What type of fever causes a child's hands and feet to be cold while having a fever?
Apr 12, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Ma Yan
Introduction
Fever refers to an elevated body temperature. When a child has cold hands and feet along with fever, it may be due to continuously rising body temperature, poor blood circulation, or nervous system disturbances, and appropriate measures should be taken based on the specific situation. If the child is in the phase of rising temperature, the body produces more heat, while the hands and feet—having less fat—lose heat rapidly through the bloodstream, which may result in this condition.
Generally speaking, fever refers to an elevated body temperature. Cold hands and feet accompanied by fever in children may be caused by continuously rising body temperature, poor circulation, or nervous system disturbances, among other reasons. Appropriate treatment should be based on the specific situation. The detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Continuously rising body temperature
If the child is in the phase of rising body temperature, heat production in the body increases. However, due to lower fat content in children's hands and feet, a significant amount of heat carried by the blood may be lost, leading to this phenomenon.
2. Poor circulation
Children’s bodies are still developing, and the blood vessels in their internal organs are relatively dense. However, blood supply to the hands and feet is relatively limited. During fever, oxygen consumption increases, raising the demand for blood flow to ensure adequate oxygen supply to vital organs. This may result in reduced blood supply to the extremities, causing poor local circulation, which can manifest as cold hands and feet along with fever.
3. Nervous system disturbances
The nervous system in children is not yet fully mature. During fever, the nervous system may become disrupted due to elevated temperature, resulting in unstable control over blood vessels. This dysregulation of vasoconstriction and vasodilation can impair blood flow and may also lead to such symptoms.
In addition, this condition could also be caused by cold shock. Since children are still in a critical stage of physical development, medications should not be administered casually. Immediate medical attention at a hospital is recommended to avoid adverse effects on the child’s health.
