Rounding temp when taking under arm...

Mrs.Mclstar48

I was browsing on other boards and saw that someone said when you take a temp underarm you need to add 1 degree to the reading. Anyone else hear of this?

In the NICU, DD had her temp taken every 3 hours under the arm and they didnt add anything to the reading. hmmm.....

Libramom2b

General rule is up a degree under arm, down a degree rectally. We have a temporal thermo, and I like it the best.

Mrs.Mclstar48

GracieWK:

When I worked at the daycare we were told to add a degree. The NICU thermometers were probably way more accurate than a drug store thermometer.

You think so? I took home the thermometer from the NICU so I use that one and it doesnt look more fancy than a $10 at Target.

Do you know why they told you to add a degree?

Crazycrustacean

I was told that if any temp was 99+ or close to 99 (98.9) then I should take it rectally. Otherwise it was fine to assume the temp was good & normal.

I was also told that the rectal was accurate.?

hav2run

You are correct.  You add one degree to the under arm temp to get what the temp would be rectally.  Whenever you call your pedi for fever, they will want to know what the rectal temp is.  Adding one degree to axillary=rectal temp.  The guidelines your pedi gives you for when to call are for rectal temps.  If you don't add a degree to the axillary temp, then you might be calling when you don't need to.

I always just check a retal temp with a rectal digital thermometer to avoid any confusion.