Infant heat syndrome: the hidden threat behind warmth

This is the 5251th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

As the saying goes, babies are little angels given by God to the family. Their every smile and every growth touches the hearts of the whole family. However, with the arrival of winter, the temperature gradually drops. In order to keep their children away from the cold, parents often take various warming measures. However, do you know that excessive warming may cause a serious problem called "baby heat syndrome". Today, let's talk about this phenomenon that seems warm but hides dangers.

What is infant heat syndrome?

Infant heat syndrome, as the name suggests, is a critical condition caused by excessive warmth and prolonged stuffiness, which leads to hypoxia, high fever, sweating, dehydration, convulsions, coma, and even respiratory and circulatory failure in infants. This disease is more common in infants under 1 year old, especially newborns. Since the infant's body temperature regulation center is not yet fully developed and its adaptability to the external environment is poor, excessive warming measures may cause heat syndrome.

What causes infant heat syndrome?

The root cause of infant mugging syndrome is excessive warming measures. Parents may worry that their children will catch a cold, so they dress them in thick clothes, cover them with multiple layers of quilts, and even hold them tightly in their arms. However, this practice restricts the children's activities, hinders their normal breathing and heat dissipation. When babies are in a high-temperature, oxygen-deficient environment, the body will have a series of reactions, which eventually lead to the occurrence of mugging syndrome.

What are the symptoms of infant heat syndrome?

Heat stroke syndrome usually develops after excessive warming. Common signs and symptoms include:

High fever: The body temperature can be as high as 40°C or even reach 42°C.

Profuse sweating: Children will sweat profusely, and the sweat will soak their clothes and quilts.

Increased breathing and heart rate

Restlessness and irritability

Dehydration: Due to excessive sweating, children will have symptoms of dehydration such as dry lips, decreased urine output, and no tears when crying.

Convulsions: High fever and lack of oxygen may cause your child to have convulsions.

Coma: In severe cases, the child may fall into a coma, with cerebral edema, which may cause brain damage.

In addition, infant muggy syndrome may also cause children to have serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, blue face, cold limbs, etc. Once the child is found to have these symptoms, parents should immediately send the child to the hospital for treatment.

How is infant heat syndrome diagnosed?

The diagnosis of infant muggy syndrome is mainly based on the child's medical history, clinical manifestations and physical examination results. The doctor will ask the parents whether the child's warming measures are excessive, observe whether the child has symptoms such as high fever, sweating, dehydration, etc., and conduct necessary physical examinations and laboratory tests. Through comprehensive evaluation, the doctor can confirm whether the child has infant muggy syndrome.

How is infant heat syndrome treated?

The treatment principles for infant muggy syndrome are rapid cooling, improvement of hypoxia, correction of water and electrolyte imbalance, and symptomatic treatment. Specific treatment measures include:

1. Cool down quickly: move the child to a well-ventilated environment, untie the clothes to dissipate heat, wipe the body with a wet towel, and give medication to reduce the temperature if necessary.

2. Improve the hypoxic state: keep the airway open, provide oxygen inhalation, and perform mechanical ventilation if necessary.

3. Correct water and electrolyte imbalance: Provide fluid replacement therapy according to the child's condition to correct symptoms of electrolyte imbalance such as dehydration and acidosis.

4. Symptomatic treatment: Provide appropriate drug treatment and care for the child’s symptoms such as convulsions and coma.

During the treatment process, parents should actively cooperate with the doctor's treatment plan, closely observe changes in their children's condition, and communicate with the doctor in a timely manner.

How to prevent infant heat syndrome?

The key to preventing infant heat syndrome is to keep the child warm and avoid overheating. Parents should choose appropriate warming measures according to the child's age, physical condition and weather conditions. Here are some suggestions for preventing infant heat syndrome:

Do not let your child wear too many clothes or cover them with too thick quilts. You should add or remove clothes and quilts appropriately according to the indoor temperature.

Do not hold your child tightly in your arms or swaddle him/her to sleep. Allow your child enough space to move around and keep his/her airway open.

Pay attention to indoor ventilation. Keep the indoor air fresh and flowing, and avoid children being in a closed environment for a long time.

Measure your child's temperature and observe their physical condition regularly. If your child has symptoms such as high fever, sweating, or dehydration, seek medical attention immediately.

In addition, parents should strengthen their knowledge and understanding of infant heat syndrome and raise their awareness of prevention. In the process of caring for their children, they should carefully observe, discover and deal with abnormal situations in a timely manner.

Conclusion

Infant heat syndrome is a serious disease for infants and young children, but as long as parents master the correct way to keep warm and strengthen their awareness of prevention, they can effectively avoid the occurrence of this disease. Let us work together to create a warm, safe and healthy growth environment for children!

