Child overheating: how to prevent and treat?

13 March 2024

What is overheating of the body and when does it occur most often? Why should children not overheat, and how to prevent it? What you need to know about side effects of overheating the body? What are symptoms of the baby overheating, and what effects? Whether fever in a child from overheating only happens in hot weather? Ile u child maybe overheating of the body? What to do when this happens - how to treat a child overheating

In our country, there is a widespread belief that wrapping a child on all sides, regardless of the weather, is an expression of care for the toddler, as it prevents cooling down, colds and other respiratory infections. In fact, however, the opposite is true. We explain what it is below overheating of the bodywhy it often happens overheating in children and what symptoms it can call u baby. However, in order not to check in practicehow to treat a child overheating and what could be his side effects, we also suggest how to prevent it. 

Overheating of the body, which is what?

Overheating, otherwise known as hyperthermia, is state in which the body temperature rises above normal as a result of too much heat accumulation in the body, which disturbs the natural thermoregulatory processes (weakens natural cooling capacity). It is the opposite of hypothermia and can be caused by both external factors (heat, sun, hot bath) and internal factors (disorders of the heat dissipation process, damage to the thermoregulation center).

Children, especially newborns and infants, are more prone to overheating than adults due to the still immature thermoregulation system. The risk of overheating also increases in the elderly.

Symptoms of baby overheating

The baby overheats gradually. It is important to react at the right time and get the child down without leading to hyperthermia and its effects. So how do they develop symptoms of the baby overheating? At first, we can observe a change in the child's behaviorwhich becomes:

  • tearful and irritable, 
  • sleepy and lethargic.

Further symptoms may be:

  • reddened skin of the face (mainly the cheeks),
  • heat rash (red lumps and pimples or superficial vesicles)
  • low-grade fever,
  • dehydration (dry diaper).

It is important that in the event of such signs check body temperature. To do this, you can touch your child's neck with your hand. If your toddler is too warm - it will be not only warm, but also humid. It should be warm and dry properly. 

Fever in a child from overheating

Hyperthermia can lead to the life-threatening condition it is heatstrokewhich, due to its rapid course, requires immediate medical attention. Body temperature is then significantly elevated - exceeds 40 degrees C.

In addition, there may be symptoms such as:

  • decreased urine output;
  • sunken fontanel;
  • diarrhea;
  • vomiting.

Confusion, disturbance or loss of consciousness and convulsions may occur. Such a condition means the need for urgent medical intervention, therefore fever in a child from overheating it is a signal that cannot be ignored.

Overheating of a child's body: how long does it take?

Smaller children have less blood circulating in their bodies, and that makes them they overheat faster. It is impossible to say how long it takes a child's body to overheat, because it all depends on his predisposition and the time of exposure to factors that may cause overheating.

Overheating

This condition may last for several hours, although it may last up to several days. It is very important to recognize symptoms early and react quickly when it comes to giving the right help. 

The effects of overheating the body

Overheating a child may have very negative effects:

  • can lead to heat stroke, putting the child's life at risk;
  • increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death (SIDS) in infants;
  • favors the occurrence of prickly heat;
  • it causes drowsiness, bad mood, whining and tearfulness.

Side effects of overheating the body to disturbance of its thermoregulatory abilities, and decrease in immunity baby (an overheated, sweaty baby is more prone to infections).

Child overheating: how to treat?

Overheating should be handled as follows:

  • You must first move the child to a cooler roome.g. in the bathroom and remove excess clothes. You can additionally open a window.
  • The next step is cooling with lukewarm water - you can use a cloth compress or dampen the towel with cool tap water. It is important not to use ice or gel compresses straight from the freezer. They can cause thermal shock, which will constrict the skin vessels and reduce heat elimination. It is best to use compresses on the groin and armpits.
  • one can give your child fluids to drink - at summer temperature. It is important that your toddler drinks them in small portions but often.

Overheating of an infant and an older child: how to prevent it?

So that you do not have to check in practice, how to treat a child overheatingbetter not to let it happen. It is worth taking care not only of clothes suitable for the weather conditions, but also the right temperature and humidity in the house.

Recommended air temperature in the house

Being born means a complete change of living environment – ​​from humid and warm to dry and much cooler. In the first month of life the thermoregulatory center is still developing, so you need to help your toddler during this period, hence the high temperatures in hospital rooms and neonatal wards.

When we are at home with the child, do not raise the temperature to 25-26 degrees. It should oscillate around 21-22 degrees Celsius during the day, and below 20 degrees at night. It is even recommended that it be 18-19 degrees.

