What temperature do you class as a fever?

[Carlessly]

In my head:
36.something is a normal first thing in the morning temperature.
less than 37.5 is a normal day time temperature.
38 is a high temperature.
Above 39 is a fever.

if your DC has a temp of 38 do you still tell school they are ill with a fever? Ours need to be 24 hours fever free before going back to school.

37, is considered average normal temp. (I run at 36,so 37.5 I would be unwell) 38 is pyrexial, I would be trying paracetamol and cool flannelly see if I could bring it down.

Depends on how the person concerned feels. Treat the child, not the number.

38 is above what's classed as a normal temp so an indication that a child isn't well. I tend to look at the child as a whole though and not just the number on the thermometer - are they are eating and drinking normally, playing as normal, not in pain or needing calpol or are they unwell, off their food, tired, needing regular calpol?

For mine, if it’s above 37.5 but below 38, then I know they are fighting something but probably aren’t sick enough to need to stay home from school. I’d probably send them in with a thermos of hot tea and a dose of paracetamol. Waking up with a temp of 38 is our cutoff for being able to stay home from school.

Above 37.2 = fighting something off

I wouldn't generally treat it unless it was either above 39.5 or the child was in obvious pain or complaining.

@Boomchuck isn't that when they're a) most contagious and b) most likely to pick something else up? Or is that the difference from primary (DC last year and can't see they'd be happy me sending in with medicine in their pocket)

My son’s just got over covid and he had a steady temperature of around 37.9, it’s normally around 36.9. A couple of times it went up to 38.5 and he would say he felt awful and I’d give him medicine at that point. There was no way he could have been in school with how he felt, but this morning and yesterday afternoon it was back to 36.9 and he was his normal self.

We usually recommend children in the nursery go home with a temp 38 and above and will call to advise a parent when over 37.6 and above.

I would consider 38c a fever as per NHS advice.

@Ozgirl75 how long did it last? We're on day 8 here of what I presume is Covid although tested negative 😫37.7 now so probably will be above 38 by bed.

@Carlessly he showed mild symptoms on Sunday (I developed it on Saturday after mild symptoms on Friday). He woke on Monday with full blown covid, felt rubbish for two days, a bit better on the third day and basically back to normal on the 4th.

I came down with it fully on Saturday and I was fine by yesterday although I still don’t have my appetite back (which is amazing as I’m trying to shed some kg at the moment)

Sorry to hear it’s dragging on for you.

I have no idea, I didn't even have a thermometer when ds was small. I suppose I just 'treated the child' as a PP said.