Is 37.5 a fever?

[shiveringwiggles]

Apologies if this is a silly question but would 37.5 be considered a temperature, for self isolation purposes? The temp is for a 3.5 year old. She feels hot and has red cheeks, but the flat we live in does tend to bake when there is even a drop of sunshine (thermostat currently 23 degrees).

My thermometer turns amber when you have a slight fever and does that at 37.7 so I’d say that temp was fine .

I think a fever is 38 and above, but I'd be concerned too.

Check online but I found this:
21 Mar 2020 · Symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are a high temperature (37.8 degrees Celsius or above ) or a new, continuous cough.
Your best researching online than here.

I just found this: www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/fever-in-children

It says As a general rule, in children a temperature of over 37.5C (99.5F) is a fever.

How are you taking the temperature? Under arm I'd say that's defo a fever.

Imagine you didn't have a thermometer. Something must have made you check. I find I can pretty accurately check if my son has a fever or if just hot by taking a layer off (so wearing just a light T-shirt or if your house is very hot having a bare chest). In 20 minutes lay your cheek or lips against their back or chest. If it feels hot then it's a temperature.

Sounds like a temp, does she have a cough?

@screwcovid19 we took her temperature with a digital underarm thermometer and then checked it with one of the 'press to your forehead/in your ear' ones. Temperatures ranged from 36.9 with the underarm thermometer to 37.8 in her ear (and a few temperatures in between). Averaged at around 37.5

@YangShanPo no cough

Fever in a child starts at 38.0

www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

Yes that's classed as pyrexial.

Government has said the temperature which has to cause people to self isolate is 37.8

What caused you to take her temperature? Just the fact that she looks hot or was it at underlying feeling that she's under the weather?

@screwcovid19 we took her temperature as her face was bright pink and when she sat in my lap (in just a dress, pants, bare legs- not overdressed) she felt unusually warm.

I'd play it safe then and take the eat reading as correct. If you didn't have a thermometer you'd think she felt hot.

Armpit temperatures tend to come in a bit lower - about .3-.5 degrees lower than tympanic. Take it again in about an hour or so; Covid fever = 37.8 so she sounds borderline at the moment.

37.5 is a fever in a child.

She feels warm - and looks flushed. Underarm you can add a degree so that would have been 37.9. I've had thermometers read 37 ish and then the doctor has taken it and it's been 39.8 before now! I would definitely say from your description that your child has a fever.

You had an ear temp of 37.8, so you need to follow the isolation guidelines. 37.5 would not need it, but you can't go with averages.

According to the NHS, a fever in children is 38.0 or above.

my digital in ear thermometer turns amber at 37.8 for adults and I think a bit lower for children

Hi all- thanks for responding. I phoned 111 and they're arranging for a GP to get back to me within the next couple of hours. I'll update you with what they say.

Just in case it helps anyone else, 111 got a GP to phone me. They recommended self-isolation for 14 days. Thanks for your replies!

Hope your dd is ok this morning and it won't be too hard for you to self isolate.