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Body temperature changes before minor illness in infants
J A Jackson1, S A Petersen, M P Wailoo
1Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences and Child Health, University of Leicester.
Insights
Infant temperature patterns change before illness. Overnight rectal temperatures in babies showed significant disturbances up to seven days before minor illnesses, indicating a host response to infection.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Understanding infant illness prodromal phases is crucial for early detection.
- Overnight temperature patterns in infants are not well-characterized during early illness.
- Host response to infection and immunization can influence physiological parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate overnight rectal temperature patterns in infants during the prodromal phase of minor illnesses.
- To determine if temperature disturbances precede clinical signs of illness in babies.
- To compare temperature responses to natural infection versus immunization.
Main Methods:
- Weekly overnight rectal temperature monitoring in 123 infants (6-16 weeks old).
- Parental recording of illness signs and general practitioner visit data.
- Analysis of temperature patterns relative to identified illness periods and immunizations.
Main Results:
- Overnight temperature disturbances preceded obvious signs of illness in infants.
- Significant temperature elevations were observed weeks before illness onset, with greatest changes occurring 3 days prior.
- Similar temperature disturbances were noted post-immunization (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus).
Conclusions:
- Infant temperature patterns are altered during the prodromal phase of minor infections.
- Temperature changes appear to reflect the host's immune response rather than the specific pathogen.
- Early, subtle temperature disturbances may serve as an indicator of impending illness in infants.
Abstract:
This study aimed to examine the overnight temperature pattern of babies during the prodromal phase of minor illnesses. The overnight rectal temperature pattern of 123 babies was recorded weekly from about 6 to at least 16 weeks old, while parents maintained detailed records of signs of illness. By analysis of patterns of signs and visits to the general practitioner, 86 periods of minor illness were identified, mostly upper respiratory tract infections, though it was not usually possible to identify the infection by conventional virology. Data were analysed separately for babies who had developed an adult-like night time temperature pattern and those who had not. In both groups, obvious signs of illness were preceded by a disturbance of night time temperature pattern. Temperature was significantly raised over control weeks, though few babies were clinically febrile. The greatest temperature disturbances were seen in the three days before illness, though some disturbances were seen up to seven days before. A similar disturbance of temperature was seen the night after diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus immunisation, and individual responses to natural infection and immunisation were well correlated, suggesting that the temperature change is more a function of the host response than the infecting agent.