How long should I take a child's temperature?

Most parents are taking care of their children for the first time and have no experience, so when their children encounter certain situations, they will appear very unfamiliar and don’t know what to do. In fact, taking your child’s temperature is not a very difficult thing, but sometimes errors will occur if the details are not grasped well. So how should you take your child’s temperature?

It usually takes five minutes to measure a child's temperature. Three common places are used to measure the temperature, namely the mouth, armpits and anus. The normal body temperature is between 36.5℃ and 37.5℃ at the anus; between 36.2℃ and 37.3℃ at the mouth; and between 35.9℃ and 37.2℃ at the armpit. After measurement, any temperature that exceeds the normal range by more than 0.5℃ is called fever. A temperature not exceeding 38°C is called low fever, and a temperature exceeding 39°C is called high fever. Young children have a slightly higher body temperature than adults because their temperature regulation center is unstable and their metabolism is more active. The body temperature also fluctuates during the day. It is lower when you are at rest and higher when you are active. The lowest temperature is between 2 and 6 in the morning and the highest is between 2 and 8 in the afternoon. The fluctuation range is about 0.6°C.

A child's body temperature (based on axillary temperature) over 37°C is considered to have a fever. A temperature between 37°C and 38°C is a low fever, 38.1°C to 39°C is a moderate fever, 39.1°C to 40.4°C is a high fever, and above 40.3°C is a very high fever. The temperature regulation center in the brain of a newborn is not yet fully developed, and sometimes the body temperature is higher than 37°C, but it is still normal when it is below 37.5°C. The normal body temperature is 36.5℃-37℃ based on oral temperature. The axillary temperature is 0.5℃ lower than the oral temperature, while the rectal temperature is 0.5℃ higher. For infants and young children, the rectal temperature should be measured, while for children, the armpit temperature can be measured.

The normal axillary temperature should be between 36℃-37℃. The human body temperature is not affected by the air temperature, but the axillary temperature is easily affected by the environment. Axillary temperature has more interference factors, while rectal temperature has the opposite and is the most accurate. When measuring body temperature, the skin must be dry. If the armpits are wet, they should be wiped dry before clamping the thermometer, otherwise the result will be inaccurate. In winter, the temperature can only be accurately measured after at least half an hour after entering the room from outdoors.

The temperature is usually measured under the armpit, which can be done in about five minutes. The body temperature should not exceed 37.2. If it exceeds this value, it can be considered as a low fever and requires antipyretic or anti-inflammatory treatment. If the child has a fever, it is recommended to pay attention to the child's body temperature in time, and measure the child's temperature once an hour.

When measuring the temperature of children, an external thermometer is often used, and the measurement time is generally about 5 minutes. There are three parts for measurement: mouth, armpits, and rectum. Generally, the rectum is the most standard.

We have learned above how long it takes to measure a child's temperature, so when taking your child's temperature in life, it is best to take about five minutes. Don't measure it for too long or too short, as it will lead to errors. It is best to disinfect with alcohol for more accuracy.