Are you routinely checking your/family's temperature?

[Whathappenedtothelego]

Just wondering.

I've never checked my own temperature. I remember checking DC's once or twice when they were ill as babies, so I do have a thermometer somewhere. (Checking just confirmed that yes, they did have a temperature, so I haven't ever bothered since).

Since temperature is one of the three symptoms, are people checking routinely on otherwise well-seeming family members?

Or would you only check if your child seemed unwell and hot anyway? (In which case, it would be obvious they did have one anyway).

@BertieBotts

Honestly, if you touch your family regularly on the skin, for example kissing them goodnight, or just hugging or holding hands or being in any kind of close proximity you will 100% notice if they have a temperature, because they immediately feel ALL WRONG.

A thermometer is then useful so that you can check whether it's really a temperature or they are just a bit off colour and/or for little ones whether it's serious enough to give calpol and/or call the doctor, but for a binary test whether or not somebody has a fever, all you have to do is kiss their forehead.

Yes I agree with this. I know from touching my DC if they have a temperature or not. I know what they feel like normally, and can tell when it’s not ‘normal’.

It is a good idea to check your temperature when feeling healthy so that you can know what your normal temperatue is.This can vary a great deal. Family member is registered on line since begining of Covid and checks temperature every day and reports any changes in how they feel . Part of research.

I do think a thermometer is a fairly normal thing to have though? We have ended up with loads.

I have oral/rectal/armpit ones from when I did BBT tracking when TTC. Ended up with a couple because I'd always lose them down the back of the bed and they cost about £2.99.

I remember having those forehead strips as well as a normal armpit/oral one at home as a child.

We got one of the fancy in ear ones when DS2 was born (2018), because it had seemed like the thing to have when DS1 was born (2008) and at the time I had scoffed at this, but it's been handy because it only takes a second so you don't need the child to cooperate. Whereas the oral ones tend to need you to stay still for 10 seconds which feels like ages with a poorly, upset child.

Then because DS2 was on infection watch when he was born the (German) hospital insisted on taking his temperature (rectally) every 4 hours or every time I changed his nappy. Then when we left they gave us the thermometer because it had been up his arse so they were going to throw it away otherwise Lovely!

I actually don't know which is the arse thermometer and which is the one I used orally any more :o meaning people have probably put the bum one in their mouths. Oh well. I gave it a disinfectant wipe.

This gp thing. Mine has never ever asked me what my temperature is.

They have said have you got a temperature/ are you feverish which is a completely different question.

@NiceGerbil

This gp thing. Mine has never ever asked me what my temperature is.

They have said have you got a temperature/ are you feverish which is a completely different question.

When I phoned 111 with mastitis I was asked my temperature (42, ended up in intensive care!). I have also been asked the number when phoning about my children at various points (my own GP and 111).

Nope. I have a baseline in my head, dc1 and 1 run on the colder side normally and we have a thermometer as I had febrile convulsions as a child but I haven't tested any one this year.

No. I find it a bit odd that people just check regularly. My BF knows when her DC have a temp of 38 as she checks it a lot. I only check if the kids feel hot or are unwell.

That's an interesting article @megletthesecond. My normal temp is 35.8!

When people were calling for an ambulance 'he feels hot' was not what they wanted to hear!

I had an old under tongue thermometer, but thought I'd get a point & shoot. It arrived, it was crap! I got the old one out and it was at least consistent!!

It's good to know what everyone's 'normal' temperature is.

I tested daily for about a month, but now only really when I'm not feeling good.

I'm vulnerable and when I haven't felt great, the thermometer & oximeter have given me some peace of mind.

Goodness didn’t even cross my mind. I know straight away when my kids have a temp. just by touching them and the way they are acting.

I know when I have a temp as I feel
like crap.

I worry we are bringing up a nation of kids paranoid about their health!

My daughter's temperature is checked every school day morning before she leaves the house. It is required by the school. I had to buy a thermometer as the forehead strip one we had when she was a baby 16 years ago didn't work any more 😁

No, never had, don't own a thermometer.

