It is perfectly okay for young children to get a fever. This is nature’s way of boosting up the body’s immune system. Every time there is a fever, our cells and other tissues get together to ward off the harmful bacteria and virus. In most cases, fever goes away on its own provided we are taking the right medication. In some cases, however, it may last longer than desired and this may be a cause for concern. Doctors may like to consult the fever temperature chart of the patient before making an opinion about her illness. Let us understand the various ways of taking temperatures of the patient. An important point to be noted is not to use mercury based thermometers lest they should break while taking the readings. Rectal method: This is the most dependable method to take the temperature of your baby. Clean the thermometer with soap and cover its tip with a thin film of petroleum jelly. Place your baby on her stomach with her knees bent. Now gently insert the thermometer inside her anus, about 2.5 cm, and hold it firmly. Wait for 1 minute. After you have heard a beep, take out the thermometer, note the reading and the time and record your findings on a piece of paper.

A person’s normal internal body temperature is usually 98.6 degrees but can range between 97 and 99 degrees. A spike in body temperature is known as a fever. This is usually a sign of infection but a fever on its own is not something to worry about. A thermometer helps measure a person’s body temperature and determines the extent of his or her fever. In case of children, this thermometer may be placed under the arm or in the ear while in the case of adults; a thermometer is placed under the tongue to measure temperature. When measuring temperature in these different ways, the results may not always be the same. Below is a fever temperature chart to help you correlate the temperatures taken. Orally taken temperature of 99.5 99.9 degrees Fahrenheit corresponds to 100.4-101 degrees Fahrenheit when taken through the ear. Other temperature comparisons in Fahrenheit are: 100-101.5(orally) = 101.1-102.4 (through the ear) 101.6-102.4 (orally) = 102.5-103.5 (through the ear) 102.5-103.5 (orally) = 103.6-104.6 (through the ear) 103.6-104.6 (orally) = 104.7-105.6 (through the ear) Similarly an oral temperature of 37.5-37.7 degrees Celsius corresponds to 38-38.3 degrees Celsius when taken through the ear. Other temperature comparisons in Celsius are: 37.8-38.5 (orally) = 38.4-39.1 (through the ear) 38.6-39.1 (orally) = 39.2-39.7 (through the ear) 39.2-39.7 (orally) = 39.8-40.3 (through the ear) 39.8-40.3 (orally) = 40.4-40.9 (through the ear) Given the difference in temperatures when measured in different ways, always remember to mention to your doctor how the temperature was taken along with the recorded temperature.