The child has a temperature of 38 without other symptoms: causes, first aid
With such a situation, when the child has risen to a temperature of 38 for no apparent reason, other symptoms of malaise are absent, many parents face. Their anxiety is justified, because the state of the baby can deteriorate very quickly, while he is not able to tell exactly what is bothering him. The most reasonable thing is to go to the pediatrician and, if necessary, to conduct a survey. This condition is not always a sign of the disease. But in some cases, you need to seek medical help.
Content:
- Possible causes of asymptomatic fever
- Causes of non-infectious nature
- Overheating of the body
- Teething
- Vaccination
- Allergic reaction and overexcitation of the nervous system
- Increased temperature associated with infection
- When to see a doctor
- Recommendations for parents
- What to do if the heat is kept

Possible causes of asymptomatic fever
The child's body is characterized by a number of features that make it more vulnerable to pathogens and increase possible reactions to the effects of negative factors. Such features include weakened immunity, as well as the incompleteness of the development of respiratory, nervous and other body systems.
The reasons for the asymptomatic increase in the column of the medical thermometer can be divided into 2 types:
- Non-developmental infections in the body.
- Associated with the ingestion of bacteria or viruses.
Sometimes the absence of symptoms is apparent, only a doctor can notice them.
Causes of non-infectious nature
Often in children, especially the first year of life, the increase in temperature is associated with the physiological characteristics of the body, the response to drugs, the manifestation of allergies .
Overheating of the body
It is enough for a kid to stay in a hot room (especially if it is warmly wrapped), so that his imperfect thermoregulation system does not work. It is possible to raise the body temperature to 38-38.9 °. In order to reduce it, enough to strip the crumbs, give him the opportunity to lie down without a diaper, remove his cap and upper blouse.
Long stay in the sun can cause a temperature rise even in an adult, not to mention a small one. In this case, a cool shower will save the overheating.
The temperature can rise and in the event that the child is not properly dressed during sports or outdoor games. Too warm, poorly-breathable clothing creates all the conditions for overheating.
Teething
Approximately from 5-6 months in babies begin to erupt milk teeth. A rise in temperature can be the first sign of this process. This symptom, like increased salivation, sometimes goes unnoticed, since it appears already in 2 months. But during the examination of the oral cavity, it can be seen that the gums turned red. The kid tries to relieve the itching, so he pulls various objects into his mouth. There are special adaptations, teeth-cutters, which in a cooled form give babies. Weaken gums allow gels for gums.
After 5 years, the problem arises again, because permanent thin teeth begin to erupt at the site of the dying teeth. Inflammation of the gums leads to an increase in temperature to 38 or more, especially when the molars appear.
Vaccination
Often the temperature rises after inoculation. If the baby is healthy, then in 1-2 days the state of health is restored.
If the increase in temperature to 37-37.2 ° in adults most often indicates a morbid state of the body, then for children this is considered normal, possibly a short-term increase to 38-38.9 °. Thermoregulation is especially weakened in children with birth trauma, in premature newborns, as well as having congenital diseases (heart disease, for example).
If the cause of abnormality is understandable, do not immediately give the baby a medicine. First of all, it is necessary to eliminate unfavorable factors and to keep a constant watch over his condition. An antipyretic is given when a toddler is capricious because of the temperature, can not sleep normally.
Allergic reaction and overexcitation of the nervous system
Sometimes the occurrence of heat is a kind of symptom of an allergy to certain foods (for example, to honey) or medicines.
In some children with increased nervous excitability values may jump up to 38.1-38.9 ° on the eve of any exciting event, during school examinations. Even the experience of unfair parental reproach leads to a similar reaction of the organism. After the child calms down, the condition usually normalizes.
Video: Causes of asymptomatic fever in children
Increased temperature associated with infection
The temperature rises to 38-39 ° because of the ingress of viruses or bacteria into the body. And such a sign in a viral disease is the only symptom of the disease. Viruses are viable for several days, are not susceptible to antibiotics. As a rule, on the third day the temperature starts to decrease, and in the absence of complications after 6-7 days the child completely recovers.
Bacteria do not die of their own, they are the cause of inflammatory processes. In this case, the asymptomatic course of diseases is almost impossible. The defeat of the respiratory system leads to the appearance of a protracted cough , painful sensations in the throat, wheezing.