No, can’t remember the last time I used the thermometer on the children. A family member checks her kids obsessively and the children are so paranoid about having a temperature. The oldest one constantly worries they’ve got a temperature, even if they’re just warm from running about.

I don't own a thermometer. Probably should as neutropenic but I can tell if I have one, I go white around my mouth and cheeks flushed

@doubleshotespresso

We invested in a no touch thermometer before schools returned and have all been doing temps morning and evening . Just seems like a sensible approach

Why?

It wouldn’t occur to me to take temperatures and as someone else said, you’d know if your child had a raised temperature by sight/ touch alone.

MN is an absolute eye opener 😮

No.

Because I have 2 hands, one of which I can place on my child's forehead to see if they are hot on or not.

Plus, I have much better things to do with my time.

I've got two thermometers that both claim to be super accurate. Well, their readings diverge widely from one another. If you take your temperature several times, you will see that no two readings are the same. If I use the ear one in different ears, the readings usually vary by over a degree. This makes me think it's fairly pointless.

'My son felt very hot last night and this morning' versus, 'My son's temperature was is 40.2 last night and is the same this morning.' I know which one is more helpful to me when I'm trying to explain why I'm calling the GP/111... again.

DS is slim and generally healthy, but can feel hot to the touch on a good day, but with normal temperature readings. Perhaps my touch is off, but his dad is the one who bought the machine because we were fed up trying to guess if he has a fever or just felt a bit hot. He can also run a very high temperature and look fine, but then by lunchtime the school could call and ask me to collect him because he started coughing soon after drop off, and has just vomited (obviously this has happened to me quite a few times and I work an hour's drive away from his school). He doesn't even have any diagnosed illnesses, but I've had to go through this more times than I can count, due to viral infections which eventually can cause wheezing. Having a thermometer has helped us immensely, and will no doubt be useful right now.

To the pp who said this sort of thing makes paranoid kids, . You must think all kids are fickle minded of using a thermometer to manage their own health triggers paranoia. Did brushing your teeth everyday make you paranoid?

Ah I've never called 111.

I think it's a bit odd that these services expect everyone to own a thermometer. As evidenced on this thread, plenty of people don't have one.

How is brushing your teeth comparable to taking everyone's temperatures 3 times a week before covid?

Some really odd ideas on here.

No not unless they seem like they've a fever. There is one in the medical box if I need it.

@NiceGerbil

How is brushing your teeth comparable to taking everyone's temperatures 3 times a week before covid?

Some really odd ideas on here.

You do many things everyday, and there's no need to attribute any of them to potential paranoia.

My son felt very hot last night and this morning' versus, 'My son's temperature was is 40.2 last night and is the same this morning.' I know which one is more helpful to me when I'm trying to explain why I'm calling the GP/111... again.

Genuinely can't see the difference because a temp on its on really isn't a cause for concern, it's when it's linked to other things that it is.

No. I don't own a thermometer.

I can tell if DDs got at temperature just by looking at her normally. She gives off a certain smell when she's unwell too.
I check her forehead/stomach and that gives me the answer.

I know when I've got a temperature too.

I imagine you could get really obsessive over temp checking at the minute so I'd minimise it to just when they/you are feeling unwell.

If you don't brush your teeth you get tooth and gum problems which results in a range of issues.

If you don't take your temperature every day/ 3 times a week then nothing happens.

Loads of people don't own a thermometer. You think that is the same as never brushing your teeth?

I mean you do you but trying to shame people for being completely normal is definitely, well, a bit odd!

I don’t check my temperature as a matter of routine

But. these days, I do take it if I’m ever feeling a bit off. That’s nothing to do with Covid though, and everything to do with leukaemia. Because if I ever run a temperature I need to ring the hospital. And may well get pulled in for certain blood tests and prophylactic ABs (possibly IV)

Silver lining is that I’m one of the exceptionally rare people who, if potentially Covid symptomatic, does not ring 111. I use my permanent hospital 24/7 telephone number

I check DC temperature only if they’re not obviously hot to touch, or to check if a previously hot DC has returned to normal