Infant Rectal Temp.

pete0121

Is a temp of 99.5 a fever for an infant?  Here is where my confusion lies:

Pediatrician says that rectal temp is most reliable.  Also says that typically you subtract a degree for rectal temps (so this would be 98.5..not a fever, fine.)  But in the same breath says if the rectal temp is 100.4 we should call or go to ER.  That would be a 99.4 temp if you follow the subtract a degree rule.

Last week we called after hours for a 99.9 rectal temp and they were concerned and asked a bunch of questions (but all else was fine).  Told me to call pedi in the morning.  Nurse I spoke with asked some follow up advice, gave me instructions of when I should call back...end of story.

Took temp today and its 99.5 rectally...I just don't know if this is a fever and I feel like a complete idiot.  

Kendrav4

If its 99.5 rectally then its not a temp. It would be a temp if it was 99.5 under the arm due to you adding a degree. You don't add a degree if you take it rectally. My LO just got out of the hospital for running a temp (he was only 18 days old so they made us stay for 48 hours to make sure if wasnt meningitis or a bacteria) and when we got sent home his temp was 100.00 rectally. They said this was fine and to be concerned when its 100.4 rectally or 99.4 under his arm. Hope this helps

MrsClark8109

Have you taken a rectal temp and gotten something in the 98 degree range before? Per our pedi we took a temp 3 days in a row and noticed that our thermometer ALWAYS reads DD and DS between 98.9-99.2 so that is a "normal" reading for them..our pedi also suggested that if we get a borderline temp like 100.3 but they've been fussing for awhile to wait 20 minutes without them being swaddled and take another temp if all else seems OK because if they are swaddled and fussing they can just work their temp up a little bit. If after 20 minutes its still up there, then we should call/go in but if it drops back down then we know it was the fussing, ect.

KrisM86

You don't need to add or subtract a degree for a rectal temp. It is the most accurate temp. We were told to call the pediatrician day or night for anything over 100. I might call for a temp of 99.5 but only if it was accompanied by other symptoms such as a runny nose, cough, or extreme fussiness.