What causes a child to have a fever and shivering?

Dec 30, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng

Introduction

Fever with chills refers to fever accompanied by shivering. In children, fever with chills may be caused by temperature regulation responses, psychological factors, common cold, acute gastroenteritis, bacterial pneumonia, or other reasons. If there is any discomfort, please seek medical attention as soon as possible and receive symptomatic treatment under the guidance of a qualified physician. In daily life, it is important to help children develop good personal hygiene habits, such as washing hands frequently and wearing masks, to reduce the risk of infection.

Generally, fever with chills refers to fever accompanied by shivering. In children, fever with chills may be caused by temperature regulation response, psychological factors, common cold, acute gastroenteritis, bacterial pneumonia, or other reasons. If there is any discomfort, please seek medical attention promptly and receive symptomatic treatment under the guidance of a qualified physician. Detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Temperature Regulation Response

In the early stages of fever, the body's temperature set point increases, but the actual body temperature has not yet reached the new set point. To raise body temperature quickly, the body produces heat through involuntary skeletal muscle shivering, which manifests as chills. It is important to keep the child warm and avoid sudden exposure to cold; appropriately adjust clothing and maintain a comfortable room temperature.

2. Psychological Factors

During fever, children may experience muscle tension due to discomfort, fear, or other psychological factors, resulting in chills. Provide sufficient comfort and care to reduce the child's fear; create a comfortable environment to help the child relax physically and mentally.

3. Common Cold

A common cold may be caused by viral or bacterial infection. Pathogens invade the upper respiratory tract, triggering an inflammatory response that may lead to elevated body temperature and chills. Symptoms may also include coughing and runny nose. Treatment may include medications such as oseltamivir phosphate granules, acetaminophen oral solution, and isatidis root (banlangen) granules, under the guidance of a physician.

4. Acute Gastroenteritis

Acute gastroenteritis can be caused by bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection. Under the stimulation of inflammation, body temperature typically rises, and severe cases may cause chills. Symptoms may also include diarrhea and vomiting. Patients may take medications such as cefaclor granules, montmorillonite powder, and oral rehydration salts (Ⅲ) according to medical advice.

5. Bacterial Pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia is caused by bacterial infections such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. Lung inflammation may cause fever in children and sometimes chills and high fever. Symptoms may also include difficulty breathing and shortness of breath. Patients may take medications such as potassium penicillin V tablets, ambroxol hydrochloride oral solution, and ibuprofen tablets under a doctor's recommendation.

In daily life, encourage children to develop good personal hygiene habits, such as frequent handwashing and wearing masks, to reduce the risk of infection. Maintain indoor cleanliness and ventilation to reduce pathogen proliferation.

View All

What medicine should a child take for fever to recover quickly?

Commonly used and safe antipyretic medications for children include acetaminophen suspension, ibuprofen suspension, acetaminophen suppositories, ibuprofen suppositories, and Xiao'er Chai Gui Tui Re Granules. These should be administered according to the child's age and weight, and medication should not be given blindly. If fever persists beyond 3 days without improvement, is accompanied by severe symptoms, or if the child experiences discomfort after taking medication, prompt medical attention is recommended.

View Full Answer

What methods can quickly reduce fever in children?

In general, a child's fever may be caused by factors such as excessive environmental temperature leading to insufficient heat dissipation, immune response after vaccination, upper respiratory tract infection, acute gastroenteritis, or bacterial pneumonia. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention, identify the underlying cause, and then improve the condition through physical cooling methods, medication, and other treatments under a doctor's guidance. Additionally, it is important to ensure the child's daily diet is light and easily digestible, avoiding oily and spicy foods.

View Full Answer

At what temperature will a child experience convulsions due to fever?

In general, there is no fixed temperature threshold at which a child will experience seizures during fever. Most often, seizures occur when body temperature rapidly rises above 38.5°C. However, some children may experience seizures even if their temperature does not reach 38.5°C. This primarily relates to individual physical condition and the speed at which body temperature rises. When a child has a fever, parents should closely monitor temperature changes and administer antipyretic medication promptly if the temperature exceeds 38.5°C.

View Full Answer

Which areas should be massaged to reduce fever in children?

Fever, also known as pyrexia, can be accompanied by massage therapy to assist in reducing body temperature in children. However, the appropriateness of massage should be considered based on individual circumstances. Commonly used acupoints for fever reduction include clearing the heavenly river water (Qing Tian He Shui), pushing the Kan Palace (Tui Kan Gong), rubbing the Taiyang point, clearing the lung meridian (Qing Fei Jing), and pressing and rubbing the Hegu point. Proper techniques may help alleviate symptoms of fever. If there are any concerns, it is recommended to seek medical advice in advance.