Causes of periodic or constant slight increase in body temperature. At what time of the day the maximum body temperature rises Frequent changes in body temperature

Each warm-blooded organism experiences daily fluctuations in body temperature. Such fluctuations are called circadian rhythms. For example, for an average person, the morning temperature may differ from the evening temperature by one degree.

Daily temperature fluctuations

The most low temperature bodies are observed in the early morning - around six o'clock. It is about 35.5 degrees. It reaches its maximum value in the evening and rises to 37 degrees and above.

The daily change in body temperature is closely related to the solar cycle, and not at all to the level of human activity. For example, in people who, unlike the rest, work at night and sleep during the day, exactly the same patterns of temperature changes are observed - in the evening it rises, and in the morning it falls.

The temperature is not the same everywhere

The temperature of the human body varies not only depending on the time of day. Each organ has its own "working" temperature. For example, the temperature between the surface of the skin, muscles and internal organs can reach ten degrees. A thermometer placed under the arm in a healthy person is 36.6 degrees. In this case, the rectal temperature will be 37.5 degrees, and the temperature in the mouth - 37 degrees.

What else affects temperature?

When the body is sharply mobilized, the body temperature also rises. This happens, for example, during intense mental work, as a result of severe stress or fear.

Among other things, the dynamics of body temperature is influenced by factors such as age and gender. In childhood and adolescence, the temperature during the day changes more strongly. In girls, it stabilizes by the age of 14, and in boys - by 18 years. In this case, the temperature, as a rule, is half a degree higher than the temperature of men.

Sometimes it happens that a person convinces himself that his temperature is too low or too high. This phenomenon is called "psychosomatic temperature jump". As a result of such self-hypnosis, body temperature can indeed change.

The mechanism of thermoregulation

The hypothalamus and the thyroid gland are involved in the control of body temperature and its change. The hypothalamus contains special cells that respond to changes in body temperature by decreasing or increasing the production of thyroid-stimulating hormone. This hormone acts on the thyroid gland and causes it to secrete the hormones T4 and T3, which have a direct effect on thermoregulation. The hormone estradiol also affects the temperature of the female body. The higher its concentration in the blood, the lower the body temperature.

Without respect and consideration for biorhythms, no progress and improvement in health is possible

Real health is a properly organized mode of life. Without respect and consideration for biorhythms, no progress and improvement in health is possible. Human nature is complex, and we have not one, but several pacemakers that may or may not be synchronized (desynchronization).

I want to tell you about one important pacemaker - temperature. This is important to know, since the rhythmic organization of basic physiological functions (sleep, nutrition, physical activity, stress) affects the state of health, performance and resistance of the body to various influences.

Pacemakers: light and temperature

Adaptation of the human body to changing environmental conditions (change of time of day, seasons, solar activity, etc.) is carried out with the help of biological rhythms, or “internal clocks”. Formed in the course of evolution, the circadian rhythms of organisms are synchronized with the duration of photoperiods. Being one of the fundamental properties of living matter, biorhythms are manifested in the functioning of all body systems (nervous, endocrine, reproductive, cardiovascular, etc.).

Biorhythms are divided into circadian (daily), circannual (annual), ultradian (lasting more than a day), infradian (lasting less than a day), etc. The center of regulation of biorhythms is the hypothalamus. The circadian rhythm generator is localized in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus. The suprachiasmatic nuclei receive information about illumination through the retinohypothalamic tract. The circadian pacemaker responds to various illumination parameters - wavelength, duration and time of exposure. The main external synchronizer of circadian rhythm is the light-dark cycle, but even in the absence of external light (solar) influences (bunker, submarine, cave, etc.), circadian rhythms persist, changing in duration, due to internal periodicity. Moreover, melatonin, due to its hypothermic properties, has a direct effect on the circadian rhythm of body temperature.

Although the suprachiasmatic nuclei (driven by light) certainly play a critical role in the regulation of circadian timing systems, there is evidence of other pacemakers in mammals as well. So, for example, in saimiri monkeys with damaged suprachiasmatic nuclei, the rhythms of eating, drinking and activity disappear, but the daily cycle of body temperature remains unchanged.This shows that temperature fluctuations are under the control of some other pacemaker.

The fact that the subjects exhibit spontaneous desynchronization, i.e. The discrepancy between the circadian rhythm of body temperature and the sleep-wake cycle indicates the existence of at least two drivers. There are certain sets of rhythms that are never desynchronized in such experiments and, therefore, must be subject to a common pacemaker. One such set includes sleep and wake rhythms, skin temperature, blood growth hormone concentrations, and urinary calcium levels. It is assumed (although by no means proven) that this group of rhythms is controlled by the suprachiasmatic nuclei. The second group of indicators, which vary in concert even when other bodily functions are desynchronized, are cycles of REM sleep, core body temperature, blood cortisol, and urine potassium. The pacemaker that controls these rhythms seems to be more stable than the one that controls the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness. In cases where the rhythms became free-flowing, i.e., in the absence of external timers, this group rarely deviated.

The temperature regime is adjusted during flights much later than the light regime. Even if a person is completely cut off from any external signals, such as daylight hours, weather changes, meal times, and others, it will still have diurnal temperature fluctuations. However, in this situation, the oscillations remain rhythmic, but their cycle is not exactly 24 hours. Rhythmic fluctuations in body temperature in conditions of isolation from external factors usually occur within 24 - 25 hours, and this period of time is called the circadian periodicity. That is, all daily temperature fluctuations are entirely based on endogenous biological rhythms, which are synchronized with the period of the Earth's rotation around its axis. If a person moves in space with the intersection of the hour meridians, then after arriving at a permanent place of residence for 1-2 weeks, his daily fluctuations in body temperature will be synchronized with the new local time (!).

Body temperature

Body temperature is a complex indicator of the thermal state of the body of animals, including humans. It is one of the main and oldest biomarkers. Our body temperature is easily measurable and is very useful indicator. The problem now is that fluctuations are minimized, which leads to numerous failures. We are day and night in all seasons of the year in the same temperature comfort zone and this is not very good. Very often, the temperature rhythm begins to conflict with the light rhythm and this leads to desynchronization, which is the cause of many problems.

So, let's understand how the temperature cycle works. The main one, as always, is the hypothalamus. The endocrine glands are involved in the implementation of the hypothalamic regulation of body temperature, mainly thyroid and adrenal glands. The thyroid gland and its hormones increase thermogenesis and increase metabolism by raising the temperature. The adrenal glands produce adrenaline, which also enhances oxidative processes in tissues, in particular in muscles, increases heat generation and constricts skin vessels, reducing heat transfer.

Nerve cells of the hypothalamus have receptors that directly respond to body temperature by increasing or decreasing the secretion of TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), which, in turn, regulates the activity of the thyroid gland, whose hormones (T3 and T4) are responsible for the intensity of metabolism. To a lesser extent, the hormone estradiol is involved in the regulation of temperature (it plays the main role in the thermoregulation of bodies in women during the menstrual cycle), an increase in its level leads to a decrease in basal temperature.

Daily rhythms occupy a leading place among human biological rhythms. Modern authors call their totality and consistency - temporary organization, emphasizing that it plays a special role, both in the synchronization of intraorganismal processes and in the interaction of the organism with the environment. Mesor and amplitude occupy a special place among rhythm parameters. Mesor (average daily level) reflects the central line around which fluctuations in physiological function occur throughout the day. The amplitude (oscillation range) is the most flexible indicator of functional morphology and one of the first to change under the influence of various factors. The magnitude of the amplitude can serve as an indicator of the adaptation process.

The "thermostat" (hypothalamus) is located in the brain and is constantly engaged in thermoregulation. During the day, a person's body temperature fluctuates, which is a reflection of circadian rhythms. The body temperature of each person during the day fluctuates within a small range, remaining in the range from 35.5 to 37.0 ° C for a healthy person. Following the daily rhythm, the lowest body temperature is observed in the morning, around 6 o'clock, and the maximum value is reached in the evening. Like many other biorhythms, temperature follows the daily cycle of the sun, not the level of our activity. People who work at night and sleep during the day show the same temperature cycle as everyone else.

Temperature cycle

1. Morning and awakening.

The experiments of American physiologists, conducted under the guidance of Professor Zeisler, showed that sleep and awakening are closely related to body temperature. In the morning, the body temperature rises. Scientists have found that hunter-gatherer sleep and wake patterns correlate not only with the daily and night routine (which is trivial and does not need to be confirmed), but also with the ambient temperature. The last conclusion is just less obvious, but is confirmed by measurements. Awakening for both the San and the Cymans occurs when the ambient temperature is at its lowest.. Awakening is indicated by a sharp decrease in temperature of the fingers, reflecting peripheral vasoconstriction, which is accompanied by an increase in blood flow to the brain, and therefore indicates a transition from sleep to wakefulness. For San, the minimum temperature of the environment is an hour after dawn, and for Tsimans - an hour before dawn. The time of falling asleep for both of them falls on the time of a sharp decrease in the ambient temperature, and not on the onset of darkness. This explains the slightly different daily routine in these largely similar traditional societies. Probably, shifting sleep to the coldest time of the day helps to save energy costs, therefore it is more acceptable for life in traditional conditions.

Exercising and moderate physical activity in the morning contribute to a rise in body temperature and higher activity. I am also a supporter of a protein breakfast, as protein has the highest thermogenic effect compared to other nutrients. Thus, a person wakes up always on the rise of the temperature curve. Therefore, the duration of sleep depends on which phase of the temperature cycle falls asleep: the next rise in body temperature will wake you up, even if before that you did not sleep for several days.

2. Day and activity

With regard to our activity, mental and physical activity increases with an increase in body temperature. Physical activity helps keep your mind active throughout the day. So, athletes know that "warming up" increases performance, and, indeed, the optimal levels of hyperthermia, (T core of the body = 38.7 - 39.2 °), provide maximum performance in exercises for strength, speed, flexibility and agility. And when performing intermittent physical activity, an increase in body temperature to a level of 38.7-39.2 ° C is “normal” and even desirable for the effectiveness of muscle work. If a person is experiencing intense physical activity, then the optimal temperature will be elevated (for strength training). Body temperature reaches a maximum in the evening, drops at night and rises quickly upon awakening.

Research also shows that changes in habitual body temperature caused by heat or cold can have a significant impact not only on mood, but also on cognitive function. Cognition is the process that governs how we respond to our environment, as well as our ability to store memories and perform mental tasks such as arithmetic. And this ability deteriorates if the body temperature deviates from the norm. Extreme temperatures or prolonged exposure to uncomfortable weather can alter body temperature, impair homeostatic control (the body's ability to maintain its temperature). Studies have also shown that when the ambient temperature drops, the body temperature drops, and this negatively affects cognitive abilities. Scientists from the University of Kent (USA) placed the subjects in water at a temperature of 13 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. After that, most body temperature dropped to the level of 35-36 degrees Celsius, which is slightly below the normal range of 36.5-37.2 degrees Celsius. Participants rested for 15 minutes, and then the researchers asked them to complete the Stroop Test (the name of the color is written in the box, but the color of the font in which the word is written must be indicated on the answer sheet). While seemingly simple, the test requires some cognitive effort. Participants were asked to name the font color as quickly as possible. It turned out that the test was significantly more difficult for participants placed in cold water. This study shows that low body temperature has a significant impact on attention to detail, which is considered a marker of cognition.

Decreased body temperature during the day is a common symptom of hypothyroidism. A regular drop in temperature is one of the first signs of disorders in the thyroid gland. Subclinical hypothyroidism is often accompanied by chronic fatigue, low temperature, weight gain, and weakness. Normal axillary body temperature, determined in the morning immediately after waking up to diagnose hypothyroidism, is in the range of 97.4 ─ 98.2 degrees Fahrenheit (36.3 ─ 36.8 ° C). Women should measure their body temperature during the first 5 days of their cycle and then average the values. A temperature below 36.3°C indicates an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). If the average temperature was calculated according to the method described above and it turns out to be below 36.5 ˚С, then you have a very high probability of hypothyroidism. The question is whether this disorder is primary thyroid insufficiency or whether it refers to a "malfunction" in the pituitary gland or adrenal insufficiency.

3. Evening and falling asleep

At 18-19 hours, the maximum body temperature is observed, after which it begins to decrease. It is good if going to bed coincides with a lower body temperature. The individual biorhythm of the time of the fastest drop in temperature (the extreme inflection point on the curve) corresponds to the optimal time for falling asleep. So - you can fall asleep easily and sleep faster. Therefore, all procedures related to cooling the body improve falling asleep. Light is also important, yellow low light promotes the production of melatonin, which causes drowsiness and controls body temperature.

