When the baby has a fever, why is the body hot but cold?

reason

When the baby has a fever, the body is very hot, the hands and feet are cold, and even have a trembling and tremor. This situation often appears at the beginning of the fever, that is, the rising period of body temperature [1], which is a precursor to the next rapid increase in body temperature.

During this period, due to various reasons, the body temperature adjustment point is moved up. The temperature center believes that the normal body temperature is low at present, and it will generate more heat and reduce heat dissipation, so that the body temperature will rise to the new adjustment point.

The reduction of heat dissipation is mainly through skin blood vessel contraction, so that the peripheral blood flows back to the internal organs. The end of the limbs is the most obvious blood vessels in the hands and feet, so the baby's body is very hot (the core temperature of the body rises), but the hands and feet are cold.

Increasing heat production is mainly through muscle activity, so the baby may have a tremor and tremor.

Approach

When the baby is cold when you have a fever, you can cover the baby to keep a blanket [2], but it is not recommended to wipe it with warm water. Wipe warm water will increase the baby's discomfort [3].

At this time, the baby is in the rising temperature, and the cold hands and feet are temporarily caused by the blood vessel contraction of the hands and feet, not caused by the coldness of the external environment. Although the warmth effect is limited, it can also relieve the baby's discomfort.

However, it should be noted that the blanket should be removed when the cold war is over [2], because after the high temperature duration, the baby's hands and feet will heat up. If the baby is worn too much before and does not reduce the package in time, it will affect heat dissipation [4].

In addition, if the baby is cold when you have a fever, it usually indicates that the body temperature will rise further [5]. In addition to proper warmth, if the baby's mental state is very bad, the most important thing is to take antipyretic medicines for the baby in time, such as acetaminol or ibuprofen.

references

[1] Wang Jianzhi, Qian Ruizhe, etc. Pathology [M]. 9th edition. People's Health Press, 2018.

[2] Fever inInfants and Children.https: //familyDOCTOR.G/Condition/fever-In-infants-and- Children/

[3] Fever in Infants and Children: Pathophysiology and Managment. Uptodate.2022.

[4] Fever.https://medLinePlus.gov/Evcy/article/003090.htm

[5] chills.https://medLinePlus.gov/Evcy/article/003091.htm

Experts in this article

Guo Yanxin

Cooperative expert

Deputy Chief Physician of the Pediatric Department of Luoyang Central Hospital affiliated to Zhengzhou University

Sui Jing

Review expert

Deputy Chief Physician of Pediatrics at Beijing Mingde Hospital

Plan

Produced: MEI

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