Bacterial bowel disease is characterized by a digestive disorder, abdominal pain. But, for example, with inflammation of the bladder and other organs of the urinary system, it is not always possible to notice any other manifestations other than a stable temperature. Rapid urination (especially in babies who wear diapers) is difficult to notice, because, unlike adults, they usually do not experience any painful sensations associated with such diseases.
Therefore, when you see a doctor about the incomprehensible temperature increase, first of all, an urine test is done, which shows the number of white blood cells, increasing in the presence of inflammation. It is important to pay attention to its color. If the urine is dark, it indicates the ingress of blood into it from the vessels affected by the infection.
Note: There is a sign that suggests what kind of infection has entered the body. Redness of the face and ears in a child with fever is characteristic of a viral disease. To bring down the temperature will help antipyretics. And if he has a fever, but the skin is pale - this is most likely a bacterial process that requires antibiotic treatment.
When to see a doctor
At elevated temperature, it is necessary to consult a doctor in the following cases:
- If this condition is accompanied by regurgitation or vomiting. The cause may be poisoning or intestinal disease.
- Even minor skin rashes are detected.
- The fever is observed for more than 3 days even in the absence of other symptoms. Perhaps the emergence of a latent form of any disease (otitis, pharyngitis ) or exacerbation of a chronic ailment (rheumatism, diabetes and others).
- The temperature of 38 ° does not subside in the baby, or rises to 39 and higher in a child aged 2-5 years. After 6 years, a temperature of 40 or more is considered dangerous.
Sometimes a fever in a child is accompanied by a symptom of a malfunction in the process of nervous regulation, the appearance of seizures. If this condition occurs at least once, it is necessary to use an antipyretic agent to prevent a rise in temperature above 38 °. If there are seizures, you should call an ambulance.
Recommendations for parents
The asymptomatic appearance of heat can be avoided. Preventive measures are:
- Hardening .
- Avoid overheating by choosing the right clothes according to the weather, taking into account physical activity.
- Protection of the child's body from dehydration. Give your child enough fluids. About its lack in the body may indicate a rare urination or crying without tears.
- Observation of the psychoemotional state. It is necessary to avoid stressful situations and overloads of the nervous system of babies, to comply with sleep.
- Avoid contact with allergens and treat a child with medications not prescribed by a doctor.
- Compliance with the conditions of temperature and humidity in the room where the baby is.
- When observing the temperature in an infant, it must be borne in mind that after feeding or crying, it always rises, so to determine the mean value it must be measured at different times of the day (using the same thermometer).
To exclude dehydration of the body, in addition to milk, babies should be given water or tea.
Warning: The baby must be protected from overheating under the sun (to stay in the shade), avoid bathing in hot water.
Video: How and when to lower the temperature in a child
What to do if the heat is kept
If the child has a fever in the absence of obvious causes of malaise, you should limit his physical activity, relieve stress. It is not recommended to bathe the baby in the tub. Reducing body temperature and preventing dehydration of the body contributes to abundant drinking. If the child refuses to eat, it should not be forcibly fed.
The air in the room should be cool and humid, the room should be often ventilated. You can not wrap your clothes too warmly and warm your baby.
Subfebrile temperature (37.2-37.5 °) is usually not knocked down. If a prolonged temperature is observed above 38 without symptoms, antipyretic agents based on paracetamol (panadol, efferalgan, meksalen) or ibuprofen (nurofen, ibufen) are given.
For babies under 1 year they are released in the form of candles. They are usually administered the night after the bowel has been emptied. The action of this antipyretics begins in 40 minutes. Up to 6 years, drugs are used in the form of syrups. Improvement of the condition occurs in about half an hour. At the older age, drugs are prescribed in the form of tablets.
Do not use aspirin, analgin, as their repeated use leads to the occurrence of gastrointestinal bleeding in children, disrupting the liver and kidneys.
Follow-up medication is allowed no earlier than 4 hours later. It is necessary to consider the possibility of an allergic reaction, to study the instruction for specifying side effects, to observe the age-related dose.
To reduce heat, children should not be made enemas (if they are not prescribed by a doctor), wipe the skin with vodka. Self-medication can be harmful. Often, the doctor discovers symptoms that the parents did not notice.
To clarify the diagnosis, general blood and urine tests are prescribed. Methods such as fluorography, x-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography are used. It may be necessary to consult a urologist, a cardiologist, a neurologist or other specialists.