We have already said that during the day the body temperature experiences cyclic fluctuations with an amplitude of about 1 ° C. People tend to fall asleep when their body temperature drops and wake up when it rises. 19:00 - the highest level of blood pressure and the highest body temperature. An internal signal for going to sleep is a decrease in body temperature.

Our body releases heat through our hands, face and feet when it's time to sleep. Cooling continues until approximately four in the morning. However, if something interferes with the decrease in body temperature, then the quality of sleep immediately deteriorates. The person cannot sleep, suffers from insomnia. In connection with these, the scientist advises to correctly choose bed linen, giving preference to natural fabrics. A mattress made of foam or other synthetic materials needs a natural wool mattress topper. And those who have problems falling asleep can even keep a pillow in the refrigerator during the day. You can also soak your hands under cold water for a few minutes before going to bed. After that, it is recommended to immediately go to bed.

However, many people fall asleep soundly after a warm bath, and this effect is well known to physicians. Perhaps the fact is that heating leads to the expansion of the vessels of the arms and legs, which are effective heat exchangers. When a person gets out of the bath, the dilated vessels of his limbs intensely give off heat and cool the body.

There is another explanation. In kangaroo rats, local heating of the hypothalamus increases the duration of the slow-wave sleep phase. Perhaps the fact is that the overheated hypothalamus turns on an additional brain cooling system. If this mechanism is also valid for humans, and the blood passing through the vertebral arteries from the heated body to the brain mainly enters the hypothalamus region, the same thing happens to it as in the marsupial rat: The hypothalamus turns on the cooling system, which causes sleep, more precisely, its slow-wave phase.

An interesting description of the mechanism of yawning in terms of cooling the brain. So, relatively recently, scientists began to consider the act of yawning as a system for rapid cooling of the brain, which, in addition, made it possible to explain the connection between yawning and falling asleep and hypoxia. The dependence of the frequency of yawning on the ambient temperature has been noticed for a long time. In addition, the effect of yawning on temperature-dependent attacks of epilepsy, migraine, and multiple sclerosis indicated an important role of this act in brain thermoregulation. The hypothesized link between yawning and brain cooling was proven when, in 2010, researchers injected temperature sensors into the brains of rats and found that an increase in brain temperature of just 0.1°C promptly provoked yawning attacks in rodents, followed by a decrease in brain temperature by 0 .5°С. However, these observations could not be substantiated anatomically for a long time - how does yawning remove excess heat from the brain? The act of yawning begins with the opening of the mouth and expansion of the nasopharynx, which leads to its filling with cold air through the mouth opening. Try to yawn. Did you feel a chill and a strong tension in the very center of your head?

It turned out that at the peak of yawning, the lower jaw tightens the pterygoid muscles, and they, in turn, pull back the sphenoid process, dragging behind it the back wall of the maxillary sinus. The volume of the sinuses in an adult reaches 34 cubic meters. cm, and the tension of the back walls during a yawn increases their size by another third. The resulting negative pressure in the sinuses "sucks" cold air from the nasopharynx. This air causes the evaporation of moisture on the walls of the sinus, thereby cooling the capillaries of the mucous membrane. The blood cooled in this way is then collected in the veins of the pterygoid plexus. With the end of the yawn, the jaws clench and the masticatory muscles compress the pterygoid plexus (stage 4) causing the outflow of cool blood into the sinuses of the dura mater. This blood, in turn, cools the cerebrospinal fluid, the flows of which also increase during yawning - in this act, it acts as a coolant of the central nervous system. Thus, cooling of the brain will occur immediately after the completion of the act of yawning.

4. Night and recovery

Most people sleep better in a cool room. During sleep, the body cools down, at 4.00-5.00 - the lowest body temperature. The ideal temperature in the bedroom is 18-21°C. In people with severe cases of insomnia, the daily rhythm of body temperature is disturbed: it varies slightly and without definite patterns. Either the rhythm exists, but its period is far from 24 hours. With such a rhythm, a person manages to fall asleep normally only on days when the temperature drops in the evening hours.

The temperature of the body (and the brain) obeys the circadian rhythm, and when it drops, you want to sleep. In addition, nightly cool temperatures promote nighttime fat burning, autophagy, and growth hormone production. Cooling the brain is not just associated with falling asleep, but stimulates it. Probably, this is the basis of the well-known household method of dealing with insomnia: you need to freeze well. A group of American scientists from the University of Pittsburgh located in Pennsylvania (University of Pittsburgh) managed to develop a technique that allows you to get rid of insomnia quite effectively. A special cap that cools the frontal areas of the patient's cerebral cortex can significantly improve the quality and productivity of a night's rest. In the course of the study in question here, American experts led by Dr. Eric Nofzinger (Eric Nofzinger) studied the effect of low temperature on the activity of areas of the cerebral cortex, as well as on metabolic processes in patients suffering from insomnia. At the same time, the scientists relied on data obtained in the course of previous studies, according to which the activity of metabolic processes in the frontal regions of the cerebral cortex of a healthy person decreases during sleep. At the same time, it was proved that in patients suffering from insomnia, during the night's rest, the activity of this part of the brain remains elevated.

For a good sleep, it is very important to alternate between slow and fast sleep, associated with alternating reduced and elevated temperature.

Numerous experiments show that changes in brain temperature are not random. In rats, it always increases in response to external stimuli: pain, social contact with another individual, sexual arousal. Moreover, the temperature of each part of the brain in response to different stimuli rises to one specific value, as if it is striving for it.

For example, for the nucleus accumbens of the rat brain, this temperature is 38.5°C. And in the phase of slow sleep, cooling occurs by a value from several tenths of a degree to several degrees in different parts of the brain in different animals. Obviously, the temperature of the brain does not change passively, but regulates the activity of the nervous tissue. It is not for nothing that a sober-minded person is said to have a cold head. published

The temperature in the armpit is individual for each person. At the moment, values ​​​​of 36.6-37.2 gr.S are considered normal. Some people have a temperature that does not exceed 35.5-36.0 throughout their lives. In what cases does a low temperature indicate a pathology, and in what cases should you not worry?

Types of temperature

There are such conditions associated with changes in body temperature:

  1. Hyperthermia - excess of indicators above 37.2 gr.
  2. Hypothermia - a decrease of less than 35.5-35.8 gr.S.

Depending on the degree of hypothermia, it can have the following manifestations: loss of consciousness (at a temperature of about 29°C), coma (27-28°C), death (below 27°C). Regardless of the indicators, there are complaints of lethargy, weakness, decreased sensitivity in the extremities.

Body temperature changes throughout the day. It is the lowest in the morning, immediately after waking up, at this moment a value of 35.5 g.C can be considered quite normal. A temperature of 35gr.С and below almost always indicates some kind of serious illness.

Additional symptoms

In addition to a low temperature, the following signs may indicate the disease:

  • Decreased memory, fatigue, mood swings, constipation, lowering blood pressure, weight gain - with hypothyroidism.
  • Anxiety, palpitations, insomnia, addiction to salty foods, thirst, menstrual irregularities, nausea, weight loss - with diseases of the adrenal glands.
  • Violation of sensitivity, movements, speech, memory, unsteadiness when walking - with brain damage.
  • Cold sweat, aggressiveness, palpitations, loss of consciousness - with hypoglycemia.
  • Tendency to infectious diseases, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss - with HIV infection.
  • Attacks of cold sweat in combination with a reduced temperature, which pass on their own - with Shapiro's syndrome.

Causes

Factors that lead to a decrease in body temperature can be divided into external (environmental conditions) and internal (pathology of internal organs).

A decrease in temperature can be in a healthy person in such cases:

  • with hereditary predisposition;
  • small body weight;
  • in the morning and during sleep;
  • in the elderly;
  • in case of incorrect temperature measurement.

Diagnostics

Hypothermia can be a manifestation of many diseases, so the doctor studies additional symptoms in detail and finds out information about the duration and time of the complaints. Diagnosis begins with general clinical research methods:

  • blood analysis;
  • Analysis of urine;
  • blood chemistry;
  • sugar level;
  • electrocardiogram.

Depending on the suspected disease, the following specific tests are used:

  • determine the level of thyroid hormones, adrenal glands;
  • conduct ultrasound of the thyroid gland, kidneys, adrenal glands;
  • x-ray examination of the chest;
  • HIV testing;
  • CT, MRI of the brain.

Treatment

In this case, an examination is necessary, our expert advises. - Most likely, there is a hidden focus of infection in the body. An increase in temperature can signal sluggish inflammation in the genitourinary system, problems in the gallbladder and kidneys. Be sure to take a blood test. If subfebrile condition is combined with pulling pains in the joints, this may indicate the development of rheumatism.

3. The temperature suddenly jumps up to 39-40 degrees, severe headaches, as well as pain in the chest, which are aggravated by inhalation, nausea, a feverish blush on the face.

Call an ambulance immediately. This is how pneumonia starts. It usually captures a segment or one lobe of the lung, but it can also be bilateral. Do not self-medicate. In such a situation, urgent and competent treatment is needed to prevent complications.

4. Fever (38-39 degrees) is combined with irritability, tearfulness, severe fatigue and a sense of fear. Despite the fact that the appetite increases, the person loses weight.

It is necessary to check the function of the thyroid gland and take an analysis for hormones. These symptoms are usually seen in hyperthyroidism. And the temperature jumps due to the fact that the thermoregulation system in the body is upset.

5. The temperature is about 37 degrees, accompanied by pressure drops, the appearance of red spots on the face, neck, chest, more common in women.

This is a kind of vegetovascular dystonia, which is called "constitutional hyperthermia". It is more often observed with nervous and physical overstrain. Auto-training and sedatives will help here.

Rate depends on location

The temperature in different parts of the human body is different, so the norm values ​​\u200b\u200bare changing:

under the arm - 34.7-37.3 degrees

in the mouth - 35.5-37.5

rectally - 36.6-38.0

in the ear - 35.6-38.0

on the forehead - 35.5-37.5

STAY IN TOUCH

What to measure?

mercury thermometer

A traditional, fairly accurate, but unsafe tool, because if it breaks, you won’t get by with a banal house cleaning, you will have to call a sanitation station. In many European countries, such thermometers are already banned, but we are still selling them.

Price: from 6 UAH.

Electronic thermometers

Now it is the most common and affordable type of thermometer. It can take temperature under the arm, in the ear and in the mouth, it is safe for rectal measurement. However, you should study the instructions in detail and follow all the rules, otherwise the result will be inaccurate. The measurement time depends on the modification of the thermometer. But usually 30-50 seconds.

Price: from 45 UAH.

Infrared thermometers

They allow you to quickly measure the temperature. Measurements are taken either in the ear or on the forehead in the region of the temporal vein. Measurement speed up to 30 seconds.

Price: from 200 UAH.

Liquid crystal thermometers.

These are actively used in hospitals in the US and Europe. And just recently they appeared with us. This is a thin strip with a layer of crystals, which is applied to the forehead, and depending on the temperature changes its color. Very comfortable for kids. The strip does not break or break (it is quite flexible), it is convenient to take it with you on a trip. Measurement speed - 15-40 seconds.

Price: from 15 UAH. for a strip.

SARS can be diagnosed in children from birth. The infection is provoked by hundreds of viruses of a different nature, which usually affect the upper respiratory tract. The danger of the disease lies primarily in the consequences, and parents should know: by what signs can one recognize the impending danger. When the temperature jumps with ARVI, it's time to think about whether the disease has passed to a more formidable stage.

Viral infections of the upper respiratory tract affect the body in different ways and cause a whole "bouquet" of unpleasant symptoms: runny nose, discharge from the eyes, cough, weakness and, of course, high fever.

According to the WHO ( World Organization health care), more than 300 causative agents of acute respiratory infection are known in the world. Due to the tenderness and fragility of the body, incompletely formed immunity during the season of flu and colds, in 90% of cases children get ARVI - an adult gets sick much less often, because with age the number of protective antibodies increases.

At the same time, if a child's temperature jumps during ARVI, we can talk about residual effects of the disease, or about the development of complications. When is it important to sound the alarm, and when is it better to wait for the natural recovery of the body?

Sometimes the temperature in children with ARVI jumps: it rises, then it drops

Doctors say that hyperthermia is nothing more than defensive reaction body to attack by viruses. It is in this way that the immune system tries to suppress the disease, forcing pathogens to burn out. At a high temperature, interferon begins to be produced - a specific protein that neutralizes the disease. As paradoxical as it sounds, the higher the temperature, the more protein is produced. The process reaches its peak two to three days after the onset of SARS, after which (subject to competent therapy) the temperature drops.

But often parents use antipyretics, slowing down the formation of protein and, on average, the temperature can last up to 5 days. That is why doctors recommend, if possible, not to interfere with the body's fight, but to use medicines only when the child's health deteriorates sharply or the thermometer approaches 40 degrees.

