• It is very important to keep the temperature of the child within normal range.

• All systems within the body work their maximum potential in a narrow range of temperature.

• The normal temperature is 36.5 degree centigrade to 37.5 degree centigrade

Temperature measurement is one of the basic vitals that should be measured when a child attends the clinic.

Questions to ask about body temperature-

• How long has the child had the temperature concerns?

• Have you recorded the temp with a thermometer?

• What is the lowest and highest temperature recorded

• Any fever with chills?

• Any associated symptoms like breathing difficulty, vomiting, rashes?

Common symptoms of fever-

• Fast heart rate- heart rate increases by about 10 beats per minute with every 1 degree increase in temperature

• Fast breathing

• Irritable

• Mottling of limbs

• Reduced oral intake

• Reduced urine passage

Sites for temperature measurement

• Axilla

• Equipment needed

• Thermometer

• Watch with seconds needle

• Dry cloth

Sites for temperature measurement

• Axilla

• Oral 

• Tympanic membrane( Ear)

• Rectal

Axillary temperature procedure

• Take a verbal consent from the caretaker of child and tell the advantages and complications of the procedure

• Explain the procedure to the child and tell them that it will not hurt them

• If they prefer, make them sit on their parents lap

• Make sure the arm pit is wiped dry

• Place the thermometer in between the arm pits so that the skin of axilla is touching the end of thermometer for desired time

• The child may have to stay still until whole of procedure

• Electronic thermometers may beep when temperature is taken and if manual thermometers make sure to measure for at least a minute

• Document the result with time recorded

Oral temperature

Equipment needed

• Thermometer with disposable lens cover ( to cover the end of thermometer)

• Watch with seconds needle

• Dry cloth

Procedure

• Take a verbal consent from the caretaker of child and tell the advantages and complications of the procedure

• Explain the procedure to the child and tell them that it will not hurt them. THis should be used in older children who understand not to bite the thermometer

• If they prefer, make them sit on their parents lap

• Make sure they have not eaten or drunk anything for 20- 30 minutes to prevent them from vomiting during procedure

• Place the thermometer below their tongue and ask them to close their mouth.

• Electronic thermometers may beep when temperature is taken and if manual thermometers make sure to measure for at least a minute

• Record the result with time it was measured

Tympanic membrane  temperature

Equipment needed

• Thermometer with disposable lens cover ( to cover the end of thermometer)

Procedure

• Take a verbal consent from the caretaker of child and tell the advantages and complications of the procedure

• Explain the procedure to the child and tell them that it will not hurt them.

• They should sit still during the whole procedure which might take a few seconds.

• If they prefer, make them sit on their parents lap

• Put the lens cover over the tip of thermometer and gently look into their ears.

• You can use any ear your want which has less wax

• Use your dominant hand and gently pull the earlobe outwards and medially to try to straighten the ear canal. Be gentle

• Place the thermometer in their ears just a few centimeters inside and wait for it to bleep

Always record the result with time it was measured