfunction of the immune system and the vascular system leads to a special physiological process in which blood flows from the periphery to large internal organs, at the same time the vessels of the extremities sharply spasm and heat exchange in them is disrupted.
Externally, this condition is characterized by pronounced pallor of the skin, hence the appropriate name - “white fever”.
This type of fever can occur against the background of acute inflammatory diseases, most often of viral etiology (influenza, acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, scarlet fever, mumps, whooping cough, measles, etc.) or be a consequence of ineffective treatment of the disease, its improper treatment without proper medical supervision.
It also occurs in diseases of the nasopharynx (pharyngitis, rhinitis, laryngitis, tracheitis), bronchopulmonary system (bronchitis and pneumonia), various sluggish chronic ailments of internal organs and systems in the acute stage (mononucleosis, glomerulonephritis, hepatitis, etc.) This condition can also accompany injuries and brain tumors, some types of allergies.
Symptoms of white fever:
This type of hyperthermia can be distinguished from a normal rise in temperature by the following signs: with normal fever, the skin is evenly warm throughout the body, and the patient’s state of health is satisfactory. “White fever” causes severe chills, trembling in the extremities, feet, palms and lips are sorely marbled or bluish, the general condition suffers - blood pressure rises, the heartbeat quickens, and breathing becomes difficult.
If you measure the temperature in the usual way and rectally, in the case of “white fever” there will be a difference of one or more degrees.
The “white” type of fever is considered extremely dangerous for infants. Babies have not yet developed a thermoregulation system, and the body's response to infection can be unpredictable. There is a possibility of severe overheating and seizures, as well as poisoning of the body with the products of its own intoxication. If you detect a high temperature in your baby, accompanied by a sharp cold snap in the extremities, you should immediately call an ambulance or, if the child’s condition is satisfactory, call your local pediatrician.
Since temperature is not a disease, but its manifestation, that is, one of the symptoms, it is important to begin treatment of the underlying disease. To do this, you need to contact a doctor who will make the correct diagnosis, prescribe an adequate regimen for taking the necessary medications, and to completely get rid of residual effects, prescribe effective additional physical procedures, massage, or a set of therapeutic exercises.
Before the doctor arrives, at a high temperature (above 38.5), children are given Paracetamol, Nurofen syrups, Tsefekon, Efferalgan suppositories strictly in the dosage prescribed in the instructions for use for this age. Adults can take the same drugs in tablets, or aspirin or its derivatives. After consultation with a pediatrician or local physician, in the absence of contraindications, antispasmodics are included in the fight against “white fever”: “No-shpu”, “Papaverine”, Nikoshpan”, etc.
Pre-medical measures include lightly rubbing the patient's legs and arms, and wrapping them in an additional blanket (there is no need to cover the body!). You can apply a heating pad with hot (but not scalding!) water to your feet. Increasing the drinking regime and traditional vinegar wiping are also useful.
If after all the measures the temperature has not dropped, the issue of hospitalization of the patient must be decided.
“White fever” has clear distinctive signs; if you find it in yourself or your loved ones, be sure to consult a specialist. This will help you avoid unnecessary complications and get competent advice on how to deal with it.
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