Symptom 5: Temperature Instabilities
One of the first sensations a baby feels outside the womb is the ambient temperature. Their tiny bodies, fresh to the world, are incredibly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. In healthy scenarios, an infant’s body maintains a delicate balance, ensuring internal warmth and stability. However, temperature instabilities can disrupt this equilibrium, potentially flagging underlying issues like NEC.
Temperature instability in infants doesn’t merely manifest as a fever. It’s a pendulum swing, with the baby’s body temperature vacillating between feverish highs and concerning lows. They might feel unusually warm to touch, only to display cold extremities like chilly fingers or toes shortly after.
The genesis of these fluctuations often lies in the body’s response to inflammation or infection, both hallmark features of NEC. When the infant’s body detects something amiss, it might rev up the temperature as a defense mechanism. Conversely, reduced perfusion or circulatory problems associated with NEC can lead to cooling down, causing lower-than-average body temperatures.
Frequent temperature fluctuations don’t just cause discomfort; they can stress an infant’s still-developing internal systems. Maintaining body temperature consumes energy, and in a fragile infant, this energy expenditure can divert resources from other vital functions. (5)