Adequate air humidity

In addition to ensuring the right temperature in the room where the little child stays, we should also make sure that the air is properly moistened. The humidity in the house should be 40-60%.

In this context, it is worth considering using an air purifier, e.g Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool™ Formaldehyde PH04, which not only filters the air, but thanks humidification function, also ensures that the optimal humidity level is maintained, providing a healthier environment for the child.

Emilia Konka

Resident doctor at the Department of Congenital Defects in Metabolism and Pediatrics, Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

When air humidity is too low, which often happens in winter when radiators are heating, it causes dryness of the mucous membranes in the nose or throat, which increases susceptibility to infections (e.g. runny nose, pharyngitis). On the other hand, when the humidity is too high, dust mites develop more easily, which can cause allergic reactions in children. 

An extra layer: when is it useful?

During the day, a newborn lying motionless should be dressed in one layer more than we carry ourselves, moreover, we should always have a cotton (easy to wash) blanket at hand as an additional cover. Remember to check the child's body temperature on the nape or back. In the case of hands or feet, this can be confusing.

We apply the principle of one more layer until the baby becomes more mobile. Lying on your tummy and lifting your head is quite an effort. A baby who spends a large part of the day in this way can be dressed in the same way as the rest of the household.

In winter, let's prepare for the toddler, for example, a short-sleeved bodysuit, a long-sleeved cotton blouse, pants and socks or tights. In the summer, when it's very hot, short-sleeved bodysuits made of airy, delicate materials are enough.

Outside the house: "onion"

When we set off with an infant or small child for a walk, we can return to the principle of one more layer, as long as the toddler will be in the stroller during the walk. However, if our child is older and moves from the stroller straight to the playground, let's give up the extra layer of clothing so as not to risk overheating the body.

A better solution will be to throw a blanket in the stroller if necessary and to dress the toddler "onions". At any time, we can unfasten or remove one of the layers, thanks to which the child will continue to play carefree. Bear in mind that children dressed too thick sometimes give up playing because they are simply uncomfortable, they sweat quickly and become irritable. A sweaty toddler is more likely to catch a cold, which can make him more susceptible to infections.

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Aleksandra Świeboda

Head of the Department of Assessment and Development of Cooperation at the Institute of Mother and Child

In summer, remember not to take your children for a walk when the sun shines brightest. When going out in the afternoon, remember to protect the baby's head from the still intense sun, however, if we walk in the shade, do not put a hat on the child. Fears of otitis, as a result of windshield, can rather be put aside.

Emilia Konka

Resident doctor at the Department of Congenital Defects in Metabolism and Pediatrics, Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

It is important not to cover the pram with diapers as part of the sun protection. It is, unfortunately, a common practice for parents to take their toddlers for a walk in the summer with their toddlers in the carrycot. The baby's air supply is then obstructed, which may also lead to overheating. Umbrellas for prams are a much better solution.

Advantages of hardening

Currently, there are more and more voices that, even in the case of infants, to give up the additional layer in favor of toughening the child. It is believed that the naveet if your baby is a little bit cold, it can support the immune system as opposed to overheating.

Don't give up on walks. Of course, the point is not to take a child with fever or pneumonia for a walk, but let it not be a contraindication to a slight infection or runny nose. In winter, we should also take into account the deteriorating, unfortunately, air quality (smog).

For a good sleep

It happens that parents often make one more mistake - they dress children too warm to sleepwhich also promotes overheating. In addition, when you move around in too thick clothes, you do not sleep well - it is better for pajamas to be loose and airy, made of natural materials. What about the "must have" hat? Do not put it on your toddler for the whole night and longer during the day.

A head covering is only needed in the first months of life for about half an hour after taking a bath.

Emilia Konka

Resident doctor at the Department of Congenital Defects in Metabolism and Pediatrics, Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

In order to prevent overheating, we should not cover babies, especially the youngest ones, with heavy blankets or duvets - in addition to the thickness, it is important to adjust their size- too spacious will restrict the toddler's movements, which may endanger his safety during sleep. The cover should be easy to keep clean - to be able to wash it at 60 degrees C at least once every 2 weeks or even more often if it gets dirty. For this reason, it is better to avoid filling with down, feathers or wool.

In the first year of life, let's focus on sleeping bags. They are safe - they do not pose a risk that the child will throw a cover over his face, and their thickness, adjusted to the season of the year, will ensure that the child will not be cold, and will not be at risk of overheating. We should also not forget to ventilate the room regularly before going to bed.

 

Author

Emilia Konka

Resident doctor at the Department of Congenital Defects in Metabolism and Pediatrics, Institute of Mother and Child

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