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).

Just no. Excluding the sarcasm in my last few posts, I have not said people who don't use thermometers are anything, but I've been told my kids will become paranoid or neurotic. I've even tried to explain why we use it, but that was a waste. My initial post doesn't even talk about other people

It's definitely a cultural thing. My in-laws are Italian and they were horrified that I didn't own a thermometer when DS1 was born. As soon as anyone feels slightly off colour in Italy they take their temperature and announce "they have a fever!"

We have one in the house now and rarely use it but it's handy now to distinguish between snotty nose and cold v potential Covid.

Checking the temperature is useful to know how high it is. 37.5 is not the same as 40.
And sometimes the skin can feel hot with no fever or cold with fever, so always worth measuring it to be sure.

My parents were both in medical professions and while temperature was always taken when someone was ill, it was never done otherwise. I think in general, you can tell if you have a fever so it wouldn't be something I would think to do if otherwise feeling well. And you can tell if kids are ill too without taking their temp.

I agree it's useful to do when you are actually ill, though, and as such it helps to know your baseline normal temp (which shouldn't change much day to day at all).

@ScarMatty

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.

A temperature of 40 that isn't going down is a source of concern. The rest will be for the doctor to assess and diagnose.

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

A temperature over a certain level is one of the flags for sepsis. That’s why the GP/OOH Dr will ask in certain circumstances.

@JayDot500

Just no. Excluding the sarcasm in my last few posts, I have not said people who don't use thermometers are anything, but I've been told my kids will become paranoid or neurotic. I've even tried to explain why we use it, but that was a waste. My initial post doesn't even talk about other people

But if you are sure it won’t make your child paranoid or neurotic (you know your child, the people commenting don’t) then I honestly don’t understand why you’d get so offended by what a stranger on the internet says. If you’re secure in your parenting decision keep doing what you’re doing.

@JayDot500

We have always regularly checked everyone's temperature. We have an in-ear thermometer, and used it maybe 3 times a week pre Covid. Nowadays we do it daily. My son enjoys it (he likes checking ours) so he usually prompts us to take it.

This is very odd.

If you had a fever you'd feel ill.
If your kids had a fever they'd seem out of sorts and feel hot.
There's no need to test randomly when you're feeling fine.

We only bought one at the start of lockdown so my DC had made it to 18 & 15 without me ever owning one!

We used it once to make sure it was working when we first got it, then a couple of times on the days DS went into school before the summer holiday. Since then it's been stuck in the cupboard.

I use a thermometer if someone feels hot so that I know if they have a temperature and can keep an eye on them. I regularly took my temperature back in March over a couple of days when I felt as rough as hell. I started feeling ropey then felt hot, took my temperature and it was slightly raised. Over the course of the evening it got higher and higher, as it got higher the worse I felt.

Actually that's not strictly true, sometimes I randomly take a temperature for no other reason than to see what our normal temperature is. Usually occurs when I come across the thermometer and I have nothing better to do with my time.

But I often feel ill and assume my temp is up. It never is. I think it's just menopause.

That's why I often spot check my temp, it's helpful to know whether I feel dreadful because of hormones / lack of sleep or I do have a fever.

Honestly, it is quite bizarre to be taking temperatures three times a week pre-Covid. What a bore. Do you do it on holiday? Christmas? So you wake up, full of beans, yet still take everyone’s temperature?

Last comment on here because, life goes on. But I want people to see things from a different perspective. When your child is ill you look out for signs. My kid doesn't give me much of those and he often feels warm to my touch, so I can't rely on touch. He nearly always looks 'well' and even when sick, he's still able to carry on as normal. If you don't believe me, then that's your issue. A temperature on its own doesn't mean anything, but it definitely means DH or myself can make ourselves more available, or call the GP at 8 to get an appointment because his temperature has not come down over days and I'm not about to buy a stethoscope.

I don't need to explain anything to anyone, we are all strangers. But I cannot believe the amount of judgement a parent gets for trying to be proactive. Like wow. It's weird to you, but does it matter? We all work and pay a shit load of tax, I don't want to waste ambulance resources for something I can manage with the GP over the phone. I've had to fight hard for an asthma pump, and this has made all the difference (he does not have diagnosed asthma, GP thinks it's his age and how his body responds to some viruses, but he agrees that, used considerately, it can avoid a visit to the hospital). My son is not weak minded and otherwise, he's very healthy and happy. He will not end up traumatised or paranoid over something that takes seconds in a day. How lucky are you that you can rely on sight or touch (I'm not being sarcastic here). My son is a black male with loads of hair, it's not uncommon to find him sweating in the house (with a normal temperature reading) and looking for redness/a flushed face, is not something I can see on him. He doesn't shiver, he doesn't stop eating (!), etc. He is very resilient and can talk through any concerns he has (he definitely never holds back here!). Taking a temperature often does not break a person. People jumping to that conclusion need to chill and think better of their own kids. Mine is okay, thanks for any concern.

Oh dear, so the poor child doesn’t even have asthma ? Frankly your posts are very worrying and I hope you’re making them up as your behaviour is a cause for concern.

@IrmaFayLear

Oh dear, so the poor child doesn’t even have asthma ? Frankly your posts are very worrying and I hope you’re making them up as your behaviour is a cause for concern.

My daughter was prescribed inhalers despite not having asthma. She used to get severe ‘post viral wheeze’. I was told she’d grow out of it at about 5-6 and she did. It’s fairly common in children. When I took an inhaler into school they said they had a few children who didn’t have asthma but had inhalers for viral wheeze.

@Kaktus thank you. Just, thank you

It's interesting what the GP will tell you is common and 'dont worry about it', versus trying to explain something and feeling like you're the only one.

My daughter was prescribed inhalers despite not having asthma. She used to get severe ‘post viral wheeze’. I was told she’d grow out of it at about 5-6 and she did.
It’s fairly common in children

Me too. Both my DC have inhalers but neither have asthma.

My dd is nearly 9 and had a cold this weekend....thought maybe it was time l bought a thermometer in case the school asked if she has got a temperature, but all the shop had was a cheapy forehead one so that is all l have got. Never needed one before now.

No I don’t own and never have owned a thermometer.

I check regularly after getting caught out by both DC in the past. DC1 had a temperature of 40 when checked just before her MMR jab... Had been fine at preschool all morning, checked because we always do before vaccines (DH's job prejudice) - was totally surprised by the temp in an otherwise well (slightly quiet but we'll within normal for a new to preschool 3 year old) child.

Was checking before school consistently didn't bother one weekend morning, DH took DC out on a hike and on return DC2 was a bit grumpier than normal - temp was 40 and was a bugger to get down.

So on that experience my 2 spike temperatures with no signs, then develop other symptoms, so best to catch before they spread whatever plague they're sharing further than I have to...

No doubt will get out of the habit once getting caught out is a less recent memory!