![]() Gently place the thermometer in your child's ear. Follow the directions that come with the thermometer to ensure you insert the thermometer the proper distance into the ear canal. Hold the thermometer tightly in place until the thermometer signals that it's done. Gently sweep the thermometer across your child's forehead. Remove the thermometer and read the number. When reporting a temperature to your child's doctor, give the reading and explain how the temperature was taken. If you want to give your child medication to treat a fever, stick to acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) until age 6 months. However, for children younger than age 3 months, don't give acetaminophen until your baby has been seen by a doctor. Never give more acetaminophen than recommended on the label for your child. ![]() Be aware that some combination over-the-counter medications might contain acetaminophen as an ingredient. If your child is age 6 months or older, ibuprofen (Advil, Children's Motrin, others) is OK, too. Read the label carefully for proper dosage. Don't use aspirin to treat a fever in anyone age 18 years or younger.Has a rectal, ear or temporal artery temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher.Has an oral temperature of 100 F (37.8 C) or higher.Has an armpit temperature of 99 F (37.2 C) or higher.Keep in mind that an armpit temperature might not be accurate. In general, contact your child's doctor if: If you're in doubt about an armpit temperature reading, use another method to confirm the results.Your child is younger than age 3 months and has a rectal temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher.Your child is age 3 to 6 months and has a temperature up to 102 F (38.9 C) and seems unusually irritable, lethargic or uncomfortable, or has a temperature higher than 102 F (38.9 C). Your child is age 6 to 24 months and has a temperature higher than 102 F (38.9 C) that lasts longer than one day but shows no other signs. If your child has other signs, such as a cold, cough or diarrhea, you might call your child's doctor sooner based on the severity of the other signs.Body temperature measurement is one of the most common procedures carried out in the Pediatric clinic. It is a crucial clinical assessment in the care of an acutely ill child. The best sites for measuring body temperature are those closest to the hypothalamus, the temperature regulating center that reflects the “core” temperature. 1 Since the hypothalamus is inaccessible, the core temperature is generally defined as the temperature measured within the pulmonary artery. 2 Other alternative sites which have been used, including distal esophagus, bladder, and nasopharynx, are accurate within 0.1-0.2☌ of core temperature. ![]() However, since these sites are clinically inaccessible, clinicians have utilized the rectum as a practical site that most closely reflects core temperature despite some of its drawbacks like rectal perforation in neonates, spread of infections, and slow response to temperature changes 3. Unfortunately, rectal thermometry has been resented by many children and their parents 4, leaving axillary thermometry as the only option in many cases, especially the under-5 children. The axillary temperature is easily accessible, safe, hygienic, and simple. Many clinicians have continued to use and recommend the site for fever screening 5, 6 One pertinent question is: Can the axillary temperature be used to predict rectal temperature? Traditional information handed on from different generations of health practitioners is that axillary temperature is 1☌ less than rectal temperature. Several researchers have tried to do an intersite comparison of body temperatures with different outcomes in relationships. Several equations have been deduced to explain the relationship between axillary and rectal temperatures. ![]()
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