Remember! A feverish state against the background of general intoxication of the body can lead to serious consequences - fever can cause dehydration of the body, adversely affect the functioning of the brain and cardiovascular system, "overload" the liver and kidneys. Do not wait for complications, but immediately call a doctor.

Dangerous Consequences

But five days have passed, and the child's temperature still jumps with ARVI. In such a situation, we can talk about the presence of a bacterial infection, or the beginning of the development of other viral diseases.

In what cases can temperature jumps be observed:

  • Influenza infection has joined: with influenza, fever can last a week.
  • Adenoiditis has begun. The thermometer stays at 39 degrees, in this case it lasts from 5 to 8 days.
  • Parainfluenza develops (lesion of the mucous membrane of the nose and larynx) - it “holds” the heat from a week to two.
  • The disease went down and a respiratory-sentential disease began (shortness of breath, barking cough in the form of attacks). Here the heat can also last up to 14 days.
  • Pneumonia set in - inflammation of the lungs.

Any of the above pathologies requires consultation with a doctor - parents will not be able to diagnose diseases, and even more so - to cure them at home.

Temperature fluctuations may indicate complications

When is it allowed to bring down the temperature

Temperature fluctuations in ARVI in some cases require the use of medications before the doctor arrives.

It is especially important to do this if:

  • She jumps in a newborn baby who is not 2 months old.
  • If the child is only 2 months old, and the temperature is 39 and above.
  • When the child becomes lethargic, the skin turns pale, the mind is “confused”.
  • If a child has convulsions against a background of fever.
  • With any violation of cardiac activity: increased heart rate, tachycardia.

You can give your child an antipyretic, but first choose the drug with your doctor and agree on the desired dose.

It is important to understand: it is strictly forbidden to be zealous with medicines, because a low temperature can be no less dangerous. It is direct evidence of a complete decline in strength.

Other factors provocateurs

But why else do temperature jumps occur in a child? "Jumps" can be observed not only with ARVI, but also occur for other reasons.

Possible factors provoking fluctuations, physicians include:

  • Presence of a foreign body in the body: sometimes even a simple splinter can cause such a reaction, and as soon as it is removed, the temperature drops.
  • If the temperature suddenly “stepped” to a low level from a high level, it is likely that the child does not have enough vitamins.
  • Allergic reaction. Allergies are not always accompanied by the usual sneezing, conjunctivitis or rash. If the causative agent is a medication, febrile manifestations are quite possible: fever or chills.
  • Vaccination. Some children tolerate vaccinations easily, while others have difficulty adapting to routine vaccinations.

Do not forget: the same organisms do not exist, especially when it comes to children. Doctors should be involved in determining the etiology of the disorder, and sometimes only after a complete examination of the child.


Check with a doctor: it is possible that the temperature is not caused by a cold, but by an allergy

How the examination is carried out

If the thermometer stubbornly fixes hyperthermia, although the child is cheerful, healthy and active, there are sharp drops, the doctor will definitely prescribe laboratory tests, which will probably include:

  • General blood analysis.
  • Analysis of urine.
  • Sputum examination.
  • Allergen detection.

Sometimes it is required to conduct a study of feces and make sure that there is no intestinal infection in the body. An ultrasound of the internal organs and an ECG may also be required.

Prevention of temperature fluctuations

The first thing that is important for parents to do in order to avoid fluctuations in temperature during ARVI is, if possible, to limit the child's visits to public places until complete recovery. Do not take them to kindergartens, schools, shops and other crowded places unless absolutely necessary.

  • For the first three days of illness, do not bring down the temperature, especially if it does not exceed 38 degrees. Let the viruses "burn out" on their own.
  • Use rubdowns: soak a sponge in water and vinegar and rub it over the child's body, starting from head to toe. Water should be at room temperature.
  • Do not overheat the child: clothing and bedding should be natural and breathable.
  • Older children should often gargle with herbal tinctures of chamomile, sage, eucalyptus leaves. From pharmacy products, you can safely use furacilin.

All these measures are only an auxiliary part of therapy. Treatment of SARS should be prescribed only by a doctor. In some cases, he can connect antihistamines, which relieve swelling of the mucous membranes well, sometimes - mucolic, expectorants.


Also, in the early days, antiviral agents can be prescribed, for example, Anaferon or Amizon: but they must be used clearly according to the instructions. Antibiotics are prescribed in the rarest cases only in severe cases of the disease. But the most important condition for recovery: bed rest, drinking plenty of water, cleanliness in the house and a favorable microclimate in the family.

Girls help during the day the body temperature jumps. After eating, physical activity, under stress, the body temperature rises. This is psychogenic temperature. And although this is not a pure disease, because no organic changes occur, it is still not the norm. After all, prolonged fever is stress for the body.

So a slightly elevated body temperature (up to 37.0-37.2 degrees), which usually accompanies autumn colds, causes such anxiety. Their body temperature usually rises slightly during ovulation and normalizes with the onset of menstruation.

An elevated temperature usually indicates an inflammatory process or infection. A slightly elevated temperature caused by the consequences of an infection is not accompanied by changes in the analyzes and passes on its own.

There is even a special term - psychogenic temperature. However, first let's try to figure out where the elevated temperature comes from, with a seemingly complete absence of organic reasons. If you are used to measuring the temperature in your mouth (where it is half a degree higher than under your arm), then know that the numbers will go off scale if you ate or drank hot or smoked an hour before.

Temperature measurement in the ear canal is considered the most reliable today. The temperature jumped, fluctuates throughout the day or the temperature is constant, but below or above the norm - how to deal with this?

The temperature can change in girls during the month: during ovulation, it rises slightly and returns to normal with the onset of menstruation. Sometimes it is found that the normal temperature is 37 ° C. This is usually characteristic of asthenic young people, graceful physique and vulnerable mental organization.

A temperature above normal indicates an inflammatory process or infection. But, if such a temperature is observed even after recovery, then perhaps this is a syndrome of post-viral asthenia, the so-called "temperature tail".


Another reason for the increase in temperature is experienced stress. If there were no stresses and infectious diseases in the recent past, and the temperature jumps, then you should definitely be examined.

If your temperature fluctuates

At lower temperatures, you need to call an ambulance. Another more prosaic cause of low temperature is a severe hangover and is caused by a disturbed vascular response.

This is subfebrile temperature, borderline between health and ill health. In a healthy person, such a temperature can be caused by visiting a bath, a hot bath, active sports, as well as eating hot spices and seasonings.

Temperature up to 38.5 ° C, if there are no serious chronic diseases, it is better not to bring down.

This temperature indicates a threat to life, so urgent medical care and the use of special medications are needed. If, after a complete medical examination, no organic causes of fever are identified, all tests are normal, perhaps this is a disorder of the thermoregulation system at the physical level.


But 37.5 is clearly not in order. I also have this, 2 months ago I had pneumonia, I was discharged from the hospital with a temperature of 37.2, and so it keeps! And during the day I have either 36.7 then 36.8, 36.9 and 37. Elevated body temperature indicates a disease, the need to see a doctor, etc.

In fact, this indicator varies in the same person at different periods of life. But fluctuations can occur within one day. In the morning, immediately after waking up, the temperature is minimal, and by the evening it usually rises by half a degree.

This is the temperature that accompanies an acute inflammatory process. To measure body temperature today use a mercury thermometer. Temperature fluctuations indicate an inflammatory process. During the day, the temperature can also change.

What are the causes of a constant or intermittent slight increase in temperature at certain times of the day, in the evening or during the day? Why is an increase in body temperature from 37.2 to 37.6 ° often observed in children, the elderly or pregnant women?

What does subfebrile temperature mean

Subfebrile is denoted slight increase in body temperature before 37.2-37.6°C, the value of which, as a rule, fluctuates in the range of 36.8 ± 0.4 °C. Sometimes temperatures can reach 38°C, but do not exceed this value, since temperatures over 38°C indicate fever.

Subfebrile temperature can affect any person, but children and the elderly the most vulnerable, as they are more susceptible to infections and their immune system is unable to protect the body.

When and how subfebrile temperature manifests itself

Subfebrile temperature may appear in various times of the day, which sometimes correlates with possible pathological or non-pathological causes.

Depending on the time at which subfebrile temperature occurs, we can distinguish:

  • morning: The subject suffers from subfebrile temperature in the morning when the temperature rises above 37.2°C. Although in the morning physiologically normal temperature body should be below the average daily, so even a slight increase can be defined as subfebrile temperature.
  • After eating: after dinner, due to the processes of digestion and related physiological processes, the body temperature rises. This is not uncommon, therefore, a temperature increase of more than 37.5 ° C refers to subfebrile.
  • Afternoon/evening: during the day and in the evening there are also periods of physiological increase in body temperature. Therefore, subfebrile temperature includes an increase in excess of 37.5 ° C.

Subfebrile temperature can also be manifested different modes, which, as in the previous case, depends on the nature of the causes, for example:

  • sporadic: this type of subfebrile temperature is episodic, may be associated with seasonal changes or the onset of the menstrual cycle in women of childbearing age, or be the result of intense physical activity. This form causes the least concern, since, in most cases, it is not associated with pathology.
  • intermittent: such subfebrile temperature is characterized by fluctuations or periodic occurrences at certain points in time. May be associated, for example, with physiological events, periods of intense stress, or an indicator of disease progression.
  • Persistent: a constant subfebrile temperature that persists and does not weaken throughout the day and lasts for quite a long time is alarming, as it is closely associated with certain diseases.

Symptoms associated with subfebrile temperature

Subfebrile temperature can be completely asymptomatic or accompanied by a wide variety of symptoms, which, as a rule, become the reason for going to the doctor for diagnosis.

Among the symptoms that are most often associated with subfebrile temperature, there are:

  • Asthenia: The subject experiences a feeling of fatigue and exhaustion, which is directly correlated with an increase in temperature. This may be due to infections, malignancies and seasonal changes.
  • pain: Along with the appearance of subfebrile temperature, the subject may feel pain in the joints, pain in the back, or pain in the legs. In this case, a connection with the flu or a sharp seasonal change is possible.
  • Cold symptoms: if headache, dry cough and sore throat appear along with subfebrile temperature, then hypothermia and exposure to the virus may be taking place.
  • Abdominal symptoms: along with a slight increase in temperature, the patient may complain of abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea. One of the possible reasons is infection with a gastroenterological infection.
  • Psychogenic symptoms: sometimes it is possible, along with the appearance of subfebrile temperature, the appearance of episodes of anxiety, tachycardia and sudden trembling. In this case, it is possible that the subject is suffering from problems of a depressive nature.
  • Enlarged lymph nodes: if subfebrile temperature is accompanied by an increase in lymph nodes and profuse sweating, especially at night, then it may be associated with a tumor or infection, for example, mononucleosis.

Causes of subfebrile temperature

When subfebrile temperature is sporadic or periodic, has a correlation with certain periods of years, months or days, then it is almost certainly associated with a non-pathological cause.

Temperature causes...

Prolonged and persistent low-grade fever, which persists for many days and appears mainly in the evening or during the day, is often associated with a specific disease.

Causes of subfebrile temperature, without pathology:

  • Digestion: after eating food, digestive processes cause a physiological increase in body temperature. This can cause a mild low-grade fever, especially if you have ingested hot food or drinks.
  • Heat: in summer, when the air reaches high temperatures, being in a room that is too hot can cause increase in body temperature. This happens especially often in children and newborns, whose body thermoregulation system is not yet fully developed.
  • Stress: in some individuals, especially sensitive to stressful events, subfebrile temperature can be interpreted as a reaction to stress. Usually, the temperature rise occurs in anticipation of stressful events or immediately after it has happened. This kind of subfebrile temperature can appear even in infants, for example, when he cries very intensely for a long time.
  • Hormonal changes: In women, subfebrile temperature may be closely related to hormonal changes. So in the stage of premenstruation, body temperature increases by 0.5-0.6°C, and this can determine a slight increase in temperature in the range from 37 to 37.4°C. Also, in the early stages of pregnancy, hormonal changes lead to a similar increase in body temperature.
  • season change: as part of the change of season and a sharp transition from high to cold temperatures, and vice versa, a change in body temperature may occur (without causes of a pathological basis).
  • Medications: some medicines have as side effect subfebrile temperature. These include antibacterial drugs of the beta-lactam antibiotic class, most anticancer drugs, and other drugs such as quinidine, phenytoin, and some vaccine components.

