Articles
Fever: First aid
Content
Overview
When to seek emergency care
Treatment
Infant and child
Adult
What to avoid
When to call your doctor
How to take a temperature
Rectal temperature (for infants)
Oral temperature
Temporal artery temperature
Armpit temperature
Ear temperature
Overview
When to seek emergency care
Treatment
Infant and child
Adult
What to avoid
When to call your doctor
How to take a temperature
Rectal temperature (for infants)
Oral temperature
Temporal artery temperature
Armpit temperature
Ear temperature
Rectal temperature (for infants)
- Turn on the digital thermometer and dab petroleum jelly or another lubricant on the tip of the thermometer.
- Lay the child on his or her stomach or side, with knees flexed.
- Carefully insert the tip 1/2 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimeters) into the rectum.
- Hold the thermometer and the child still until the thermometer beeps, which means it's done. To avoid injury, don't let go of the thermometer while it's inside the child.
- Remove the thermometer and read the number.
