Low Temperature in Kids: What's the Deal and What to Do?

Body temperature is a key health indicator that can swing high or low with various illnesses. The reasons for these fluctuations depend on the kid's health status and the factor causing the condition. A low temperature in a child can occur due to certain physiological states, but it might also be the first sign of serious diseases, including those of an infectious nature.

Body Temperature in a Healthy Kid and When It's Below Normal

Body temperature is a physiological measure that's regulated by the nervous, endocrine, and other systems of the body. It affects metabolism, blood supply to internal organs, and the brain. In a healthy kid, this measure can slightly change throughout the day depending on the time, physical activity, and food intake. The normal range is between 98.6–98.96 degrees Fahrenheit.

When the temperature drops below 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit, the diagnosis is "hypothermia". This condition isn't always related to illnesses. It can occur in a healthy child due to low ambient temperature or at night. If the temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, a slowdown in metabolism and developing hypoxia can cause irreversible changes in the brain and internal organs.

Non-Disease Related Causes

When the temperature drops below 36 degrees Celsius (96.8°F), doctors talk about hypothermia. This condition can arise from various situations. In kids under 1 year old, the thermoregulation system isn't fully developed yet. This leads to their bodies reacting to drops in the surrounding air temperature with similar changes. If this condition doesn't come with weakness or other pathological symptoms, there's no need to worry. Just bundle the kid up more and recheck their temperature in 10–15 minutes to avoid overheating.

Hypothermia is also found in kids who were born prematurely or are underweight. Doctors don't consider temperature changes in these children as pathological. Once the weight is back to normal, the hypothermia disappears completely. Typically, doctors will give parents a heads-up about this condition when they're discharged from the maternity hospital or during home health visits.

Only a doctor can determine the cause of the temperature drop. They'll examine the child and, if there are additional symptoms, will order a comprehensive examination.

Temperature drops in infants during their first year of life are often noticed while they're sleeping. This is due to how their body temperature regulation changes throughout the day. Right before waking up in the morning, the thermometer tends to show the lowest readings. The highest temperatures, up to 98.6°F, are typically seen in the evening.

Similar changes in temperature regulation can be seen after an illness. Diseases caused by bacteria or viruses are usually accompanied by a fever. After the high temperatures experienced during the acute phase of an infectious disease, the immune system's function can be disrupted. Its decreased activity is marked by a drop in temperature.

How Medications Work

A low temperature in a child can be related to taking medications. Most often, the cause is the use of fever-reducing drugs. These medicines alter the function of the thermoregulation system, leading to hypothermia of varying degrees of severity. Such deviations from the norm are observed for 1–3 days after their discontinuation.

An overdose of vasoconstrictive nasal drops leads to similar symptoms. Uncontrolled use of the remedy for a runny nose in a child is characterized by the active substance entering the bloodstream and a spasm of the peripheral vessels. Against this backdrop, the child begins to feel unwell, and their body temperature decreases.

Chronic Fatigue

Kids' body temperature drops during prolonged stress

In school-aged children, hypothermia is observed with overexertion. A kid involved in a bunch of extracurricular activities and clubs experiences constant stress. Stress reactions in the body lead to changes in how the nervous system, which regulates temperature, works. In such cases, there could be either an increase or a decrease in temperature.

A lower body temperature in a child can be linked to many factors. Parents can't figure out the reasons for disrupted thermoregulation on their own. Therefore, if there's a change in temperature, it's crucial to seek medical help right away. A pediatrician will examine the child and arrange the necessary tests.

Types of Hypothermia

In pediatrics, hypothermic conditions are typically divided into endogenous and exogenous. Exogenous temperature drops occur against the backdrop of using medications, getting too cold, and low physical activity. Endogenous hypothermia happens due to malfunctions in the endocrine and nervous systems.

Experts identify three degrees of severity for hypothermic conditions:

• Mild stage — from 99.5 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. There might be an increase in heat production along with impaired heat loss. A child's precision in movements decreases. The patient feels sleepy, with an increased rate of breathing and heartbeat. The skin is flushed due to dilated blood vessels.
• With second-degree hypothermia, the temperature can drop to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Against this backdrop, metabolism is suppressed. Contractile thermogenesis, which is related to muscle contractions, is absent. In a child, the level of blood pressure is lowered, and breathing becomes deep and intermittent. The patient is disoriented, may not recognize their own parents. Consciousness is confused. As hypothermic conditions progress, fainting states develop.
• Severe thermoregulation disorder is characterized by a body temperature decrease to 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a life-threatening condition leading to a significant slowdown in metabolism. Breathing becomes shallow and weakened. This leads to increasing hypoxia in the central nervous system and internal organs. Heart rate and blood pressure are lowered. The nervous system is depressed, up to stupor and coma. The skin is cold.

Therapy for severe hypothermia is conducted in intensive care units. Without normalization of body temperature, irreversible changes develop.

If your temperature drops below 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit, it's time to seek medical attention. The underlying illness causing hypothermia can quickly worsen, leading to serious health complications for a child.

What to Do if Your Child Has Hypothermia?

Hypothermia can occur after a fever

If a child's temperature drops, parents shouldn't freak out. It's crucial to consult a doctor if:

• The kid is lethargic and sleepy. Their skin is cold and pale. These symptoms indicate severe hypothermia.
• The hypothermia lasts more than a day;
• Temperature abnormalities are detected following routine vaccinations. A lower temperature could signal a lack of immune response to the vaccine, indicating a possible immune deficiency.
• The child experiences nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and fainting. These signs often accompany poisoning of various origins.

If any of these symptoms are present, parents should call an ambulance. A healthcare professional will examine the child and decide whether hospitalization for further examination and treatment is necessary.

First Aid

Hypothermia isn't always a sign of illness. Since it often happens due to being too cold, parents need to make sure their kid's clothes are right for the weather. To fight off the chill, bundle up your little one a bit more and give them something warm to drink.

If the drop in temperature comes from stress, it's crucial to ensure kids get plenty of rest. School should be a chill, stress-free zone. Also, pay close attention to what they're eating. Go for fresh veggies, fruits, and lean meats. These foods are packed with the vitamins and minerals needed to keep them healthy.

After a doctor checks out your child, they might need a whole treatment plan. If the health issues are because of an illness, then they'll prescribe something to knock it out.

The outlook for hypothermic conditions is generally good in cases where they're not linked to any underlying health issues but are instead caused by adverse environmental factors. Getting rid of these factors can prevent changes in a child's body without needing any medical intervention. However, when hypothermia is due to illnesses and comes with severe disruptions in thermoregulation, the patient needs comprehensive treatment at a medical facility. Self-treatment when the body temperature drops below 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit) or in the face of worsening conditions is not advisable.