Pathological causes of subfebrile temperature

The most common pathological causes of subfebrile temperature are:

  • Neoplasms: tumors are the main cause of persistent low-grade fever, especially in the elderly. Among the tumors that most often lead to an increase in body temperature, there are leukemias, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and several other types of cancer. Usually, subfebrile temperature in the case of a tumor is accompanied by rapid weight loss, a strong feeling of fatigue, and in the case of tumors involving blood cells, anemia.
  • Viral infections: one of the viral infections that causes subfebrile temperature is HIV, which leads to the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. This virus typically destroys the subject's immune system, therefore causing emaciation, which is manifested by a variety of symptoms, one of which is low-grade fever, opportunistic-type infections, asthenia, and weight loss. Another viral infection that causes persistent low grade fever is infectious mononucleosis, known as "kissing disease" due to its transmission of salivary secretions.
  • Respiratory tract infections: low-grade fever is often present in case of infection involving the respiratory tract (such as pharyngitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, bronchitis or a cold). One of the most dangerous respiratory tract infections that causes low-grade fever is tuberculosis, which is accompanied by profuse sweating, asthenia, weakness and weight loss.
  • Thyroid problems: subfebrile temperature is one of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, caused by thyrotoxic destruction of the thyroid gland. This destruction of the thyroid gland is called thyroiditis and is often caused by a viral infection.
  • Other pathologies: there are other diseases such as celiac disease or rheumatic fever caused by streptococcal infection, beta-hemolytic type, which include the appearance of subfebrile temperature. However, in these cases, subfebrile temperature is not the main symptom.

How is subfebrile temperature treated?

Subfebrile temperature is not a pathology, but a symptom by which the body can indicate that something is going wrong. In fact, there are many diseases that can lead to persistent low-grade fever.

However, often slight increase in body temperature has no pathological causes and can be compensated with the help of simple natural remedies.

It is difficult to find the cause of subfebrile temperature, but, in any case, you should consult a doctor.

Natural remedies against non-pathological low-grade fever

To combat the symptoms caused by low-grade fever, natural remedies such as herbal medicine can be used. Of course, before resorting to one of these remedies, you should consult your doctor.

Among medicinal plants , used in the case of subfebrile temperature, the most important are:

  • Gentian: used in case of intermittent low-grade fever, this plant contains bitter glycosides and alkaloids, which gives it antipyretic properties.

Used as a decoction: 2 g of gentian roots are boiled in 100 ml of boiling water, left to infuse for about a quarter of an hour, and then filtered. It is recommended to drink two cups a day.

  • white willow: contains, among other active substances, derivatives of salicylic acid, which have the same antipyretic effect as aspirin.

A decoction can be prepared by bringing to a boil a liter of water containing about 25 grams of white willow root. Boil for about 10-15 minutes, then filter and drink two to three times a day.

  • Linden: useful as an associated antipyretic, linden contains tannins and mucus.

It is used in the form of infusions, which are prepared by adding a tablespoon of linden flowers to 250 ml of boiling water, followed by infusion for ten minutes and filtering, you can drink several times a day.

At the same time, temperature indicators depend on the age of a person, time of day, the impact of the outside world, health status and other characteristics of the body. So what should be the body temperature of a person?

Types of temperature indicators

People are used to the fact that with changes in body temperature it is customary to talk about a violation of health. Even with a slight hesitation, a person is ready to sound the alarm. But it's not always so sad. Normal human body temperature ranges from 35.5 to 37 degrees. In this case, the average in most cases is 36.4-36.7 degrees. I would also like to note that temperature indicators can be individual for each. The normal temperature regime is considered to be when a person feels completely healthy, able-bodied and there is no failure in metabolic processes.

What is the normal body temperature in adults also depends on what nationality the person is. For example, in Japan, it is kept at 36 degrees, and in Australia, the body temperature rises to 37 degrees.

It is also worth noting that the normal human body temperature can fluctuate throughout the day. AT morning hours it is lower, and in the evening it rises significantly. At the same time, its fluctuation during the day can be one degree.

Human temperature is divided into several types, which include:

  1. lower body temperature. Her performance falls below 35.5 degrees. This process is called hypothermia;
  2. normal body temperature. Indicators can range from 35.5 to 37 degrees;
  3. elevated body temperature. It rises above 37 degrees. At the same time, it is measured in the armpit;
  4. subfebrile body temperature. Its limits range from 37.5 to 38 degrees;
  5. febrile body temperature. The indicators are from 38 to 39 degrees;
  6. high or pyretic body temperature. It rises to 41 degrees. This is the critical body temperature, which leads to disruption of metabolic processes in the brain;
  7. hyperpyretic body temperature. A lethal temperature that rises above 41 degrees and leads to death.

Also, the internal temperature is classified into other types in the form:

  • hypothermia. When the temperature is below 35.5 degrees;
  • normal temperature. It ranges from 35.5-37 degrees;
  • hyperthermia. The temperature is above 37 degrees;
  • feverish state. The indicators rise above 38 degrees, while the patient has chills, blanching skin, marble mesh.

Rules for measuring body temperature

All people are used to the fact that, according to the standard, temperature indicators should be measured in the armpit. To perform the procedure, you must follow a few rules.

  1. The armpit should be dry.
  2. Then a thermometer is taken and gently shaken to a value of 35 degrees.
  3. The tip of the thermometer is located in the armpit and is pressed tightly by the hand.
  4. Keep it on for five to ten minutes.
  5. After that, the result is evaluated.

With a mercury thermometer, you should be extremely careful. It must not be broken, otherwise the mercury will pour out and emit harmful fumes. It is strictly forbidden to give such things to children. Instead, you can have an infrared or electronic thermometer. Such devices measure the temperature in a matter of seconds, but the values ​​\u200b\u200bfrom mercury may differ.

Not everyone thinks that the temperature can be measured not only in the armpit, but also in other places. For example, in the mouth. With this method of measurement normal performance will be in the range of 36-37.3 degrees.

How to measure the temperature in the mouth? There are several rules.

To measure the temperature in the mouth, you need to be in a calm state for five to seven minutes. If in oral cavity There are dentures, braces or plates, they should be removed.

After that, the mercury thermometer must be wiped dry and placed under the tongue on either side. To get the result, you need to hold it for four to five minutes.

It should be noted that oral temperature differs significantly from measurements in axillary area. Temperature measurements in the mouth can show a result higher by 0.3-0.8 degrees. If an adult doubts the indicators, then a comparison should be made between the temperature obtained in the armpit.

If the patient does not know how to measure the temperature in the mouth, then you can follow the usual technology. During the procedure, it is worth observing the execution technique. The thermometer can be placed behind the cheek or under the tongue. But clamping the device with your teeth is strictly prohibited.

Decreased body temperature

After the patient has learned what temperature he has, you need to determine its nature. If it is below 35.5 degrees, then it is customary to talk about hypothermia.

The internal temperature may be low for several reasons, which include:

  • weakened immune function;
  • severe hypothermia;
  • recent illness;
  • diseases of the endocrine system;
  • the use of certain drugs;
  • low hemoglobin;
  • failure in the hormonal system;
  • presence of internal bleeding;
  • intoxication of the body;
  • chronic fatigue.

If the patient's internal temperature is greatly reduced, then he will feel weak, prostration and dizziness.

For increase temperature indicators at home, you need to put your feet in a hot foot bath or on a heating pad. After that, put on warm socks and drink hot tea with honey, an infusion of medicinal herbs.

If the temperature indicators decrease gradually and reach 35-35.3 degrees, then we can say:

  • about simple overwork, strong physical exertion, chronic lack of sleep;
  • about malnutrition or following a strict diet;
  • about hormonal imbalance. Occurs at the stage of gestation, with menopause or menstruation in women;
  • on disorders of carbohydrate metabolism due to liver diseases.

Increased body temperature

The most common phenomenon is elevated body temperature. If it keeps at levels from 37.3 to 39 degrees, then it is customary to talk about an infectious lesion. When viruses, bacteria and fungi penetrate the human body, severe intoxication occurs, which is expressed not only in an increase in body temperature, but also in a runny nose, tearing, coughing, drowsiness, and deterioration in the general condition. If the internal temperature rises above 38.5 degrees, then doctors advise taking antipyretics.

The occurrence of temperature can be observed with burns and mechanical injuries.

In rare situations, hyperthermia is observed. This condition is caused by an increase in temperature indicators above 40.3 degrees. In such a situation, you need to call an ambulance as soon as possible. When the indicators reached 41 degrees, it is customary to talk about a critical condition that threatens the patient's future life. At a temperature of 40 degrees, an irreversible process begins to occur. There is a gradual destruction of the brain and deterioration of the internal organs.

If the internal temperature is 42 degrees, then the patient dies. There are cases when the patient experienced such a condition and survived. But their number is small.

If the internal temperature rises above the hole, then the patient manifests symptoms in the form of:

  1. fatigue and weakness;
  2. general morbid condition;
  3. dry skin and lips;
  4. mild or severe chills. Depends on temperature indicators;
  5. pain in the head;
  6. aches in muscle structures;
  7. arrhythmias;
  8. decrease and complete loss of appetite;
  9. increased sweating.

Each person is individual. Therefore, everyone will have their own normal body temperature. Someone with indicators of 35.5 degrees feels normal, and when it rises to 37 degrees, it is already considered sick. For others, even 38 degrees may be the limit of the norm. Therefore, it is worth focusing also on the general condition of the body.

Diagnosis by body temperature

It would seem, what could be difficult here? Elevated body temperature indicates a disease, the need to see a doctor, etc. Did you know that temperature changes during the day can tell a lot about the nature of the disease?

First you need to correctly measure the body temperature. Here, too, there are rules, the violation of which can lead to incorrect results.

To measure body temperature today use a mercury thermometer. A column of mercury, expanding from heat, rises up a thin transparent tube, next to which there is a scale with divisions. One division is 0.1 degrees. Such a thermometer allows you to measure the temperature from 35 to 42 degrees. Having risen, the column of mercury does not fall until the thermometer is shaken.

Before taking the temperature, shake the thermometer vigorously so that the mercury column drops to 35 ° C. Carefully inspect the column. There should not be any gaps in it, otherwise the thermometer will never show the correct temperature!

It is known that in some countries the temperature (including body temperature) is measured in Fahrenheit. Fahrenheit is Celsius times 1.8 + 32. The difference is related to that. what value was taken by scientists for absolute zero.

The cup temperature is measured in the armpit. Before measurement, it must be wiped dry, otherwise the moisture, evaporating from the surface of the skin, will cool it, and the temperature will be lower than it actually is. The thermometer must be positioned so that the mercury reservoir is completely covered by the skin. The hand must be pressed to the body and held for 10 minutes. After that, the thermometer is removed and the result is looked at.

The armpit is not the only place to take temperature. For example, if a person is weak and cannot hold a thermometer himself, you can measure the temperature in the inguinal fold. In addition, temperature is also measured in the rectum, vagina, and sometimes in the mouth.

In order to measure the temperature in the rectum, you need to thoroughly wash the thermometer, lubricate its end with petroleum jelly and carefully insert it into the anus. After measuring, the thermometer must be washed again and wiped with alcohol or cologne.

It must be remembered that the body temperature in the armpit, in the rectum or vagina will never be the same. In the rectum, it will always be higher, but this difference should not exceed 0.8-1 degrees. If the difference exceeds these figures, this indicates inflammation of the internal organs, which means you need to urgently consult a doctor.

Everyone knows the normal temperature of the human body. It averages 36.6 degrees, and can fluctuate between 36.2-37 degrees. A temperature of 37 degrees is already considered high. Body temperature depends on environmental conditions, health status and time of day. In the evening, it is usually higher than in the morning (sometimes it can even reach 37 ° C).

When a person is sick, the temperature should be measured at least 2 times a day: in the morning and in the evening. It is desirable to record the results, even if the numbers correspond to the norm. It is very convenient to enter them in a special temperature sheet, which is easy to do on your own. To do this, draw two perpendicular axes. On the horizontal, set aside the time (date, morning and evening), and on the vertical - the thermometer readings (with an accuracy of 0.1 degrees). Each time you measure the temperature, put a point in accordance with the results obtained. Then connect the dots with straight lines. So you get a temperature graph (temperature curve), which is much easier to navigate than just a sheet with recorded results. Different diseases give different temperature curves, since these measurements are always different. This can be a good help for diagnosis.

Oddly enough, perhaps the worst thing a person feels is at a slightly elevated body temperature (37.2 - 37.5 degrees).

Persistent fever

With this type of fever, the temperature is always elevated (even in the morning it exceeds 37 degrees), but in the morning it is still lower than in the evening. During the day, the temperature difference is no more than 1 degree. At the same time, the morning temperature can be relatively low (37.2-38 degrees). This is how body temperature fluctuates in croupous inflammation of the lungs, as well as in typhoid fever.

Laxative fever

The morning temperature is above 37 degrees, during the day it rises slightly. The evening temperature is always higher than the morning temperature. This type of fever can occur with milder forms of pneumonia, purulent diseases, and tuberculosis.

