Question
The underarm temperature of a six-month-old baby measures at 37.8 degrees Celsius. Is this temperature within the normal range? Do we need to go to the hospital for treatment? If treatment is needed, how long will it take to see improvement?
Answer
Under normal circumstances, children’s baseline body temperature ranges approximately from 36.9℃ to 37.5℃. Generally, when the body temperature exceeds the baseline by more than 1℃, it can be considered a fever. Low fever is defined as a temperature fluctuation around 38℃, while high fever refers to temperatures above 39℃. If the fever persists for more than two weeks, it is termed as chronic fever. Based on the given temperature, the baby is in a low fever state. It is recommended that parents not be overly anxious and temporarily do not need treatment. Instead, they should provide plenty of fluids and closely monitor for any other discomforts.