Infant Muggy Syndrome: The Health Risks of the Overheating

Babies are considered little angels given to families by God, and their every smile and step are guaranteed to bring joy to the family. With the temperature gradually fall into winter, parents often tempting to wrap up babies warmly in lots of clothes and blankets during the cold months to keep their children warm. However, overheating a baby can lead to a serious problem called “Infant Muggy Syndrome (IMS)”. Today, let's talk about this invisible health hazard.

What is IMS?

As the name suggests, IMS is a serious condition that affects overdressed or over-covered babies, which causes the lack of oxygen, high fever, excessive sweating, dehydration, convulsions, coma, and even respiratory and circulatory failure. It is most common in infants, especially newborns. Babies do not have a fully developed internal thermometer, making it more difficult for them to regulate their body temperature. This leaves them vulnerable to overheating, which can lead to serious health complications if overheating.

What causes IMS?

IMS is caused by overheating. Parents often have great concerns about their precious little one's catching colds from cold weather. They wear babies too much clothing, cover heavy blankets, and even clasped babies in the arms. However, this will restrict baby's movement and trap excess heat from dissipating and normal breathing, leading to an increase in their already warm temperatures and lack of oxygen, and eventually result in IMS.

What are the symptoms of IMS?

There are various signs and symptoms that indicate a baby may be overheating. Common symptoms include:

l High body temperature: The body temperature may be as high as 40°C or more, even up to 42°C.

l Excessive sweating: The baby may experience heavy sweating that soaks through clothes and blankets.

l Rapid breathing and heart rate

l Irritability and fussiness

l Dehydration: Overheating can also lead to dehydration due to excessive that presented as dry mouth, less urine, and no tears when crying.

l Seizures: High fever and lack of oxygen may cause child convulsions.

l Coma: In extreme cases, IMS may lead to a coma and cause the brain to swell, possibly resulting in brain damage.

In addition, IMS may also cause other severe symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, blue discolouration of the skin and cold, clammy skin. Parents should take their child to an emergency department immediately once these symptoms appear.

How is IMS diagnosed?

IMS can be diagnosed through a child's medical history, clinical presentation and physical examination. Doctors will ask parents whether the child is overheating, evaluate the symptoms of high fever, excessive sweating, dehydration, etc. Physical examinations and laboratory tests will be conducted accordingly. Doctors can confirm whether the child has IMS through a comprehensive assessment.

How is IMS treated?

The principles of IMS treatment are rapid cooling, hypoxia management, adjustment of fluid and electrolyte imbalance, and symptomatic treatment. Treatment measures include:

1. Rapid cooling: transfer the child to a well-ventilated environment, undress to dissipate heat, wipe the body with a wet towel, and give medication to lower the temperature if necessary.

2. Correcting hypoxemia: maintain a patent airway, provide oxygen, apply mechanical ventilation if necessary.

3. Correcting dehydration and metabolic derangements: give fluid to therapy to correct dehydration, metabolic acidosis and other electrolyte imbalances.

4. Symptomatic treatment: apply interventions for seizures, coma and other symptoms.

It is recommended that parents follow the doctor's suggestions, closely monitor the child's conditions, and communicate with the doctor promptly.

How to prevent IMS?

The key to preventing IMS is to properly dress your baby and avoid overheating. Parents can choose appropriate warming measures according to the child's age, physical condition, weather, and temperature of the surrounding environment. Here are some suggestions to prevent IMS:

l Avoid over-dress or over-cover your child. You can dress baby in layers which allows you to easily adjust the attire based on temperature.

l Avoid cradle babies tightly in the arm or wrap up them warmly when sleep. Make sure there is enough space allowing them to move and breathe freely o

l Improve air quality indoors. Ensure proper ventilation with fresh and clean outdoor air and avoid indoor enclosed spaces

l Routine temperature checks. Regularly check your baby's temperature and monitor his/her physical condition to reassure yourself that baby is comfortable. If you are concerned about your baby's temperature, excessive sweating or dehydration or behavior, do not hesitate to reach out to medical help.

In addition, parents will need to know the information about IMS and increase the awareness of prevention. It is crucial for parents and caregivers to monitor and identfy the signs of the IMS and take immediate actions if necessary.

Summary

IMS is a serious condition affecting infant and young children. With proper knowledge and preventive measures, you can ensure that your precious little one stays safe and comfortable in winter and stay away from IMS. Let's work together to create a safe and comfortable environment and heathier future for children.

Author: Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2021, major in integrated Chinese and Western medicine

Yueyang Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Pediatrics Class

Wu Yufei

Article review and column editor: Jiang Benran