Wasting (hectic) fever

With this form of fever, the morning temperature, as a rule, turns out to be normal or slightly elevated (no more than 37 - 37.1 degrees), and the evening temperature is much higher (by 2 -4 degrees). As the temperature rises sharply, at this moment the person feels severe chills, headache and muscle pain. At night, the temperature can also drop sharply, while the person sweats a lot, his blood pressure decreases, which can even lead to loss of consciousness.

This type of fever occurs in severe diseases: advanced pulmonary tuberculosis, severe purulent diseases, and sepsis.

intermittent fever

In order to determine this rather rare form of fever, you need to collect data on changes in temperature over several days. The morning temperature is always normal, for several days in the evening it can rise slightly (no more than 1 degree), and then fall again. Once every 2-3, less than 4 days a day, the temperature rises sharply by 2-4 degrees, and then drops just as sharply, after which “calm” days again come. If you draw a chart, then high teeth - candles - will periodically appear on it. Such a fever occurs with malaria.

wrong fever

With abnormal fever, there is no regularity in temperature changes. She then rises to high numbers, then remains normal. The only "rule" that is observed here is that the morning temperature is always lower than the evening one. This type of fever can be a sign of rheumatism, tuberculosis, sepsis and other serious illnesses.

According to legend, Fever is one of the twelve sisters of Herod, along with Jaundice, Mayalnitsa, Znobuha, Shaking and other diseases. Why exactly King Herod “got” such relatives is clear to anyone who is familiar with the gospel stories.

reverse fever

There is also no system in the change of temperature in this type of fever, but it is characterized by the fact that the morning temperature is higher than the evening one. Such a fever occurs with tuberculosis, brucellosis.

Some illnesses last for weeks or months. With regular measurement and recording of temperature, two more forms of fever are distinguished, which can be combined with the above.

undulating fever

Morning temperature gradually rises day by day, and then also slowly decreases. The data of evening measurements change according to the same principle, and the differences in values ​​may be different. Small waves are clearly visible on the graph - differences between morning and evening temperature and larger waves - gradual changes in the "reference point" - morning temperature.

Such a fever occurs with brucellosis and lymphogranulomatosis (systemic lesion of the lychphatic system).

relapsing fever

For several days both morning and evening temperatures remain normal (or evening temperatures may be slightly elevated), then the temperature rises sharply, and for several days both morning and evening figures remain high, after which the temperature rises again. Small fluctuations during the day (small waves) remain.

Such a fever occurs with relapsing fever.

Why does the temperature rise to 37 degrees in the evening? Causes and diagnosis

And sometimes the body temperature remains normal throughout the day, but in the evening it invariably rises. Such a phenomenon does not always indicate the development of the disease, but it still speaks of certain changes in the human body. For some people, such changes generally become a normal state, because this is how their thermoregulation system functions. And yet, one should very carefully consider the reasons for the appearance of such numbers on the thermometer.

Every evening the temperature rises to 37 degrees in adults and children for a variety of reasons. The indicators will be influenced by different factors: physiological and pathological. Of course, if you complain about your own well-being, you should consult a doctor. But sometimes a temperature of 37.1 (in the evening) does not mean something terrible, but is a variant of the norm.

But if these symptoms continue long time, you need to see a doctor. Most likely, this condition indicates an immune response to a certain threat or trouble.

What can affect the change in temperature in the evening?

A person rarely resorts to the use of a thermometer if there are no additional health complaints and signs of illness. But, after taking periodic measurements, you may be surprised that there is a temperature of 37 in the evening, but not in the morning. The thermometer readings are influenced by many factors:

  • time of day (it is known that in the morning the thermometer readings are lower than in the evening, and during deep sleep the lowest values ​​are noted);
  • the rhythm of life (for people who have an active lifestyle, the thermometer is always higher);
  • type of measuring device (it is generally accepted that electronic thermometers have an error, unlike mercury devices);
  • season and weather conditions (in winter, the temperature naturally rises, and in summer it becomes lower);
  • physiological and pathological conditions.

Physiological conditions that raise the temperature

Hyperthermia does not always occur due to a specific threat. Very often it is the result of overload or hormonal changes in the body.

This can happen due to the intake of hot or spicy food, nervous strain, and the appointment of certain medications.

Sometimes such figures are not considered a pathology at all, but only a borderline state of the norm. Only in the case of a strong increase or an unacceptably long period of hyperthermia, a comprehensive examination of the patient's body is prescribed.

Among women

For many women, body temperature rises periodically. Here's why it's happening. During the menstrual cycle, hormones are constantly produced.

On certain days, the release of some substances becomes more, while others - less. Immediately after ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary), progesterone enters the work.

This hormone is very important for maintaining the second phase of the cycle and the development of pregnancy. Thanks to him, there is a relaxation of smooth muscles. Also, progesterone affects thermoregulation, reduces the rate of heat transfer.

Before menstruation, a woman may notice that her body temperature has increased by a fraction of a degree.

As soon as bleeding begins, the level of progesterone will decrease, and the thermometer will return to normal. If pregnancy has occurred, then elevated values ​​\u200b\u200bmay persist for several months until the placenta is formed. For expectant mothers, it is considered normal if the thermometer shows 37-37.2 degrees.

The rise in temperature in the evenings is usually due to a sharp hormonal change in the body, toxicosis during pregnancy, an increase in the intensity of metabolism, reflex effects when drinking alcohol, or the usual processes of thermoregulation.

The reasons why the temperature rises in the evening 37:

  • during premenstrual syndrome
  • during childbearing
  • when feeding a baby
  • at ovulation
  • shortly after the birth of children
  • with menopause
  • after too dense and plentiful food
  • with excessive use of strong alcoholic beverages
  • with significant overheating in the sun, etc.

In some women, such a temperature is generally normal, accompanying them all their lives. For other ladies in the evening, the numbers often change due to increased fatigue or severe nervous strain.

In men

Representatives of the stronger sex also often complain that in the evening the temperature rises to 37 without symptoms. This may be the result of hypothermia or overheating, injury, nervous strain. Hyperthermia can occur due to excessively abundant consumption of spicy foods or passion for alcoholic beverages.

The temperature can jump in the evening due to significant muscle strain after hard physical work or increased sports training.

The most common reason can be a long bath or shower that is too hot, a long sleep in a chair near the radiator, a very warm dressing gown or suit.

In the elderly, temperature fluctuations may have their own characteristics. During the day, for example, some hypothermia will be noted, and by the evening the numbers will crawl to around 37 degrees.

In addition, in men, as in women, such indicators can be quite normal and correspond to their physiological norm.

In children

The child often causes great anxiety to his parents because of the temperature that has jumped towards evening.

However, it is worth noting that in children under five years old, due to their imperfect thermoregulation, 37.2 - 37.3 degrees can be considered normal temperature.

Most often, nighttime fever occurs shortly after an infection or other childhood illness. The baby's immunity is not yet fully strengthened, so his circulatory system reacts with an increased release of lymphocytes, accompanied by hyperthermia.

This is a normal reaction, indicating that the defenses of the child's body are on guard of his health.

The rise in temperature in the evening to 37 in a child can also be explained by the most common reasons:

  • Too active games
  • too warm clothes
  • reaction to vaccination
  • teething
  • hot drink at night
  • too warm blanket
  • change of biorhythms
  • hearty dinner
  • not well-established metabolism, etc.

In newborns and premature babies, a temperature of thirty-seven degrees in the evening is not uncommon and is associated with the formation of normal thermoregulation processes in the baby's body.

Such reasons are the most common and all parents face them.

In an overly sensitive child, the temperature can rise even with strong crying or watching an interesting movie.

The baby's digestive system can also react with an abundant release of enzymes and active bowel movements, due to which the temperature rises to 37 in the evening.

Therefore, children's temperature is measured only after special training. The thermometer should be set at the same time under the same conditions.

Enough time should pass after the cessation of all activity, the child should be calm and relaxed. The armpit of the baby should be allowed to dry completely, and he himself should not be allowed to sweat. It is desirable to measure the temperature before dinner and water procedures.

meal

Another physiological reason for an increase in the thermometer is a meal. It is recommended to measure the temperature no earlier than half an hour after eating. The fact is that while eating, the body expends heat, so it constantly compensates for it.

A noticeable increase in temperature occurs in individuals with a good metabolism. Most people don't feel these changes, but if you take your temperature right after eating, you'll be surprised.

Since a more voluminous meal occurs in the evening (dinner), the temperature increase at this time of day becomes more pronounced.

Overwork

It is known that at night the thermometer readings become much lower. This is facilitated by a decrease in activity and low energy consumption. However, in the evening, the indicators, on the contrary, become higher. This happens due to overwork, overexertion, stress.

There is such a thing as chronic fatigue syndrome. In people with this diagnosis, the temperature may rise for no reason throughout the day.

Most often in the evening there is a temperature of 37-37.2 and weakness, headache. If during rest and deep sleep the indicators do not decrease, then you should think about the presence of a pathological cause of this condition.

Reasons for the rise in temperature

Not always, when the thermometer fixes thirty-seven, this only speaks of harmless functional reasons. Often such figures indicate the development of a disease.

Such jumps may be the first symptom:

  • Helminthiasis
  • inflammatory process in the body
  • introduction of infection
  • development of a malignant neoplasm
  • cardiovascular pathology
  • allergies
  • neurological diseases
  • rheumatism
  • arthritis
  • endocrine diseases
  • development of mental pathologies

When an increase in body temperature is recorded in the evening, the reasons can be very different. They can be associated with intoxication by cell decay products, the fight against pathogenic microorganisms, or a violation of neuromuscular conduction.

Infection with infectious diseases is also possible, so contacting a doctor in this case is mandatory.

Pathological conditions

If a person's temperature rises to 37 in the evening, then this can be an alarming bell. There are many pathological causes of this condition, but they all usually have additional signs. Busy people with an active lifestyle may not even notice them.

Colds

The most common symptom of a cold is an increase in temperature. In this way, the human body tries to cope with the causative agent of the infection. It is known that viruses die when the thermometer reaches 38 degrees. Therefore, you should not bring down the temperature of 37. Let your body eliminate the infection on its own and form immunity.

Consequences of infection

Many infectious diseases occur with fever. But what if you're already healthy and it's still going up? Such an outcome is also possible. It is in the evening that an increase in the thermometer values ​​is noticeable.

Especially often, such symptoms are due to chickenpox, acute intestinal infection, bacterial pathologies. Do not worry, in the near future the body will restore its strength. Such temperature indicators do not require the use of antipyretics. After a night's rest, they return to normal on their own.

Arterial pressure

Hypertensive patients often complain that they have an elevated body temperature. Such a natural consequence high pressure cannot be called natural, but it is not entirely correct to consider it pathological either. It is worth the patient to bring blood pressure back to normal, as well as a thermometer shows smaller numbers.

Hypotonics, on the contrary, have a low body temperature. For some people, it drops below 36 degrees. It is very important not to miss the moment here. But if such a condition does not cause discomfort, then you can not try to fix it.

This abbreviation stands for vegetovascular dystonia. Until now, this disease remains not fully understood. Many doctors refute it, saying that a person is dealing with chronic fatigue syndrome. One way or another, with vegetovascular dystonia, an increase in the thermometer readings occurs. A person can note that in the morning the temperature is 36, in the evening - 37.

Oncological pathologies

It is the evening increase in the values ​​of the thermometer that often makes a person turn to specialists. During the examination, tumor processes can be detected.

Benign neoplasms often do not make themselves felt like a symptom. But the reproduction of cancer cells affects the lymphatic system, so a slight increase in the mercury meter is the first wake-up call.

immune diseases

Any deviations in the work of the immune system and the protective functions of the body affect the temperature values. They become higher with the following pathologies:

  1. allergy;
  2. rheumatic diseases;
  3. blood pathology;
  4. system deviations.

Many diseases develop due to the increased immune work of the body, which provokes inflammation of a different nature.

What is subfebrile condition, and how to deal with it?

Subfebrile condition is an unreasonable increase in the temperature values ​​\u200b\u200bof the human body. In such cases, the indicators do not exceed 37.5 degrees.

The temperature persists for months or even years. This distinguishes it from the course of acute pathological diseases or physiological causes of the increase.

The main sign of subfebrile condition is that a person has an elevated body temperature. Accompanying this disease:

  • increased fatigue;
  • drowsiness and weakness;
  • decrease in appetite;
  • redness of the skin;
  • disorders of the digestive system;
  • increased sweating;
  • frequent pulse;
  • neuroses and insomnia.

Both a specialist and the sick person can pre-diagnose the problem. But with subfebrile condition, additional research is needed. To do this, consult a doctor and find out why the temperature rises to 37 in the evening.

Diagnosis with subfebrile condition

The specialist must examine the patient before making a diagnosis. The condition of the mucous membranes, the work of the respiratory system is studied, the organs of the abdominal cavity are palpated.

