Do you have to add degrees to an underarm digital thermometer reading?

[toffeeapple]

If so, how much?

about 0.5 to 1. You OK?

Yes thanks. I was a bit worried yesterday after taking my DS's temperature, he had 39.5!!!!
It went down straight away after taking Nurofen but still.
Now he's got 37.7.
I thought that when you had a temperature of 40 you're on your last legs and delirious, but he seemed fine.
He's got a cold at the mo.

you need to add 1 degree to a temp taken from under the armpit. Hope your ds feels better soon.

That's what I thought it said on the instructions but I've binned them.
Would you have seen a doctor if you were me because I wanted to but DH said: "No let's see if it goes down first".
He's been fine all day but he feels hot again now (37.7, so 38.7). All he seems to have is a mind cold and a cough (same as me).

It depends how old your ds is. If he's under 4 months then I would take him to see the GP if there were no obvious causes for the temp. If he has a cold though it's best to ride it out. Paracetamol/ibuprofen if he's unhappy and hot. IME, the thermometers you put in the ear are more accurate then any others. Do give NHS direct or your GP a call if you are concerned.

I hope he's better soon.

40 degrees in a little baby or an adult is quite different to in a toddler. In modern houses, wrapped up children with central heating who are incubating a cold can easily get to 39/40 degrees and seem fine.

My general rule is that I treat the child and not the temperature. So, if the child is uncomfortable or in pain then I medicate but I don't medicate purely for a temperature ie I think if I didn't know she had a temp would I even worry? A temperature is the body's way of fighting infection and I don't like to reduce it unnecessarily. This, of course, does not apply to a baby where all temps must be looked at. If my dd has a temp I strip her off, keep her cool and offer lots of drinks.

If the temp responds well to medicine then this is a very, very positive sign, especially coupled with him seeming well in himself. Temps that respond to medication are generally caused by a virus.

You are his Mum though so if at all concerned then see your GP or phone NHS Direct.

Throw away the thermometer. If a child is ill, behaving ill and looking ill, then they should be treated as if they are ill. If they are not, then not. If a child is hot enough for you to be worried then get it to a doctor - if not then not. An I mean hot under your hand or lips, not with a thermometer.

DS is 2.
Feeling quite guilty now because I've given him Nurofen and his temperature was 38.4 (so 39.4) and I kind of agree with what you said showoffhands and you seeker, he wasn't behaving ill and I still medicated.
I'm just paranoid with the fact that his temperature is going to go out of control.
I sound like a really nervous mum and he's not even my first child.
So showoff if your DD had a 40degrees temp, but still looked well in herself, would you still not give her anything?

I would strip her off, keep her cool, leave her in a vest or just a nappy, only a sheet in bed, lots of drinks.

I don't usually take her temperature, dh does it sometimes and I've never 'known' it was 40 iyswim so it's tough to answer. I just assess whether she is out of sorts and if she is that's when dh takes her temperature in case we need to see a GP and they ask. Obviously I then medicate if she's distressed/in pain/out of sorts. She's had Nurofen a handful of times in her lifetime. Ditto Calpol.

DD is 23 months so able to vocalise if something hurts or indicate unhappiness.

Don't feel guilty, you do what you think is best and if you need to manage his temperature then do it.