Fever in children is a common disease. When a child has a fever, their body temperature will rise, but the temperature of their hands and feet does not increase like in other places. Moreover, many children may have a high fever, but they feel cold when touched. What's going on here?
1、 Why do children have cold hands and feet when they have a fever
The body temperature of the human body is controlled by the temperature center of the hypothalamus. If there is inflammation in the body, the temperature center will jump to the set temperature point in order to improve immune function and suppress pathogenic bacteria. If reaching a higher body temperature, the body needs muscle tremors to generate heat, while contracting surface blood vessels to reduce heat loss, so the child's hands and feet feel cold when touched.
2、 Children with fever should not be 'covered'
Many parents also use the method of "covering sweat" when their children have a fever, thinking that as long as the child realizes that they are sweating all over, the fever can be reduced. Children with high fever often have poor limb circulation, and their hands and feet feel cold to the touch. Parents mistakenly believe that their children's cold hands and feet are due to wearing less clothing, and then cover them up more tightly. In addition, children's sweat glands are underdeveloped, and when they have a fever, they tend to cover up more and more, which can easily cause "heat syndrome" and trigger high fever seizures.
3、 Children with fever should cool down in stages
When a child has a fever, it is necessary to monitor their body temperature and treat them according to different stages of fever. During the period of rising body temperature, if a child feels cold due to fever, it is not advisable to use cold water to wipe the body. Instead, use antipyretic patches or ice packs on the head. Children with cold hands and feet should be given warmth to improve peripheral circulation; During a prolonged period of high fever, if a child feels very hot, they can take warm water baths, drink plenty of water, urinate, sweat, etc; If the body temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees, antipyretic drugs suitable for children can be taken orally; Mothers should be aware that if a child's fever is not promptly reduced, it may cause brain damage. Therefore, it is important to promptly reduce the fever in the child. During the cooling off period, children sweat a lot and need to replenish their fluids and change their sweaty underwear in a timely manner.
A child's fever may be the result of a struggle between the child's immune system and bacteria, or it may simply be caused by an increase in body temperature due to the virus. Many parents believe that children with fever need to be covered, but this is completely wrong. If a child has a fever, they can drink plenty of water and use antipyretic patches or ice packs for cold compress. If a high fever occurs, it is necessary to actively take medication for treatment.
