Question
What’s the normal armpit temperature for children?
Answer
Pediatricians point out that generally speaking, children’s basal body temperature is about 36.9~37.5°C. When the body temperature exceeds the basal temperature by more than 1°C, it can be considered a fever. Fever can be categorized into low fever (body temperature around 38°C) and high fever (body temperature above 39°C), and if the fever persists for more than two weeks, it is called chronic fever. Here, the basal temperature refers to rectal temperature, which is usually 0.3~0.5°C lower than oral temperature, and 0.3~0.5°C lower than armpit temperature. If the armpit temperature measures at 37.5°C, the rectal temperature may reach 38°C, which is considered a fever. If the fever persists at 38.5°C or above, immediate medical attention should be sought to determine whether it is caused by a viral or bacterial infection.