What is the normal temperature for a child?
If you take the temperature in your child's
mouth or from the ear, the normal temperature is 36 to 36.8ºC (97.7 to 99.1ºF).
Thermometers
Traditional mercury thermometers are being
phased out, although many are still around.
Mercury is a highly toxic substance if taken
into the body – which can be done through skin contact, breathing in the vapour
or swallowing it. All these risks can apply to the fragile glass
thermometer if it's broken, for example by a child biting it. If you have a mercury thermometer, check with
your local council how to dispose of it safely.
Modern probe-type digital thermometers are
quicker to use, more reliable and are much safer if bitten.
Taking a child's temperature
al Helvetica,
sans-serif; A body temperature reading can be taken from the mouth,
armpit, ear, skin surface or the rectum.
Although a rectal temperature reading is the
most accurate and is quite often used in hospital, it's not necessary to be so
precise when taking temperature readings at home.
Rectal temperature reading is therefore not
recommended for home use.
Rectal temperatures are the closest to 'core'
temperature and are about 0.5ºC (2ºF) higher than readings taken from the mouth
or ear.
Temperature readings from the armpit are not
very reliable and are about 0.5ºC lower than mouth temperature.
Thermometer strips that are placed on the
child's forehead are popular and give a rough guide, only.
Most of the time the exact level of a child’s
temperature is not particularly important.
In practical terms, the temperature reading will
be enough to give an indication of whether a fever is present.
Fever does not require treating. Only if the
child is miserable, should paracetamol or ibuprofen be considered to make the
child feel better, by reducing their temperature.
° - Ear temperature
If you are willing to pay for an ear
thermometer, this is a quick method and will give a read-out in seconds. Ear
thermometers rely on measuring infrared (heat) radiation from the eardrum.
Other types of thermometer (such as the probe
type) are not suitable for taking ear readings and must never be placed within
the ear canal.
Some ear thermometers are adjustable, so they
can be made suitable for adults or children.
To get a reliable temperature measurement, the
thermometer must be used exactly as directed.
When you buy the thermometer: ask the
salesperson how to use it, and read the instructions carefully before you
start.
Especially with small children, ear thermometers
require a steady hand to find the right spot.
The ear canal has a natural curve – so to ensure
that the thermometer is pointing towards the eardrum, it may be necessary to
pull the top part of your child's ear gently upwards during the reading.
If your child has been lying with their head on
a warm pillow, or has just come inside out of the cold, you will need to wait
10 to 15 minutes before the ear can provide an accurate measurement of body
temperature.
°° - Under the armpit
This method is not good for small children,
since they will not stay still for long enough.
With children old enough to co-operate and keep
still you need to keep the thermometer under their armpit for at least 5
minutes.
°°° - From the mouth
This method is not suitable for a young child
because they may bite the thermometer and break it.
The thermometer is placed in the mouth, under the
tongue.
It will take two to three minutes to measure the
temperature accurately.
If your child has just eaten anything hot or
cold, you will need to wait 10 minutes before an accurate temperature can be
taken.
What can I do if my child has a temperature?
I - Liquids
A child with a high temperature needs more
liquid than usual because the fever will make them sweat a lot.
Make sure your child drinks plenty of liquids –
a teaspoonful every few minutes, if necessary. Provided they drink plenty of
liquids, it won't matter too much if they eat very little for a couple of days.
II - Rest
A child with a high temperature also needs rest
and sleep.
They do not have to be in bed all day, if they
feel like playing. But they must have the opportunity to lie down.
III - Body temperature
You do not sweat out a fever.
If your child shivers while their temperature is
rising, it's okay to cover them with a duvet or a blanket. But as soon as your
child's temperature has stabilised and he or she starts sweating, they need to
cool down.
Your child only needs to wear underwear or a
nappy, which will help the heat escape from the body. Make sure their room is
ventilated and cool, but not draughty.
IV - Medicines
If you want to use medication to get the
temperature down, ask your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to tell you
what to use and how much. The dosage will depend on both the age and weight of
your child.
Paracetamol suspension (eg Calpol) is the usual
choice and ibuprofen (eg Nurofen for children) is an alternative. Aspirin
should not be given to children under 16 years of age.
Attention
Sick children are often tired and bad-tempered.
They sleep a lot – and when they are awake, they want their parents around all
the time. They might whine and act younger than their age.
It's okay to give in and spoil a child a little
when they're sick. Read to them, play with them and spend time with them. This
is not the time to teach a child good manners.
A child usually recovers and will soon be back
to their old self again.
When is a fever critical?
Look at your child and use common sense. Do they
look exhausted or ill? Are they behaving differently? If the answer is yes,
call the doctor.
- You should also call your doctor if:
- you have a young child, less than three months old, who
runs any fever
- your child cries and cries, without you being able to
comfort them, and doesn't wake up easily
- your child has a temperature over 38ºC (101.3ºF) for
more than three days
- your child has just had an operation
- your child doesn't seem to be getting better.
If your child experiences any of the following
symptoms with a fever, call your doctor.
- Stiff neck.
- Affected by bright light.
- Hallucinations.
- Red rash or blue or purple dots or patches.
- Trouble breathing.
- Cramps or leg pains.
- Continued vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Continued tonsillitis.
- Pain when urinating, or urinating more than usual.
- Other illnesses.
In a four week study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 46 healthy human subjects were divided into three groups. The control group ate a low saturated fat diet based on milled whole-wheat cereals and low-fat dairy foods. The second group ate the same diet and also took the statin drug lovastatin. The third group ate a diet high in almonds plus plant sterols, non-meat protein and fiber. LDL cholesterol decreased by 8 percent in the control group, 30 percent in the statin group, and 28 percent in the almond group.
Another study, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that heart disease risk correlates not only with cholesterol levels, but also with inflammation of blood vessels. Following a diet that includes almonds effectively lowers not only LDL cholesterol levels but also C-reactive protein levels, a key marker of inflammation. Inflammation is hard on the heart because it increases the development of atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) and causes the heart to have to pump faster and harder to get its job done.
Another study examining this same group and reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that when directly compared to first-generation statin drugs, the Portfolio Eating Plan diet with its emphasis on almonds is just as effective in lowering LDL cholesterol below the recommended range for heart disease prevention.
