Children's Temperatures

[coliebird]

My daughter (19 months) has had a fever since last Thursday. It started high (104) and came down to 102. I give her Motrin which brings it down, but it hovered between 102 and 103 for a couple of days. I took her to the doctor twice, they checked her all out, no ear infections, no throat problems (strep test was negative), chest sounds clear. They said that it was viral and the fever was her body's way of fighting it. For the last few days it has been around 100, sometimes getting up to 101. She woke up this morning and it said 98.6, which is normal. She is home with my husband today and he called to tell me it is now reading 99.7. I am wondering if the thermometer is accurate. I use the Braun one second ear thermometer. I think I am going to check it rectally when I get home from work (my husband will not do the rectal one). My question is, does anyone know which temp reading is the most accurate (ear, under arm, rectal). She is too young to keep a thermometer under her tounge for any period of time so that is out. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[floridafam]

I also use the Braun thermometer-Thermoscan to be exact.

I think they are very accurate. I even brought mine to the hospital one time to test it against theirs-my DS was sick and I thought the readings were off. It read exactly the same temp as the one at the hospital.

Both of my children had the flu about a month ago. High fevers-over 104. It was scary. The fevers lasted for days. They would go down and then spike again. They finally pulled through it after almost 2 weeks.

The Dr. said there are a lot of viruses around now and they are just hanging around for long periods of time.

Good luck.

 

[KristiKelly]

I never had good results with the ear thermometer, I never had the same reading twice or would vary with the other ear. I use a digital one that can be used under arm or oral. I had a really good digital underarm that would add the difference (I believe 1 degree) between oral & underarm, but my kids broke it. Last year, about this time, DS had a virus for about a week and temp stayed between 103-104 (w/o Motrin or Tylenol) even w/ Motrin would only go down to around 100. Toward the end it went down to normal but then would go up to 99-100 for about a day. Hopefully you're getting close to the end and she'll be better soon. I know it's been a long week for you.

 

[coliebird]

Thank you for your replies. It has been a very long week and it makes me feel better to know that I am not alone, that others have gone through this too and survived, lol. It is holding steady today at 99. Hopefully another day or two and it will be gone for good.

Thanks again.

 

[peg2001]

Our Braun ear thermometer seems pretty accurate. I did get angry at my ped. one time when I was very worried about DD running a fever of 102-105. She dismissed my concerns with "Oh, I doubt it was that high."

Peggy

 

[Pembo]

Before Xmas my ds (5) had a fever for 10 days with a cough. It was higher in the beginning and he felt crummy but the last few days he would feel great for awhile and then boom the fever would come back and he was laying on the couch again.

Sounds like she has a virus like that.

As for the thermometer, we use an ear one and love it. Just be sure to check her "normal" ~ ds's normal is 96.5.

 

[Kermit]

We check our baby's temp rectally. I used ear thermometers several years ago when they were new (in daycare and while taking care of other people's children), and I grew to hate them. The first ones were very inaccurate. I understand that the new ones are better, but you still need to know what you're doing. I would double-check rectally a few times just to see if your ear thermometer seems to be close. I *think* that the ear temp is the same as the tongue temp, so the rectal temp should be about 1 degree higher. (Check the directions, though, because I'm not sure.)

Jacob had a high temp for almost a week a few weeks ago. The doctor couldn't find anything wrong with him. It ended up being roseola, which is completely harmless. I wouldn't be surprised if your DD developes a roseola, chicken pox, or 5th disease rash.

 

[coliebird]

Kermit, somebody else mentioned Roseola to me so I have been waiting to see if there is a rash.

Pembo - thanks for mentioning the "normal" temp. Sometimes when I take hers it is 97 or so and I wondered about that. Maybe her normal is 97.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[CRB#33]

I think a rectal thermometer is the most accurate, just remember I think you need to subtract a degree.

If you use the armpit method, you're supposed to add a degree?

I've never had any luck with the ear themometers.

Anyway, when my DS was turning one, right around the week of his birthday, he had a fever ranging from 100 to 104 for a week. I drove the pediatrician nuts. Back then you had to get a prescription for children's motrin and he didn't want to give it to me. When his fever was 104º on the 4th day (his birthday) they finally gave it to him and that was the last of the high temps. Might have been a coincidence. No other symptoms at all.

 

[luvmydogs]

I know ds8's pediatrician (whom I refer to as Saint Karen after she successfully treated my ds--then age 3--for bacterial meningitis) said that during a viral infections (which can drag on and on...), it is very common for temps. to spike up and down, and I know that's happened with my son as well. When he was hospitalized, they would only take a rectal reading, saying that it was most accurate. But they were super-concerned about accuracy because he was running @106 with Motrin/Tylenol and had to consider fever-induced seizures. It's so hard not to worry about our kids when they're sick. For a few years after the whole meningitis thing, I would freak and cry if my son got a cold. It does sound like your dd's temp is coming back down to normal, and I'm sure that'll be a load off your mind. I do hope your precious little one is up and around real soon!

 

[coliebird]

Thank you everyone for putting my mind at ease. luvmydogs, you are right, it is very hard not to worry over the smallest thing. I think I have driven the pediatrician nuts, but oh well, I will embarras (sp?) myself with repeated phone calls and office visits to make sure my daughter is healthy.

 

[momm2four]

If I want an accurate reading on my younger children, I use the rectal thermometer. I have heard the "subtract 1 degree" thing from the office secretary, but my doctor has never said that.

I took my youngest in two weeks ago, and the nurse took his temp. by checking under his arm. It showed a temp of 97.5 or so. I felt his temples and told he that he did have a fever, so she took it rectally and sure enough, it was 101.00 degrees.

I don't ever trust a temp they take under the arm or in the ear at the boys' doctor. With squirming little boys, that's just not the way to get an accurate reading.

Lori P.