Teenagers Temperature

[Mum7476]

My son has a consistent high temperature ranging between 37.5 to 38.5 on the forehead for 5 to 6 weeks. Ear temperature normal and blood tests normal. Pediatrician at local hospital has no answers! What can I do next?

What have they suggested? Are they testing for anything?

Chronic fever can be a sign of serious illness x

Ear temperature is more accurate than forehead temperature. If he’s well in himself then he may just have a naturally high body temperature. I really wouldn’t worry especially if the blood tests have come back clear too.

I guess if he’s been checked by a paediatrician not really much they can do at the moment. The fact bloods are ok is a good sign

What made you take his temperature?

Forehead thermometers are not accurate. I would always trust an ear or axilla thermometer over a forehead one.

Because of a mole removal on the back in December and stiches were infected my son had two courses of antibiotics

georgarina - we don't necessarily believe he has a fever cos ear thermometer reading normal. Its just the forehead is hot and the reading is elevated. When compared with the rest of family we all come back at 36.6 on forehead.

Is he actually unwell?

No seems to be okay maybe a bit pale

I'd just stop taking his forehead temperature and go by his ear one!

So he's fine. Stop taking the poor kid's temperature, you'll give him health anxiety

@jimmyhill

So he's fine. Stop taking the poor kid's temperature, you'll give him health anxiety

This. Blood tests and paediatrician with no symptoms other than a high temperature! Our surgery wouldn't even see you for that let alone do bloods and refer to hospital

@Mum7476

georgarina - we don't necessarily believe he has a fever cos ear thermometer reading normal. Its just the forehead is hot and the reading is elevated. When compared with the rest of family we all come back at 36.6 on forehead.

So his ear thermometer is normal? So he doesn’t have a temperature aka ‘Fever’?

I’d stop taking a forehead reading. Do you have health anxiety OP?because your DC sounds like he is ok, but I know health anxiety can be hard when you have DC.

I realise after his procedure an infection was a worry but he has probably recovered now. Maybe just think about encouraging healthy diet, keeping hydrated and sleep to really get back to normal.

Find it difficult to understand why his forehead would feel hot and register an elevated forehead temperature when this wasn't the case before. Maybe teenage changes or covid?

Wait, you don't necessarily believe he has a temperature? What about the GP and paediatric appointments - did they not do basic observations?

My son has a very hot head at 38.5 daily so not normal and very worried! The NHS is difficult with all the backlogs so where could we go private?