Question
Why does my 8-month-old baby always have a body temperature around 35 degrees when I measure it? The other day, they had a fever of 39 degrees and after being given intravenous fluids, the temperature dropped. They took paracetamol syrup while being given the fluids.
Answer
An 8-month-old baby typically has a body temperature of around 35 degrees. The normal basal body temperature for young children is between 36.9℃ and 37.5℃. Parents should be attentive to the methods of temperature measurement. It could be that the method used is not accurate. The aforementioned basal body temperature refers to rectal temperature, obtained from the anus, while oral temperature is usually 0.3℃ to 0.5℃ lower, and armpit temperature is another 0.3℃ to 0.5℃ lower than oral temperature. Generally, parents tend to use armpit or neck measurements. To correctly measure a baby’s temperature, hospitals use rectal temperature. The steps are as follows: 1. Place the baby in a prone leg-lifting or prone position. 2. Before use, adjust the thermometer to below 35℃. Apply lubricant (such as Vaseline or mineral oil) to the thermometer’s mercury end. 3. Gently pull back the baby’s anus, insert the thermometer gently while supporting it against the buttocks. 4. Insertion depth: about 1.25 centimeters for the baby. 5. Measure for 2-5 minutes. 6. Remove the thermometer, record the data, and then clean it with toilet paper, followed by disinfection with an alcohol swab (from