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Children's health

What temp is correct........

4 replies

99PlsAdvise · 11/02/2010 22:10

Hi,

I heard somewhere that if you take your childs temp from x rather than y then you should + / - 5 *C ?? Is this true?

My mum bought a thermometer for my dd when she was born and we have always used it under the arm. I dont have the booklet that goes with it but have just looked online and the information says its a mouth thermometer. I feel terrible that i trusted what mum said and did not check the booklet. and now have used it wrong for the past 4yrs!

My dd is unwell atm. I took her temp in the mouth - 38.4 C, under the arm - 37.3 C.

Oh im confused now

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BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 11/02/2010 22:14

The mouth one is more accurate, it's down to the blood supply being better there. You normally use these types under the arm in a newborn as they won't be able to hold them in their mouths, they are out by about 0.5 degrees. The best ones to use are the tympanic thermometers that go in the ear.

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winnybella · 11/02/2010 22:25

Normal oral temp is up to 37.8, so it would seem your dd is running a slight fever.
I know what you mean, I have always used an underarm reading- I think anything above 37 degrees is a fever. Going by your undearm reading it seems it's a slightfever, or a beginning of a higher one.
And you can use those thermometers as you wish-orally, underarm or rectally- if its the digital one with a soft and bendy tip.Underarm reading is absolutely fine as long as you know the normal range for it, so your mum didn't do anything wrong- my mum uses it that way as well!

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alypaly · 12/02/2010 00:03

37 is normal so she has a bit of a temperature.

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99PlsAdvise · 12/02/2010 00:04

Ah thanks girls.
I got a wave of guilt come over me earlier.

She's been through it bless her. Last week she was a bit 'off' then on friday a rash appeared, took her to the dr's and it was Tonsilitis and the rash was 1 common to show up with it. She finished her anti-biotics yesterday and has been well on the mend. Then today she's gone backwards really. If she's not better in the morning i dont know weather to take her to the dr's again. But what can they really do - they wont give more medicine will they. Ok think i just talked myself out of it hehe