Low Temperature in Children

The body has a natural ability to maintain temperature within the normal range, irrespective of the environmental condition. A low or high body temperature reading indicates some medical problems. All of us have a concern about fever or high body temperature, but not many of us are aware about low temperature in children. So, what body temperature range is normal in children? Is low temperature an issue to worry about? Are there any major health conditions that cause low body temperature in children? Scroll down to find your answers in relation to low temperature condition in children.

What does a Low Temperature in Children Mean?

A calibrated thermometer is used to measure body temperature in areas, like mouth, forehead, armpit, rectum and ear. The normal body temperature reading in children is considered to be 98.6° F to 98.24° F, when measured orally. Nevertheless, the normal range may vary slightly depending upon factors, such as measurement location, time of the day, level of physical activity and major hormonal changes. In case, the rectal temperature falls below 97° F constantly, it signifies hypothermia in children.

The common identifiable low body temperature symptom in children is body shivering, which is caused due to narrowing of blood vessels in the skin and uncontrolled muscle contraction. Both these bodily changes are involuntary, and help in conserving heat, thereby enabling the body to maintain a near normal body temperature range. Despite this physiological thermoregulation, the body may fail to maintain ideal temperature range. Other symptoms of hypothermia are fatigue, slow breathing, reduced heartbeat, confusion and bluish fingers. If the temperature reading in children is abnormally low for an extended period, it may be a serious condition that needs immediate attention.

What are the Causes of Low Temperature in Children?

The causes of low body temperature in children are mostly attributed to colder surroundings, common cold and use of fever medicine. In weak children, low body temperature may be manifested as a referred sign of shock, anemia, regular infections and blood infections (sepsis). As far as low temperature in adults is concerned, it may be due to several factors, like hormonal fluctuation (hypothyroidism), medicinal side effects, alcohol consumption, drug usage and underlying metabolic problems. In women, the body temperature reading is lower than normal at the time of ovulation.

How to Treat Low Temperature in Children?

In most cases, low temperature in kids can be addressed by wearing warm or woolen cloths (behavioral thermoregulation) and massaging the body parts to keep the blood warm. Feeding hot foods like soup or milk will help in keeping the body comfortable. Do not forget to check the temperature setting of the room air conditioner and adjust it to a higher range (if required). In case, usage of fever medications is the cause for below normal body temperature in children, stop taking medicine and seek advice from the concerned doctor as soon as possible.

If a child is exposed to extremely low temperature for an extended time, do not delay in getting the condition addressed by a doctor. Those who have been hospitalized with a recorded body temperature of 90° F will recover successfully without medical complications; while there is a medical risk for children with temperature falling below 90° F. Also, low temperature in children is a cause of medical concern, if people living in the same room are having normal temperature readings, except for the child.

With timely medical supervision, the chances of good prognosis and complete recovery for low temperature in children are very high. Once in the hospital, the doctor will follow arrangements to bring the temperature to a normal range, examine physical symptoms and run diagnostic tests to identify low body temperature causes. Based on the test results, further therapeutic methods will be directed for the child for prompt treatment.