AIBU to be confused by these different thermometer readings?

[Wickedname]

DS Had a fever earlier in the week with teeth coming through. It went down with calpol then settled around 37.6. Still a little bit elevated but fine.

He’s been fine in himself, eating, drinking and all the normal stuff but got a cough so we did a PCR test and are waiting for results. He’s also had some hideous runny nappies but we put that down to teething.

Today he felt warm again so I took his temperature and the in ear one said 38.4
It seemed high compared to how he felt so DH suggested using the under arm one and that was 36.9

Which one do we trust?! The in ear one is a braun. It has only got one battery bar today and we are having to wipe and reuse the cover as we haven’t got any more and are isolating til we get our result, got more coming from Amazon. I’m just confused about the very different temps - one would suggest he has a fever and the other doesn’t?!

I want to monitor it because I’m worried it isn’t just teeth now the cough has come and obviously if the PCR is positive want to keep a close eye on him. Can anyone advise? He’s 18 months old and I’m a first time mum and really worried.

Digital thermometers are horrendous. I have 3 and take an average. I dug out an old mercury one and they are much better but I don’t think you can get them now and they also take forever.

I was wondering if we should ring 111 but DH thinks because he’s absolutely fine in himself, full of beans and eating well and drinking lots, but I’m wondering if the cough + nappies + fluctuating temperature means we should get him checked out before Monday.

@Zandathepanda so you would think the under arm one would be more reliable? The only thing I was unsure of is surely an in ear couldn’t make up a hot temp if you see what I mean, surely there has to be heat for it to register? He was also hotter in one ear than the other by .5 I’m so confused and as I suffer from an anxiety disorder this is making me really panicky :(

Would the fact it’s a warm day make any difference? It does seem to to my temp, I’m quite cool still and he’s only wearing a nappy

The in ear one also seems pretty consistent, we did three readings and they were all around the same.

I’ve googled - do you had a degree to an under arm reading? As then they would be closer although the ear one would still be higher

Add*

Look at the reviews on Amazon. They are not good. These thermometers are designed to give a very quick reading. I phoned 111 the other day and it took over 7 hours and 4 ringbacks from professionals to get a prescription for my 16 year old as the GP was shut for staff training. However, on 111 it does tell you to press another number if you have an under 5 year old so I know your experience will be easier.
I would have thought under arm was more reliable if you can keep his arm closed against his body long enough

The reviews for the braun were actually very good which is why we got it :-/
I think I might call 111 because I’m really worried even though he seems fine in himself

What I tend to do is what you’ve done - check my temperature and then theirs to see how they are ‘relative’ to one another.
And use several thermometers and readings too. 111 seem to ask if their chest or back is hot to touch rather than their temperature reading.
If you are really worried, trust your instincts and phone for reassurance.

Braun Thermoscan is a good thermometer.
But 38.4 isn't really a temperature to panic about. Clearly there's something working on your baby but there's many viruses going about at the minute. As long as he's well in himself I wouldn't even give calpol for that temp.

Thank you @JewelGarden I wasn’t sure if all of it (minus cough) could be teething as he has quite a lot coming through at once and he has got so much saliva and dribble coming out of his mouth, he’s constantly soaking wet

Have you taken your own temp to see if it could be a faulty reading? I always find the in ear ones give a higher reading than forehead or under arm but tend to go on how the child is acting in themselves. Happy, alert, eating/drinking I wouldn't be too concerned initially. Drowsy, not themselves, refusing water is when I'd worry.

So I'd trust your in ear one. I think underarm ones can be tricky to do properly, I've never successfully got a reading. With our in ear I always check my temp after to make sure that's sensible. The hygiene covers are just to keep your thermometer clean, shouldn't affect the reading I don't think, we reuse one for ages...

Does he feel hot? That's the best indication really 🤷‍♀️ my 18 month old currently feels like a little hot coal (measuring 39.8) and is struggling a bit with life so we've giving him some medicine. At under 39 and otherwise well in himself I wouldn't be worried.

That said, if you are concerned, then just give 111 a call. No one is ever going to think you're wasting time seeking medical attention for such a young child.

Meant to add, I wouldn't expect a cough and temperature due to teething but he's likely just picked up a virus.

@SpamIAm thank you he was eating well this morning but has just refused his lunch so I am going to try to calm down and see how he goes

I wish I didn’t suffer with anxiety it makes me panic for every little thing

I’m also worried 111 will just say take him to a&e when he doesn’t actually seem unwell and he’s very scared of doctors etc gets very distressed so don’t want to put him through that unnecessarily

Well we’ve just discovered he’s got two more teeth breaking through today so I think that’s not helping. Maybe teething and a virus/infection on top.
I think we will keep an eye on him
And if anything changes call 111 but if he stays okay in himself will wait til Monday and see if I can get the doctor to see him

FWIW I've called 111 several times with both kids because of a temperature and other things and have never been sent to A&E.

Hi OP - I would keep him on regular calpol doses today, and try to keep him drinking plenty even if he is a bit off his food. Also strip down to vest/nappy or shorts/T-shirt sort of thing to keep temperature down.

Persevere with the thermoscan - check instructions (if you still have them) to make sure you are getting the optimal position. Do a temperature check two or three times throughout the day to see how he’s doing, and also note the doses of calpol he’s had. This information will be useful just in case you need to take him to hospital.

Hope he’s feeling a lot better soon
These are for you

I think NHS advice is not to give calpol/nurofen for a temperature unless they otherwise need pain relief, treat the child not the temperature etc (although personally I do give medicine over 39). You also shouldn't strip them off to cool them down unless they seem to warm (flushed and sweaty etc) otherwise you might cause their temperature to increase further if their body tries to warm up because it feels cold.

@whyayepetal thank you
He’s had calpol throughout the week due to teething pain and fluctuating temp so I was hoping to stop it after Thursday (didn’t have to give him any yesterday) but have just given him some as it’s gone up to 38.6 now and he didn’t really want lunch but ate fine this morning

I’ll see how he goes this afternoon but if I am worried I will call 111

It just seemed like he was better Thursday and Friday then the cough started and now this :(

Thank you, I haven’t been giving it unnecessarily only when he’s obviously in pain with teeth and the gels don’t work it when he was uncomfortable with temperature. I was worried about giving it too much but I did speak to GP in the week who said it’s fine as long as he needs it and he’s not having the full dose for over a week back to back

I’m hoping this afternoon the tooth will come through and the temp will drop as that’s what happened before

He’s drinking lots of fluids and has gone to bed in a nappy with a Muslin over him as our house is really hot and it’s a hot day

Sounds like you’re doing well OP. I’m pleased that you have contacted GP as well - always a good idea to take professional advice with little ones as things can change quite quickly.

The hot weather doesn’t help with a child with a temperature does it?! Hope he has a lovely sleep, cools down a bit and feels better when he wakes up. Time for a nice cold drink for you now I reckon

A common issue with the underarm one is it isn't under the arm and sticks out too far past the closed arm giving a false low reading.

Right, you need to treat each temperature reading as entirely separate and only compare like-for-like. So, rectal temp is most reliable, but unless you're medically trained, don't even go there. Next most reliable is in-ear. Least reliable is armpit, as it's hard to hold it in place for long enough. Fine to do a combination of in-ear and underarm, but only compare temperature readings from same location: so if in-ear is getting worse over time, that's a cause for concern; only compare armpit readings with other armpit readings. Give it a Google if you need to know more.