When your little one feels hot and you put your hand on their forehead, you feel a lot of fear and anxiety, don't you? "Does my child have a fever?" You worry. The best way to know for sure is to use a thermometer. But as a mother, you probably know how difficult it is to keep a thermometer in the mouth or armpit of a struggling, crying child for a while. That's why many people these days use this non-contact thermometer as a good solution.
What is an 'Infrared Thermometer'?
Simply put, this is what we call a "no-touch" or remote temperature probe. It uses an infrared scanner to measure the temperature of a major blood vessel (temporal artery) in your child's forehead.
The biggest advantage of this method is that it is quick and easy to check the temperature. There is no need to wait for minutes with the thermometer in the armpit, or put it in the mouth or ear if the child does not want to. This makes it very easy to check the temperature of anyone of any age, from a newborn baby to a child of any age.
This is a great solution, especially for young children, to reduce their fear and reluctance to put a fever needle in their mouth or ear. This is also a great convenience for parents, as they don't have to stay in one place for too long.
But like everything else, there are a few things we need to be careful of. Sometimes the readings from these thermometers can vary slightly depending on the surrounding conditions.
- Imagine if you take your child from a sunny spot and take their temperature, the reading may be slightly higher.
- Also, the value can change even when you take your temperature in a cold room with good AC .
- If the child's forehead is wet with sweat, that also affects the score.
- The other most important thing is to hold the bamboo skewer at the correct distance from your forehead. Holding it too far away will not give you an accurate reading. Therefore, you should read the instruction manual carefully before using it.
Different types of bamboo shoots for bamboo shoots
In addition to an infrared thermometer, there are several other types of thermometers you can choose from. Let's look at them this way.
| Type of bamboo shoots | Fever check point | Notable points |
|---|---|---|
| Oral | By placing it under the tongue | Usually gives an accurate value. May be difficult for young children. |
| Rectal | By inserting it into the anus | It is considered the most medically accurate method, especially suitable for newborn babies. |
| Axillary | By placing it under the armpit | May be slightly less accurate than other methods. |
| Tympanic | Inside the ear | Quick and easy, but things like earwax can affect the value. |
| Forehead view (Temporal / Infrared) | By touching above the forehead | Very easy and fast. But the surrounding environment can affect the value. |
How to understand the reading of a thermometer?
The value you get may vary slightly depending on the type of feverfew you use. So, doctors usually say something like this:
- The oral value is the normal baseline value (98.6°F / 37°C).
- Rectal readings are usually 0.5-1 degree Fahrenheit higher than oral readings.
- The value measured by the ear (tympanic) is also 0.5-1 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the value measured by the mouth.
- Axillary temperature is usually 0.5-1 degree Fahrenheit lower than oral temperature.
- The value measured from the forehead (Temporal/Infrared) is also 0.5-1 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the value measured from the mouth.
Imagine that you take a three-year-old child's temperature with an infrared thermometer and it shows 100°F. That means that if you take it rectally, the reading might be around 101°F. This isn't a big difference, but it's important to tell the doctor how you took the temperature.
Important things we need to understand about fever
Many parents get scared when they hear the word fever. But a fever is not actually a disease; it is a symptom of a disease. Simply put, a fever is a good sign that your child's immune system is fighting an infection.
Usually, the main cause of a fever is a bacterial or viral infection. There can be other causes as well.
- Some long-term conditions (such as `(Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis)`)
- A short-term reaction to certain medications or vaccines
- Some types of cancer
Generally, we consider a fever to be 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher. However, there is a big difference between a fever of 101°F in an adult and a fever of 100.4°F in a newborn baby (especially one under 3 months old).
Never ignore a fever in a newborn. It can be a sign of a serious infection. So if your baby is less than 3 months old and has a fever, see your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU).
If you have any doubts or concerns about your child's fever at any time, it is safest to seek medical advice rather than speculate.
Take-Home Message
- Non-contact (Infrared) fever thermometers are a very convenient and accurate way to measure fever, especially in fussy little ones.
- The temperature reading can be affected by the surrounding environment (sun, cold) and the sweat on the child's forehead. Always follow the instructions.
- A fever is not a disease, but a sign that the body is fighting an infection.
- If a baby under 3 months old has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, consider it an emergency and see a doctor immediately or refer to a hospital's emergency department (ETU).
- If you have any doubts about your child's health, do not rely solely on information on the internet, but seek advice from your family doctor.
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