What's the 'danger zone' for a child's temp?

[Leah]

Tympanic thermometers are notoriously inaccurate when used at home...studies show that ~25% of the time, a fever isnt even detected by the parent when using this device compared to one used at the hospital...also, the authors of a recent systematic review and meta-analysis comparing infrared tympanic and rectal thermometry concluded that infrared tympanic thermometery lacks sufficient agreement with their defined gold standard (rectal thermometry) to be used with confidence in situations where body temperature needs to be measured with precision. So take the value you see on these instruments with a grain of salt...

All those big words are turning me on.

[71chevellejohn]

All those big words are turning me on.

< runs to find a medical dictionary......

[Leah]

< runs to find a medical dictionary......

Srsly.

[Mr_Fiux]

I'm sure the doc will correct me if I am wrong, but our pediatricians said that giving them a cold bath is a BIG no-no. Luke warm bath at the most. Otherwise use a cool wash clothe on the forehead to help alleviate the fever in the head a little for some comfort.

Dayum... My parents were cruel then... :'(

[71chevellejohn]

Srsly.

No, not really....I can't reed

[Leah]

No, not really....I can't reed

That wasn't a question.

[LS1Goat]

Tympanic thermometers are notoriously inaccurate when used at home...studies show that ~25% of the time, a fever isnt even detected by the parent when using this device compared to one used at the hospital...also, the authors of a recent systematic review and meta-analysis comparing infrared tympanic and rectal thermometry concluded that infrared tympanic thermometery lacks sufficient agreement with their defined gold standard (rectal thermometry) to be used with confidence in situations where body temperature needs to be measured with precision. So take the value you see on these instruments with a grain of salt...

Interesting, considering this is what most GPs are using these days. I didn't realize that there was that degree of disparity in the readings.

It's been too long to remember, but we did a class discussion on the accuracy of body temperature readings with rectal vs. oral vs. axilary vs. tympanic. Rectal obviously being generally regarded the most accurate in most cases, but most Dr. office's these days use tympanic. I found it to be a little off one time when I tested it vs. sub lingual. The tympanic read 0.6 degrees cooler. Therefore, I can see the reasoning behind the dubious results of accuracy with tympanic thermometers. I just suggested it because it's quick and easy, essentially to make it quick and simple for a child.

[8mpg]

Tympanic thermometers are notoriously inaccurate when used at home...studies show that ~25% of the time, a fever isnt even detected by the parent when using this device compared to one used at the hospital...also, the authors of a recent systematic review and meta-analysis comparing infrared tympanic and rectal thermometry concluded that infrared tympanic thermometery lacks sufficient agreement with their defined gold standard (rectal thermometry) to be used with confidence in situations where body temperature needs to be measured with precision. So take the value you see on these instruments with a grain of salt...

aint the truth.. We use them at work and always get dumb readings of 94.8*F and what have you.

Id trust an axillary read with a normal thermometer before the tympanic.

Honestly though, a fever is a fever. Being .6 off isnt going to be detrimental in most cases.

[ImayBblack]

Leah, your little girl got better and mine got worse lol. She was up all night puking and has the runs... Good thing my boss allows me to work from home.