Baby's neck is hot but forehead is not hot

Mothers are very concerned about their baby's health, so they will be particularly worried about any discomfort. However, many mothers do not know how to determine their baby's body temperature scientifically. Some of them simply touch the baby's forehead and think they have a fever if they feel it is hot. However, this verification method is not accurate enough. In order to determine the baby's body temperature more accurately, it is best to use a thermometer.

1. Wrong judgment

1. The mother touched the baby's forehead and palms and found that the baby's skin was hot. The mother thought that the baby did have a fever.

2. The mother took a thermometer to measure the baby's temperature. The baby's temperature was over 37℃, and the mother thought the baby was sick.

2. Correct Judgment

Fever refers to the abnormal increase in the baby's body temperature. The mother's hands are not thermometers and cannot accurately measure the baby's body temperature. The baby's normal armpit temperature should be 36℃~37℃, and it is only considered a fever if it exceeds 37.4℃. Therefore, the practices of the two mothers mentioned above are both wrong.

However, the baby's body temperature often fluctuates due to certain factors. For example, in the evening, the baby's body temperature is often higher than in the early morning; the baby's body temperature will also rise temporarily after eating, crying, or exercising; if the baby's clothes are too thick, the room temperature is too high, etc., the baby's body temperature will also rise. If your baby has this temporary, small temperature fluctuation, it should not usually be considered pathological as long as he is in good general condition, energetic, and has no other symptoms and signs.

3. Normal body temperature reference value

Oral temperature range: 36.7℃～37.7℃

Axillary temperature range: 36.0℃～37.4℃

Rectal temperature range: 36.9℃～37.9℃

Choose the right cooling method

When a baby has a fever, there are two main methods of cooling down commonly used clinically: physical cooling and drug cooling. No matter what method is used to help the baby cool down, it should be decided based on the baby's age, physical condition and degree of fever.

It is generally not advisable to use drugs to reduce fever in neonates; for fever caused by general infections in infants and young children, it is best to use appropriate physical cooling measures first. However, it is not advisable to use cold compresses and alcohol baths to cool down children with rash diseases such as measles, so as to avoid irritating the skin and affecting the outbreak of the rash.

If you use medication to reduce fever, be careful not to use too large a dose, so as to avoid causing the baby to sweat too much and cause collapse or electrolyte imbalance. There are many types of antipyretic drugs commonly used in pediatrics. No matter which antipyretic agent is used, it must be done under the guidance of a doctor.