Thermometer not consistent

[poshme]

Had an email from DS school about what to do if...
They say that if a child has a temperature over 37 then it's probably COVID and the whole house has to self isolate for 2 weeks & get tested.

I then wondered what my current temperature is, as I thought that normal could be 36.5-37.4.
Took my temp with in ear thermometer. 37.3
So according to school I probably have COVID. So I took temp again just to make sure. Several times as it was so different:
36.4
36.9
37.4
37.8
37.3
38.4
38.8

My in mouth thermometer has me (consistently) at 36.8

I do not feel hot or ill.

So what temperature am I?
Should I be isolating because some of the readings say I have a temperature?
And if school are going to send kids home to isolate the whole house after 1 temperature taking how can they ensure it's accurate?

Change the batteries try again

Over 37 is ridiculous. 37.8 is the government's advice so your school is giving out wrong advice. My temperature is usually around 37.2! It was 37.4 today as I was sitting by a hot window!

@slipperywhensparticus is that likely to help?

My daughters school is saying anything over 37.8, my daughters always warm she is usually 37.3-37.5, me and my husband are the same.
I did realise other day on my in ear thermometer that I hadn’t been pushing the plastic covers on fully and it was inaccurate due to that showing 40 at one point

Over 37 is ludicrous.

As in, this advice is ludicrous. 37 is a reasonable temperature!

Ear thermometers take higher readings than oral thermometers and an underarm "normal" temperature reading is lower again. An underarm reading of 37°C would indicate a fever but not an oral reading (which is normal up to 37.4°)and I'm pretty certain up to as high as 38° is normal for an ear thermometer reading. If you google it you'll find the normal ranges.

[quote poshme]@slipperywhensparticus is that likely to help?[/quote]
Well it will make sure its more accurate

I check both ears they should "match"

If one is higher than the other that usually indicates an ear infection

The thermometer should be more consistent than that but over 37 is ridiculous!

And people wonder why we don't use thermometers at all. Never. Doubt we have a working one.