Defects of joints, lymph nodes are revealed. In women, a gynecological examination and palpation of the mammary glands are performed, the menstrual cycle is studied. The collection of anamnesis is carried out in several stages.

The doctor determines the following:

  1. whether there have been surgical interventions or injuries in the recent past (for women, childbirth and abortion);
  2. what infectious diseases were transferred during life and whether there are chronic pathologies ( Special attention given to diabetes, HIV, liver and blood diseases);
  3. the possibility of hepatitis and bacterial endocarditis.

Usually, already at the examination stage, a specialist is struck by a rash on the body, a change in the color of the skin, uncharacteristic discharge or formation.

Therefore, to confirm his hypothesis, he prescribes a series of tests showing the state of the blood picture, the possible presence of severe infectious chronic diseases or helminthic invasion.

To do this, the specialist will send the patient to laboratory tests.

To clarify the reason why he always has a temperature of 37 in the evening, you need to go through:

  • clinical and biochemical blood test
  • four mandatory tests (HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C)
  • allergen panel
  • general urine analysis
  • analysis of feces for worm eggs and protozoan cysts
  • sputum microscopy
  • discharge from the urethra and genitals
  • biopsy
  • spinal puncture.

The results obtained help to identify helminthiasis, inflammatory processes or allergic reactions.

For the purposes of differential diagnosis, it is also necessary to make fluorography, radiography, ultrasound scanning, ECG, EEG, CT, MRI, as well as conduct special targeted studies. All this quickly allows you to identify tuberculosis, diseases of the heart, blood vessels, liver and kidneys, malignant neoplasms, which often cause an increase in temperature in the evening.

The specialist receives the final confirmation of the diagnosis by conducting instrumental studies. For this, mammography, FGDS, angiography, ultrasonography, etc. are used.

They quite accurately allow you to identify the disease, due to which there is a regular rise in temperature, as they show the state of the internal organs of the patient. In addition, they allow you to correlate the overall picture of the disease with the changed thermal regime.

Let's summarize

An increase in body temperature in the evening can be caused by many reasons. If you have an increase in the thermometer for a long time, then this is a serious reason for the examination. Don't ignore your own complaints. Be sure to consult a doctor and find out why you have a fever in the evening.

What is the normal body temperature in a person: the norm in an adult

Thermoregulation is considered to be one of the most important features of the human body.

Body temperature is maintained by the forces of the body at the required level, and is responsible for its ability to produce heat and exchange with the environment.

During the day, body temperature can vary, but not much.

This process is associated with the metabolic rate, for example, in the morning it is lower, and in the evening it rises by about a degree.

It is worth finding out what is the normal body temperature in an adult, and what types are there? How is body temperature measured in the armpit, in the mouth?

What does norm mean?

So what is the normal temperature anyway? It is generally accepted that the temperature of the human body is exactly 36.6 degrees. A slight deviation to one side or the other is allowed.

Based on the state of the person, the surrounding climatic conditions and time of day, as well as other parameters, body temperature can be from 35.5 to 37.4 degrees. It should be noted that the average temperature regime of women is higher, unlike men - by 0.5 degrees.

In the armpit, the body temperature should be 36.3-36.9, in the mouth - 36.8-37.3, in the rectum 37.3-37.7, and this is a normal temperature.

An interesting point is that the average body temperature may differ depending on nationality. For example, the Japanese have an average of 36 degrees, while the Australians have all 37.

During the day, a person's body temperature can fluctuate about one degree. The lowest body temperature occurs in the morning, and the highest in the late afternoon.

In females, body temperature can fluctuate depending on the menstrual cycle. There are people for whom a temperature of 38 is normal, and is not a symptom of the development of the disease.

Each organ in the human body also has its own temperature. And what is the normal temperature?

The norm is for everyone. The internal organ of the liver is 39 degrees, the kidneys and stomach should be 1 less.

How to measure temperature correctly?

To correctly measure the temperature in the armpit, you need to follow these recommendations:

  1. Make sure that the armpit is dry.
  2. Take a thermometer, wipe it with a dry cloth, you can bring it down to 35.
  3. In the armpit, place it so that the tip filled with mercury is in close contact with the body.
  4. Hold for at least 10 minutes.
  5. You can evaluate the result.

How to measure the temperature in the mouth correctly:

  • Before measuring the temperature in the mouth, you need to spend five minutes at rest.
  • If you have dentures in your mouth, remove them.
  • If the thermometer is normal, wipe it dry and put it under the tongue on either side.
  • Close your mouth, wait 4 minutes.

The normal temperature in a healthy person in the mouth should be 37.3 degrees. It is worth noting that it is necessary to measure the temperature in the mouth with an ordinary thermometer with special care.

What temperature happens?

Human temperature is divided into the following types:

Subfebrile temperature - 5 degrees. Such a temperature in a person may be the norm and not cause danger, but it may also indicate pathological processes occurring in the body. Therefore, it is very important to find out why a person's temperature has risen:

  1. Overheating in the sun, strong physical exertion.
  2. Hot water procedures - sauna, bath.
  3. Viral or colds.
  4. Hot and spicy food.
  5. Chronic ailments.

Serious illnesses that threaten life also lead to a prolonged temperature of 37. Oncological diseases (a tumor can affect an organ such as the stomach) and tuberculosis in the early stages of development are characterized by a slight increase in temperature.

In some situations, this body temperature is the norm for a healthy person, and there is no need to bring it down. But, to make sure where the norm is, and where the deviations from it are, you need to consult a doctor.

Febrile temperature - 37.6, always signals that an inflammatory process is taking place in the body. The normal temperature rises to such a point as to fight pathogenic microorganisms, creating unfavorable conditions for them. Therefore, it should not be knocked down with medications.

You can simply drink more warm liquids to reduce the concentration of toxins and prevent dehydration.

Pyretic temperature - more than 39, indicates an acute course of the inflammatory process. If the mercury column shows this value, doctors advise you to start taking antipyretic drugs.

If a person's temperature is 39 degrees, convulsions are possible, so you need to be more careful for people who have concomitant diseases.

Most often, the instigators of this temperature are microorganisms and viruses that penetrate the body. Also, such a body temperature is possible with severe burns, injuries.

Hyperthermia - temperature (40.3), makes you sound the alarm and immediately call an ambulance, it is important to know what to do if the temperature is 40 before the ambulance arrives. At 42 degrees, an organ such as the brain can be irreversibly damaged, the central nervous system is depressed, and blood pressure drops.

If nothing is done, every internal organ is damaged, resulting in a coma, and the risk of death.

Low temperature

What temperature is considered low and what is low? It's simple, there are situations when the mercury column shows less than 35 degrees, here you need to start worrying.

Indeed, at a temperature of 32, the patient will feel stunned, at 29.5 there is a loss of consciousness, and 26.5 and even death.

The reasons for the low temperature are:

  • With hypothyroidism; due to alcoholic beverages (an organ such as the brain ceases to function, the center of thermoregulation is affected)
  • Failure of the functioning of the central nervous system, brain damage (trauma, tumor).
  • Paralysis resulting in weight loss and heat loss.
  • Strict diets, constant hunger - all this leads to the fact that the body has little energy to produce heat, and every organ in the body “suffers”.
  • Hypothermia. Prolonged stay of a person at a low temperature, as a result of which the body's own forces can no longer cope with the function of thermoregulation.
  • Dehydration, as a result of which the body has little fluid, which leads to a decrease in metabolism.

A moderate decrease in the temperature regime (35.3) happens:

  1. Normal overwork, or serious physical exertion, chronic lack of sleep.
  2. Wrong diet, or diet.
  3. Hormonal failure (pregnancy, thyroid disease, menopause).
  4. Impaired carbohydrate metabolism on the background of liver disease.

There are a number of methods by which body temperature can be raised. As a rule, they do not involve any medication, except if the decrease is caused by serious illnesses.

To increase the temperature at home, you can put a heating pad with hot water under your feet, change into warmer clothes. Hot tea with honey, or decoctions with medicinal herbs (St. John's wort, ginseng) will help to increase.

In conclusion, it is worth saying that everyone has their own norm for body temperature. If one person feels great with a temperature of 37, and there are no inflammatory processes in the body, this does not mean that the situation with another person will be exactly the same.

It all depends on individual features organism, therefore, at the slightest doubt, it is necessary to visit a doctor. Elena Malysheva will popularly tell you what to do with the temperature in the video in that article.

Temperature

Temperature

Temperature changes are a frequent companion of diseases. Why in most cases it is not necessary to bring down the temperature and how to remove the heat, if necessary?

Human body temperature: norm, changes and symptom of diseases

What to do with elevated body temperature is one of the most common questions for therapists and pediatricians. Indeed, the heat often frightens patients. However, are elevated values ​​always a cause for panic? Under what conditions does the temperature stay, and under what diseases does it, on the contrary, fall? And when are antipyretics really needed? What temperature should be normal in children and the elderly? MedAboutMe dealt with these and many other issues.

body temperature in adults

Thermoregulation is responsible for human temperature - the ability of warm-blooded organisms to maintain a constant temperature, reduce or increase it if necessary. The hypothalamus is primarily responsible for these processes. However, today scientists are inclined to believe that it is wrong to determine a single center of thermoregulation, because many factors affect the temperature of the human body.

In childhood, the temperature changes under the slightest influence, while in adults (starting the rally) it is quite stable. Although it also rarely stays on one indicator all day. Physiological changes are known that reflect circadian rhythms. For example, the difference between normal temperature in the morning and in the evening in a healthy person will be 0.5-1.0°C. With these rhythms, a characteristic increase in fever in the evening hours in a sick person is also associated.

The temperature can change under the influence external environment, increase with physical exertion, eating certain foods (especially often after spicy meals and overeating), with stress, fear, and even intense mental work.

What temperature should be normal

Everyone is well aware of the value of 36.6 ° C. However, what temperature should be normal in reality?

The figure of 36.6 ° C appeared as a result of research conducted by the German physician Karl Reinhold Wunderlich back in the middle of the 19th century. Then he made about 1 million temperature measurements in the armpit in 25 thousand patients. And the value of 36.6°C was just the average body temperature of a healthy person.

According to modern standards, the norm is not a specific figure, but a range from 36 ° C to 37.4 ° C. Moreover, doctors recommend periodically measuring the temperature in a healthy state in order to accurately know the individual values ​​​​of the norm. It should be borne in mind that with age, body temperature changes - in childhood it can be quite high, and in old age it drops. Therefore, an indicator of 36 ° C for an elderly person will be the norm, but for a child it can indicate hypothermia and a symptom of the disease.

It is also important to consider how the temperature is measured - the values ​​​​in the armpit, rectum or under the tongue can differ by 1-1.5 ° C.

Temperature during pregnancy

The temperature is very dependent on hormonal activity and therefore it is not surprising that pregnant women often experience fever. Hot flashes during menopause and temperature fluctuations during menstruation are associated with hormonal changes.

It is very important for expectant mothers to carefully monitor their condition, while understanding that a slightly elevated or low temperature during pregnancy is the norm for most women. For example, if the values ​​​​do not exceed 37 ° C in the first weeks, and there are no other symptoms of malaise, then the condition can be explained by the activity of female sex hormones. Particularly progesterone.

And yet, if the temperature during pregnancy lasts for a long time, then even subfebrile indicators (37-38 ° C) should be a reason for consulting a doctor. With such a symptom, it is important to undergo examinations and take tests to exclude the presence of such infections - cytomegalovirus, tuberculosis, pyelonephritis, herpes, hepatitis and others.

Temperature during pregnancy can also be a sign of common seasonal SARS. In this case, it is very important not to self-medicate, but to consult a doctor. If the common cold is unlikely to pose a danger to the fetus, then the flu can lead to serious consequences, up to an early miscarriage. With influenza, the temperature rises to 39 ° C.

The child's temperature

The system of thermoregulation in children under 1 year of age has not yet been established, therefore the temperature in a child can change significantly under the slightest influence. This is especially true for babies in the first three months of life. Most often, parents are concerned about elevated values, however, the causes of a temperature of 37-38 ° C can be:

  • Too warm clothes.
  • Cry.
  • Laugh.
  • Eating, including breastfeeding.
  • Bathing in water above 34-36°C.

After sleep, the values ​​\u200b\u200bare usually lower, but with active games, the child's temperature rises quickly. Therefore, when taking measurements, it is necessary to take into account all external factors that could affect them.

At the same time, too high a temperature (38 ° C and above) can be dangerous for small children. To compensate for the heat, the body uses a lot of water and therefore dehydration is often observed. Moreover, in a child, this condition occurs faster than in an adult. Dehydration can pose a danger to health (often against its background there is a deterioration in the condition, subsequently ARVI is complicated by pneumonia) and life (with severe dehydration, there may be loss of consciousness and even death).

