[Therapeutic management of acute febrile states in children].

Long-lasting body temperature over 41 degrees C may constitute a death risk without regard to its cause. Such high fever is associated with functional and organic changes in many organs. The management includes, apart from early diagnosis and causative treatment, also emergency symptomatic therapy with continuous monitoring of the basic vital functions. Treatment undertaken for reducing high body temperature must take into account all elements of thermoregulation. With normally functioning hypothalamic thermoregulation physical methods of cooling are effective. In case of impaired heat transference to the surface of the body drugs dilating the cutaneous vascular bed are helpful. Many pharmacological agents decrease effectively body temperature through a central mechanism, they have, however, numerous side effects.