MediArticles

Temperature control in the body

The ‘core temperature’ means the temperature of the deep tissues of the body and in normal circumstances this is kept at a very even level by a range of automatic adjustments.

When we are too hot we increase the amount of blood flowing through the skin by opening up the tiny capillary blood vessels. This radiates away excess heat and sweating can further enhance this.

When we are too cold we shut down skin blood vessels and conserve heat within the internal organs. If necessary we can generate more heat by shivering.

Fever is part of the body’s defence mechanism against viruses or bacteria. The body tries to create extra heat so that the foreign organism cannot survive. Having a temperature helps you fight illness.

Actions to reduce a fever can help make someone feel more comfortable but it is not possible, or desirable, to aim to normalise the temperature while someone is fighting off an infection.

The part of the human brain that controls body temperature is not fully developed in children. This means that a child’s temperature may rise and fall very quickly and the child is sensitive to the temperature of his or her surroundings.

One of the simplest and most effective ways to help a child with a fever feel more comfortable is to take off some of the child’s clothes so heat can escape from their body more easily.