In addition, some children under 5 years of age experience febrile convulsions - when the child's temperature rises to 38-39 ° C, involuntary muscle contractions begin, short-term fainting is possible. If at least once such a condition was observed, in the future, even with a slight heat, the baby needs to bring down the temperature.

Human temperature

Normally, a person's temperature is controlled by the endocrine system, in particular, the hypothalamus and thyroid hormones (T3 and T4, as well as the hormone TSH, which regulates their production). Thermoregulation is influenced by sex hormones. And yet, infections remain the main cause of fever, and too low a temperature in most cases is caused by overwork or a lack of vitamins, micro- and macroelements.

Temperature degrees

Man is a warm-blooded creature, which means that the body can maintain a stable temperature regardless of environmental factors. At the same time, in severe frost, the overall temperature drops, and in hot weather it can rise so much that a person will get heat stroke. This is due to the fact that our body is quite sensitive to thermal changes - changes of only 2-3 degrees of temperature significantly affect metabolic processes, hemodynamics and the transmission of impulses through nerve cells. As a result, pressure may increase, convulsions and confusion may occur. Frequent symptoms of low temperature are lethargy, at a value of 30-32 ° C there may be loss of consciousness; and high - delusional states.

Types of fever

For the vast majority of diseases that occur with an increase in temperature, certain ranges of values ​​are characteristic. Therefore, it is often enough for a doctor to make a diagnosis to know not the exact value, but the type of fever. In medicine, there are several types of them:

  • Subfebrile - from 37 ° C to 38 ° C.
  • Febrile - from 38°C to 39°C.
  • High - more than 39°C.
  • Dangerous for life - the line is 40.5-41 ° C.

Temperature values ​​are evaluated in combination with other symptoms, since the degree of fever does not always correspond to the severity of the disease. For example, subfebrile temperature is observed in such dangerous diseases as tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, pyelonephritis and others. A particularly alarming symptom is a condition in which the temperature is kept at 37-37.5 ° C for a long time. This may indicate disruption of the endocrine system and even malignant tumors.

fluctuations in normal body temperature

As already mentioned, the normal temperature in a healthy person can change throughout the day, as well as under the influence of certain factors (food, physical activity, and more). In this case, you need to remember what temperature should be at different ages:

  • Children under one year old - a temperature of 37-38 ° C can be considered the norm.
  • Up to 5 years - 36.6-37.5 ° C.
  • Adolescence - there may be strong fluctuations in temperature associated with the activity of sex hormones. The values ​​are stabilizing in girls on the rise, in boys, differences can be observed up to 18 years.
  • Adults - 36-37.4 ° C.
  • Elderly people over 65 years old - up to 36.3 ° C. A temperature of 37°C can be considered a serious febrile condition.

In men, the average body temperature is lower on average by 0.5 ° C than in women.

How temperature is measured

There are several ways to measure body temperature. And in each case there will be their own norms of values. Among the most popular methods are:

In order to get accurate values, the skin must be dry, and the thermometer itself must be pressed tightly enough to the body. This method will require the most time (with a mercury thermometer - 7-10 minutes), since the skin itself must warm up. The norm of temperature degrees in the armpit is 36.2-36.9 ° C.

The method is most popular for young children, as one of the safest. For this method, it is better to use electronic thermometers with a soft tip, the measurement time is 1-1.5 minutes. The norm of values ​​​​is 36.8-37.6 ° C (on average, it differs by 1 ° C from axillary values).

  • Orally, sublingually (in the mouth, under the tongue).

In our country, the method is not widely used, although in Europe this is how the temperature in adults is most often measured. It takes from 1 to 5 minutes to measure, depending on the type of device. The temperature values ​​​​are normal - 36.6-37.2 ° C.

The method is used to measure the temperature of a child and requires a special type of thermometer (non-contact measurement), therefore it is not very common. In addition to determining the overall temperature, the method will also help in the diagnosis of otitis media. If there is inflammation, then in different ears the temperature will be very different.

It is most often used to determine basal temperature (the lowest body temperature that is recorded during rest). Measured after sleep, an increase of 0.5 ° C indicates the onset of ovulation.

Types of thermometers

Today in pharmacies you can find different types thermometers to measure human temperature. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages:

It is considered one of the most accurate types and at the same time affordable. In addition, it is used in hospitals and clinics, as it is easily disinfected and can be used for a large number of people. Disadvantages include slow temperature measurement and brittleness. A broken thermometer is dangerous with poisonous mercury vapor. Therefore, for children today it is used quite rarely, they are not used for oral measurement.

The most popular type for home use. Quickly measures the temperature (from 30 seconds to 1.5 minutes), reports the end sound signal. Electronic thermometers can be with soft tips (for rectal temperature measurement in a child) and hard (universal devices). If the thermometer is used rectally or orally, it must be individual - for one person only. The disadvantage of such a thermometer is often inaccurate values. Therefore, after purchase, you need to measure the temperature in a healthy state in order to know the possible error range.

Relatively new and expensive type of thermometers. Used to measure temperature in a non-contact way, for example, in the ear, forehead or temple. The speed of obtaining the result is 2-5 seconds. A slight error of 0.2-0.5°C is allowed. A significant disadvantage of the thermometer is its limited use– it is not used for measurements in the usual ways (axillary, rectal, oral). In addition, each model is designed for its own method (forehead, temple, ear) and cannot be used in other areas.

Relatively recently, thermal strips were popular - flexible films with crystals that change color at different temperatures. In order to get the result, it is enough to apply the strip to the forehead and wait for about 1 minute. This method of measurement does not determine the exact degrees of temperature, but only shows the values ​​\u200b\u200bof "low", "normal", "high". Therefore, it cannot replace full-fledged thermometers.

Fever symptoms

An increase in body temperature is well felt by a person. This condition is accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • Fatigue, general weakness.
  • Chills (the more fever, the more chills).
  • Headache.
  • Aches in the body, especially in the joints, muscles and fingers.
  • Feeling cold.
  • Sensation of heat in the region of the eyeballs.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Decreased or complete loss of appetite.
  • Rapid heartbeat, arrhythmias.
  • Sweating (if the body can regulate heat), dry skin (when the temperature rises).

Rose and white fever

High fever can manifest differently in children and adults. It is customary to distinguish two types of fever:

So named after characteristics- red skin, especially pronounced blush on the cheeks and face as a whole. The most common type of fever, in which the body is able to provide optimal heat transfer - the superficial vessels expand (this is how the blood cools), sweating is activated (decrease in skin temperature). The patient's condition, as a rule, is stable, there are no significant violations of the general condition and well-being.

A rather dangerous form of fever, in which failures of thermoregulatory processes occur in the body. The skin in this case is white, and sometimes even cool (especially cold hands and feet), while the measurement of rectal or oral temperature shows fever. A person is tormented by chills, the condition worsens significantly, fainting and confusion can be observed. White fever develops if there is a spasm of blood vessels under the skin, as a result of which the body cannot start the cooling mechanisms. The condition is dangerous in that the temperature rises significantly in vital organs (brain, heart, liver, kidneys, etc.) and can affect their functions.

Reasons for the rise in temperature

Thermoregulation is provided by the endocrine system, which triggers various mechanisms to increase or decrease a person's temperature. And of course, violations in the production of hormones or the functioning of the glands lead to violations of thermoregulation. Such manifestations, as a rule, are stable, and the values ​​remain within the subfebrile range.

The main cause of elevated temperature are pyrogens, which can affect thermoregulation. Moreover, some of them are not introduced from the outside by pathogens, but are secreted by cells of the immune system. Such pyrogens are designed to increase the effectiveness of the fight against various health-threatening conditions. The temperature rises in such cases:

  • Infections - viruses, bacteria, protozoa and others.
  • Burns, injuries. As a rule, there is a local increase in temperature, but with a large area of ​​​​the lesion there may be a general fever.
  • Allergic reactions. In these cases, the immune system produces pyrogens to fight harmless substances.
  • shock states.

ARI and high fever

Seasonal respiratory diseases are the most common cause of fever. In this case, depending on the type of infection, its values ​​​​will be different.

  • With a standard cold or a mild form of ARVI, subfebrile temperature is observed, in addition, it rises gradually, on average over 6-12 hours. With proper treatment, the fever lasts no more than 4 days, after which it begins to subside or disappear altogether.
  • If the temperature rises sharply and exceeds 38 ° C, this may be a symptom of the flu. Unlike other acute respiratory viral infections, this disease requires mandatory monitoring by a local therapist or pediatrician.
  • If the fever resumed after the condition improved or did not go away on the 5th day from the onset of the disease, this most often indicates complications. A bacterial infection has joined the initial viral infection, the temperature is usually above 38°C. The condition requires an urgent call to the doctor, as the patient may need antibiotic therapy.

Diseases with a temperature of 37-38 ° C

A temperature of 37-38 ° C is typical for such diseases:

  • SARS.
  • Exacerbations of chronic respiratory diseases. For example, bronchitis or bronchial asthma, tonsillitis.
  • Tuberculosis.
  • Chronic diseases of internal organs during an exacerbation: myocarditis, endocarditis (inflammation of the heart membranes), pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys).
  • Ulcer, colitis.
  • Viral hepatitis (usually hepatitis B and C).
  • Herpes in the acute stage.
  • Exacerbation of psoriasis.
  • Infection with toxoplasmosis.

This temperature is typical for the initial stage of thyroid dysfunction, with increased production of hormones (thyrotoxicosis). Hormonal disturbances during menopause can also cause mild fever. Subfebrile values ​​can be observed in people with helminthic invasion.

Diseases with a temperature of 39 ° C and above

High temperature accompanies diseases that cause severe intoxication of the body. Most often, values ​​​​within 39 ° C degrees indicate the development of an acute bacterial infection:

  • Angina.
  • Pneumonia.
  • Acute pyelonephritis.
  • Gastrointestinal diseases: salmonellosis, dysentery, cholera.
  • Sepsis.

At the same time, intense fever is also characteristic of other infections:

  • Flu.
  • Hemorrhagic fever, in which the kidneys are severely affected.
  • Chicken pox.
  • Measles.
  • Meningitis, encephalitis.
  • Viral hepatitis A.

Other causes of high fever

Violations of thermoregulation can be observed without visible diseases. Another dangerous reason that the temperature has risen is the inability of the body to provide adequate heat transfer. This happens, as a rule, with prolonged exposure to the sun in the hot season or in a too stuffy room. The temperature of the child may rise if he is dressed too warmly. The condition is dangerous with heatstroke, which can be fatal for people with heart and lung disease. With severe overheating, even in healthy people, organs, primarily the brain, suffer significantly. Also, fever for no apparent reason can manifest itself in emotional people during periods of stress and great excitement.

Low temperature symptoms

A low temperature is less common than a fever, but it can also indicate serious health problems. Indicators below 35.5 ° C for an adult are considered a sign of diseases and disorders of the body, and below 35 ° C in the elderly.

The following degrees of body temperature are considered life-threatening:

  • 32.2 ° C - a person will fall into a stupor, there is a strong lethargy.
  • 30-29°C - loss of consciousness.
  • Below 26.5 ° C - a fatal outcome is possible.

Low temperature is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • General weakness, malaise.
  • Drowsiness.
  • There may be irritability.
  • The extremities become cold, numbness of the fingers develops.
  • Attention disturbances and problems with thought processes are noticeable, the speed of reactions decreases.
  • General feeling of coldness, trembling in the body.

Causes of low temperature

Among the main reasons for low temperatures are the following:

  • General weakness of the body caused by external factors and living conditions.

Insufficient nutrition, lack of sleep, stress and emotional distress can affect thermoregulation.

Associated, as a rule, with insufficient synthesis of hormones.

The most common cause of low temperature in humans. The condition is dangerous by a violation of metabolic processes and frostbite of the extremities only in the case of a strong drop in temperature. With a slight hypothermia, a person's local immunity decreases, so this or that infection often develops subsequently.

It is observed during the recovery period, after operations, it can manifest itself against the background of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Also low temperature is typical for people with AIDS.

Diseases of the endocrine system

Hormones play an important role in the processes of thermoregulation. In particular, the thyroid hormones of the thyroid gland are thyroxine and triiodothyronine. With their increased synthesis, fever is often observed, but hypothyroidism, on the contrary, leads to a decrease in the overall temperature. In the initial stages, this is often the only symptom by which the development of the disease can be suspected.

A stable decrease in body temperature is also observed with adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease). Pathology develops slowly, may not show other signs for months or even several years.

Low hemoglobin in the blood

One of the most common causes of low temperatures is Iron-deficiency anemia. It is characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood, and this in turn affects the functioning of the whole organism. Hemoglobin is responsible for the transport of oxygen to the cells, and if it is not enough, different degrees of hypoxia appear.

