why is it than when you are ill, it gets a lot worse at night?

Question

my little boy isnt very well,but seems to be ok in the day,but at night his temp,gos sky high

Answer 1

This is because the body has what is called a circadian rhythm. Even without a clock evolution has programmed our bodies to run on approximately a 24 hour cycle +/- 4 hours. A circadian rhythm that synchronises with day-night cycle is called a diurnal rhythm.

Temperature, blood pressure, hormone release,brain activity all follow a pattern during the course of the cycle.

Generally the body activity peaks between about 10 am to 4pm, arousal level and steroid levels are highest. It tails down and is at it's lowest ebb between 3 and 4 am. At this time all the body defences are at their lowest ebb and protective steroids are at minimum as we rest, regenerate and recover ready for the next day.

Unfortunately this leaves us at our most vulnerable and least able to deal with all forms of attack. It is why when we did our own out of hours patient cover, that was the time we were called out to deal with emergencies.(When we as doctors had worked all day and were least able to cope with things too!)

It is when the highest percentages of deaths, heart attacks, asthma attacks and children spiking high fevers occur.

Answer 2

Not too sure Why it spikes more at night...but it definately does. Try bathing your son in a warm/coolish bath it does help to bring the fever down, along with the motrin or kids tylonol. I find that if they have a cough, that also spikes the temperature...If after a couple of days, his temp is still quite high..take him to see the doctor as he may have bronchitis, or something else where he may need an antibiotic.
Goodluck* Hope he feels better. Nothing worse than a wee one sick :(

Answer 3

I think because of the drastic temp change, your temp goes up. Also, when you have a fever, you get body chills, that might be the cause

Answer 4

In my medical class at school we discussed this. I'm not quiet sure why your fever gets higher at night but it does.

I know that right in the morning you fever is lower mainly because your body has just rested and you aren't very active.

At night and later on in the day however your body temp may rise because you are becoming active and haven't rested in maybe quiet some time. Your vital signs will rise if you are more active causing more blood to flow faster and possibly raising your child's fever.

Answer 5

The later it gets the more tired you get, so you've been fighting the illness all day and when you start to chill it's not fighting so much and feel even worse, that's what I think anyway...

Answer 6

DR. FRANK IS 100% CORRECT! IT'S THE BODY'S NATURAL RHYTHM TO SLOW THINGS DOWN IN THE EVENING, INCLUDING ONES IMMUNE RESPONSE.

Answer 7

Because that is when you body slows down.But what you can do is alternate giving him moltrin and tylenol,instead of just giving him tylenol..

Answer 8

because his body is tired and more likely to feel the effects of whatever is bothering him

Answer 9

because you dwell on it there is nothing else to think about