How to Take a Temperature

Now that we are in cold and flu season, it is time to review temperature taking.

In a child under 6 months of age, temperature is very important.  Because of that, if you think your child is sick, take his temperature with a Rectal Thermometer.  Under the arm, forehead and mouth temps are not accurate enough at this young age.  Over 6 months of age a forehead (temporal artery) or under the arm (axillary) temperature is usually sufficient.

Now, I recognize that for children over 6 months of age, it is common practice to feel the child's forehead and not to actually take a temperature.  This is probably okay UNLESS you are planning on seeing the doctor.  If the child is ill enough to see us, she is ill enough to have her temperature taken.

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you feel the child's forehead and use that to report an actual temperature to your doctor.  You child's physician uses the degree of temperature to make medical decisions and this implies a false degree of accuracy which could result in harm to your child.  If you only took the temperature with the back of your hand (a tactile temperature), please say so.  At least we will know how to use that information safely.

Kevin M. Windisch MD, FAAP
Sparks Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
(775) 359-7111
975 Roberta Lane, suite 101 B, Sparks, NV 89431
www.facebook.com/sparkspeds.nv