Over the forehead temporal artery method Non-contact infrared thermometers NCITs measure body temperature from a specific distance by sensing the energy emitted by humans. NCITs offer a way to take your temperature without touching, unlike traditional thermometers that require physical contact.
NCITs are considered more susceptible to inaccurate measurements than other thermometers for example, oral and rectal thermometers, well-calibrated tympanic thermometers. Several factors influence the ability of NCITs to detect fever accurately, including:. Follow the best practices and the manufacturer's instructions when using NCITs. Speak to a pharmacist if you have any questions when buying a thermometer.
A pharmacist can help you select the best type of thermometer for the method you choose to use. Whichever type of thermometer you use, make sure to clean them except ear thermometers with cool, soapy water and rinse off before and after use. From birth to age 5, the most common way to take a temperature is under the armpit. For children older than 2, temperatures can also be taken by ear or, if the child is able to sit still long enough, by mouth.
The most accurate way to take a temperature is in the bum rectal method. See the section on the rectal method to learn how safely take a rectal temperature. The mouth method can be used for children who are older than 5 years of age. It is not recommended for children younger than 5 years of age, because it is hard for them to hold the thermometer under their tongue long enough. Medical research hasn't determined an exact correlation between oral, rectal, ear, armpit, and forehead temperature measurements.
Generally, the correlation of temperature results are as follows:. When you talk with your doctor about your temperature, be sure to say what method was used to take the temperature. The temperature comparison table below will give you the range of temperature correlation with the different methods used to take a temperature. For information about taking accurate temperatures in infants and children, see the topic Body Temperature. Blahd Jr. Author: Healthwise Staff.
Medical Review: William H. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.
But because fevers in newborns can indicate a serious infection, even infants who are overdressed must be checked by a doctor if they have a fever. Immunizations: Babies and kids sometimes get a low-grade fever after getting vaccinated. In healthy kids, not all fevers need to be treated. High fever, though, can make a child uncomfortable and make problems such as dehydration worse.
Doctors decide on whether to treat a fever by considering both the temperature and a child's overall condition. There's one important exception: If an infant 3 months or younger has a rectal temperature of Even a slight fever can be a sign of a potentially serious infection in very young babies. If your child is between 3 months and 3 years old and has a fever of For older kids, take behavior and activity level into account.
Watching how your child behaves will give you a pretty good idea of whether a minor illness is the cause or if your child should be seen by a doctor. And don't worry too much about a child with a fever who doesn't want to eat. This is very common with infections that cause fever. For kids who still drink and urinate pee normally, not eating as much as usual is OK.
A gentle kiss on the forehead or a hand placed lightly on the skin is often enough to give you a hint that your child has a fever. However, this method of taking a temperature called tactile temperature won't give an accurate measurement. Use a reliable digital thermometer to confirm a fever. It's a fever when a child's temperature is at or above one of these levels:. But how high a fever is doesn't tell you much about how sick your child is.
Because fevers can rise and fall, a child might have chills as the body's temperature begins to rise. The child may sweat to release extra heat as the temperature starts to drop. Sometimes kids with a fever breathe faster than usual and may have a faster heart rate.
Call the doctor if your child has trouble breathing, is breathing faster than normal, or is still breathing fast after the fever comes down. Again, not all fevers need to be treated. In most cases, a fever should be treated only if it's causing a child discomfort. If your child is fussy or uncomfortable, you can give acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on the package recommendations for age or weight.
Unless instructed by a doctor, never give aspirin to a child due to its association with Reye syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease. If you don't know the recommended dose or your child is younger than 2 years old, call the doctor to find out how much to give.
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