Getting lots of variation in thermometer readings - ill DD

[Fi1982]

Any help appreciated!

DD aged 2.5 has had bad fever all week (39+), had a couple of misdiagnoses but turns out to be a bad ear infection. Got Amoxicillin from Doc yesterday, and she’s taken several doses as prescribed.

Her temp has been normal all day. This evening I've been checking her temp while she sleeps, and I’m getting worried. It started as 35.8ish in both ears which is a little low for her, so I checked again 10 minutes later, again, got a few 35.7/8 readings and a couple of 36s, so not too concerned.

Just checked again after 30 mins and the readings are all over the place! Several in the 34s, and the 35s, then a couple of 36s. She feels warm to the touch but not overly hot, is a bit sweaty which is quite standard for her, is a bit twitchy when I’m measuring her temp so I guess is ‘roused easily’ in medical terms... does anyone have any advice? Should I be worried about the low temps?

For info, I’m using one of those Braun in the ear thermometers, I’ve just changed the batteries in case it was that, and the cap, and I’ve tested myself. It seems to be working fine 🤷‍♀️

I gave her a bath earlier as she’s not had one all week, she got a bit shivery so I bundled her in her bedclothes as quick as poss and got the hairdryer on her... could it be that? Kicking myself that I didn’t leave her dirty an extra day!!

Thanks for any advice you can give.

I’m sure ear thermometer readings are inaccurate when you have an ear infection.

I seem to remember that whenever I have taken my child's temperature when they are asleep it is also low. I think it is normal,

Your body temperature raises at night. I'm thinking you may not have got the thermometer in right if it's dark and she's wriggling and your conscious her ears are sore.

Brought my newborn to a&e recently as he had a very high fever. While there, several doctors moaned to me about how inaccurate in ear thermometers can be, often fluctuating by a whole degree and they dont trust them at all. They suggested either under arm or rectal (for young babies at least). Hope your little one gets better soon!

Had you given any other medication over the course of the fevers? Paracetamol/ibuprofen? I’ve always found DD to have lower temps after using ibuprofen

Thanks all, I kept a close eye on her through the rest of the evening and she’s fine this morning (and up before 6, ugh), so I guess it was just one of those things. I’m usually good at placing the thermometer in her ear but yes maybe I was being over cautious. I tried my own ear in a few different spots near the canal and it did vary loads, so must’ve been the same thing for her ear.

When ds has an ear infection the in the ear thermometers don't seem to be very accurate. The infected ear is often higher at first, even more so if he's been lying on it. However if it bursts or he gets a lot of wax build up it can be very low.
If he has an ear infection and I need an accurate measure I go back to the in the mouth one.

Let her sleep. Ignore temperatures for just now and trust your instincts. If she is asleep she isn’t in pain. She is on the right medication For her condition so let it work and let her sleep. Only medicate if she seems in pain. Hope she gets well soon.