The person becomes lethargic, there is a general weakness, against which metabolic processes slow down. The low temperature is the result of these changes.

In addition, the level of hemoglobin can fall with various blood loss. In particular, anemia can develop in people with internal bleeding. If a significant blood loss occurs in a short period of time, the volume of circulating blood decreases, and this already affects heat transfer.

Other causes of low temperature

Among the dangerous conditions that require mandatory medical advice and treatment, one can single out such diseases with a low temperature:

  • Radiation sickness.
  • Severe intoxication.
  • AIDS.
  • Brain diseases, including tumors.
  • Shock of any etiology (with massive blood loss, allergic reactions, traumatic and toxic shock).

However, the most common causes of temperatures below 35.5 ° C are an unhealthy lifestyle and a lack of vitamins. So, nutrition remains an important factor, if it is not enough, then the processes in the body will slow down, and as a result, thermoregulation will be disturbed. Therefore, with various strict diets, especially with a poor diet (deficiency of iodine, vitamin C, iron), low temperature without other symptoms is very common. If a person consumes less than 1200 calories per day, this will definitely affect thermoregulation.

Another common cause of such a temperature is overwork, stress, lack of sleep. It is especially characteristic of chronic fatigue syndrome. The body goes into a sparing mode of functioning, metabolic processes slow down in the body and, of course, this affects heat transfer.

Temperature and other symptoms

Since temperature is only a symptom of various disorders in the body, it is best to consider it in combination with other signs of illness. It is the general picture of a person’s condition that can tell what kind of disease develops and how dangerous it is.

An increase in temperature is often observed with various ailments. However, there are characteristic combinations of symptoms that appear in patients with specific diagnoses.

Temperature and pain

In the event that, with pain in the abdomen, the temperature is above 37.5 ° C, this may indicate serious violations of the gastrointestinal tract. In particular, this is observed with intestinal obstruction. In addition, a combination of symptoms is characteristic of the development of appendicitis. Therefore, if the pain is localized in the region of the right hypochondrium, it is difficult for a person to pull his legs to his chest, there is a loss of appetite and cold sweat, an ambulance should be called immediately. A complication of appendicitis, peritonitis, is also accompanied by persistent fever.

Other causes of a combination of abdominal pain and temperature:

  • Pyelonephritis.
  • Acute pancreatitis.
  • Bacterial bowel disease.

If the temperature rises against the background of pain in the head, this most often indicates a general intoxication of the body and is observed in such diseases:

Pain in the joints and muscles, discomfort in the eyeballs are symptoms of a temperature above 39 ° C. In such conditions, it is recommended to take an antipyretic.

Temperature and diarrhea

An elevated temperature against the background of diarrhea is a clear sign of a bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract. Among intestinal infections with such symptoms:

The cause of the temperature against the background of diarrhea can also be severe food poisoning. The combination of such symptoms is very dangerous for health, so self-medication in such cases is unacceptable. It is urgent to call an ambulance and, if necessary, agree to hospitalization. This is especially true if the child is sick.

Temperature and diarrhea are factors that contribute to dehydration. And with their combination, fluid loss by the body can become critical in a fairly short period. Therefore, in the event that it is not possible to adequately compensate for the lack of fluid by drinking (for example, a person has vomiting or the diarrhea itself is pronounced), the patient is injected with solutions intravenously in a hospital. Without it, dehydration can lead to serious consequences, damage to organs and even death.

Temperature and nausea

In some cases, nausea may be due to fever. Due to intense heat, weakness develops, pressure decreases, dizziness occurs, and this is what causes slight nausea as a result. In this state, if the temperature is above 39 ° C, it must be brought down. The combination of symptoms may appear in the first days of the flu and be caused by severe intoxication of the body.

One of the causes of nausea and fever during pregnancy is toxicosis. But in this case, values ​​​​higher than subfebrile (up to 38 ° C) are rarely observed.

In the event that nausea is accompanied by other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (for example, pain, diarrhea or, conversely, constipation), simply bringing down the temperature is not enough. This combination of symptoms can indicate serious diseases of the internal organs. Among them:

  • Viral hepatitis and other liver damage.
  • Acute appendicitis.
  • Peritonitis.
  • Inflammation of the kidneys.
  • Acute pancreatitis.
  • Intestinal obstruction (accompanied by constipation).

In addition, fever and nausea are often observed against the background of intoxication with stale food, alcohol or drugs. And one of the most dangerous diagnoses with these symptoms is meningitis. All of the listed diseases and conditions require a mandatory consultation with a doctor.

In the event that vomiting occurs against the background of temperature, it is very important to compensate for the loss of fluid. Children with this combination of symptoms are most often referred for inpatient treatment.

pressure and temperature

An increase in blood pressure is a common symptom of fever. Heat affects hemodynamics - patients have an increased heart rate, and blood begins to move faster through the vessels, they expand, and this can affect blood pressure. However, such changes cannot cause severe hypertension, more often the rates do not exceed 140/90 mm Hg. Art., observed in patients with a fever of 38.5 ° C and above, disappear as soon as the temperature stabilizes.

In some cases, a high temperature, on the contrary, is characterized by a decrease in pressure. There is no need to treat this condition, as the indicators return to normal after the fever subsides.

At the same time, for hypertensive patients, any, even a slight fever, can threaten with serious consequences. Therefore, they should consult with their doctor and, if necessary, take antipyretics already at rates of 37.5 ° C (especially when it comes to older people).

Pressure and temperature is a dangerous combination for patients with such diseases:

  • Cardiac ischemia. Cardiologists note that this combination of symptoms sometimes accompanies myocardial infarction. Moreover, in this case, the temperature rises slightly, may be within the framework of subfebrile indicators.
  • Heart failure.
  • Arrhythmias.
  • Atherosclerosis.
  • Diabetes.

In the event that low pressure and temperature in the subfebrile range last for a long time, this may be a sign of oncopathology. However, not all oncologists agree with this statement, and the symptoms themselves should simply become the reason for a full-fledged examination of a person.

Low pressure and low temperature are a common combination. Such symptoms are especially characteristic with low hemoglobin, chronic fatigue, blood loss, and nervous disorders.

Temperature without other symptoms

An increased or decreased temperature without symptoms characteristic of acute infections should be the reason for a mandatory medical examination. Violations can talk about such diseases:

  • Chronic pyelonephritis.
  • Tuberculosis.
  • Malignant and benign tumors.
  • Organ infarcts (tissue necrosis).
  • Blood diseases.
  • Thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism.
  • Allergic reactions.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis at an early stage.
  • Violations of the brain, in particular, the hypothalamus.
  • Mental disorders.

Temperature without other symptoms also occurs against the background of overwork, stress, after a long physical activity, overheating or hypothermia. But in these cases, the indicators stabilize. If we are talking about serious diseases, the temperature without symptoms will be quite stable, after normalization it will rise or fall again over time. Sometimes hypothermia or hyperemia is observed in a patient for several months.

How to lower the temperature

An elevated temperature can cause significant discomfort, and in some cases even be life-threatening. Therefore, any person needs to know what to do with a fever and how to bring down the temperature correctly.

When to bring down the temperature

Not always, if the temperature has risen, it needs to be brought back to normal. The fact is that with infections and other lesions of the body, he himself begins to produce pyrogens, which cause fever. High temperature helps the immune system fight antigens, in particular:

  • The synthesis of interferon, a protein that protects cells from viruses, is activated.
  • The production of antibodies that destroy antigens is activated.
  • The process of phagocytosis is accelerated - the absorption of foreign bodies by phagocyte cells.
  • Reduced physical activity and appetite, which means that the body can spend more energy to fight infection.
  • Most bacteria and viruses thrive best at normal human temperatures. With its increase, some microorganisms die.

Therefore, before deciding to “bring down the temperature”, you need to remember that a fever helps the body recover. However, there are still situations in which the heat must be removed. Among them:

  • Temperature above 39°C.
  • Any temperature at which there is a serious deterioration in the condition - nausea, dizziness, and so on.
  • Febrile convulsions in children (any fever above 37 ° C is knocked down).
  • In the presence of concomitant neurological diagnoses.
  • People with diseases of the heart and blood vessels, with diabetes.

Air, humidity and other parameters in the room

There are many ways to lower the temperature. But the first task should always be to normalize the air parameters in the room where the patient is located. This is especially important for children of the first years of life, and critical for infants. The fact is that the child's sweating system is still poorly developed and therefore thermoregulation is carried out to a greater extent through breathing. The baby inhales cool air, which cools his lungs and the blood in them, and exhales warm air. In the event that the room is too warm, this process is inefficient.

The humidity in the room is also important. The fact is that the humidity of the exhaled air normally approaches 100%. At a temperature, breathing quickens and if the room is too dry, a person additionally loses water through breathing. In addition, the mucous membranes dry up, congestion develops in the bronchi and lungs.

Therefore, the ideal parameters in the room where the patient with fever is located are:

Antipyretic drugs

In the event that you need to quickly bring down the temperature, you can use antipyretics. They are taken symptomatically, which means that as soon as the symptom passes or becomes less pronounced, the medication is stopped. Drinking antipyretics throughout the disease for prevention is unacceptable.

One of the main conditions for the successful action of drugs in this group is drinking plenty of water.

It is actively prescribed for adults and children, it is considered a first-line drug. However, recent studies, in particular those carried out American organization The FDA has shown that paracetamol can cause serious liver damage when taken uncontrolled. Paracetamol helps well if the temperature does not exceed 38 ° C, but in extreme heat it may not work.

One of the key non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used for fever. Designed for adults and children.

For a long time it was the main drug of the NSAID category, but over the past decades, its association with severe kidney and liver damage (with overdose) has been proven. Also, researchers believe that taking aspirin in children can cause the development of Reye's syndrome (pathogenic encephalopathy), so this moment the drug is not used in pediatrics.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent of the latest generation. Contraindicated in children.

Today it is practically not used as an antipyretic, but it can still relieve fever.

Folk remedies

The temperature can also be brought down with the help of folk remedies. Among the most common and simple ways- decoctions of herbs and berries. Drinking plenty of fluids is always recommended when the temperature is high, as it helps to improve perspiration and reduces the risk of dehydration.

Among the most popular herbs and berries that are used for fever are:

To normalize the temperature, a hypertonic solution will also help. It is prepared from ordinary boiled water and salt - two teaspoons of salt are taken for 1 glass of liquid. Such a drink helps cells retain water and is great if the temperature manifests itself against the background of vomiting and diarrhea.

  • Newborns - no more than 30 ml.
  • From 6 months to 1 year - 100 ml.
  • Up to 3 years - 200 ml.
  • Up to 5 years - 300 ml.
  • Over 6 years old - 0.5 l.

Ice can also be used for fever symptoms. But it must be used very carefully, since a sharp cooling of the skin can lead to vasospasm and the development of white fever. Ice is placed in a bag or placed on a piece of cloth and only in this form is applied to the body. Wiping with a towel dipped in cold water can be a good alternative. In the event that it is not possible to bring down the temperature, antipyretics do not work, and folk remedies do not help, you need to urgently call an ambulance.

How to raise the temperature

If the body temperature drops below 35.5 ° C, a person feels weak and unwell, you can increase it in the following ways:

  • Warm plentiful drink. Well helps tea with honey, rosehip broth.
  • Liquid warm soups and broths.
  • Warm clothes.
  • Covering with several blankets, for greater effect, you can use a heating pad.
  • Hot bath. Can be supplemented with essential oils of coniferous trees (fir, spruce, pine).
  • Exercise stress. A few intense exercises will help improve circulation and increase body temperature.

If the temperature stays below 36°C for a long time, you should consult a doctor. And after finding out the cause of such a symptom, the specialist will prescribe the appropriate treatment.

When you need urgent medical attention

In some cases, a high temperature can pose a serious threat to health, and then you simply cannot do without the help of doctors. An ambulance must be called in such cases:

  • Temperature 39.5°C or higher.
  • A sharp increase in temperature and the inability to bring it down with antipyretic and other methods.
  • Against the background of temperature, diarrhea or vomiting is observed.
  • Fever is accompanied by difficulty breathing.
  • There are severe pains in any part of the body.
  • There are signs of dehydration: dry mucous membranes, pallor, severe weakness, dark urine or no urination.
  • High blood pressure and temperature above 38°C.
  • The fever is accompanied by a rash. Especially dangerous is a red rash that does not disappear with pressure - a sign of a meningococcal infection.

Fever or a decrease in temperature is an important signal of the body about diseases. This symptom should always be given due attention and try to fully understand its causes, and not just eliminate it with the help of drugs and other methods. But at the same time, one should not forget that normal temperature is an individual concept and not everyone corresponds to the well-known indicator of 36.6 ° C.