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A Guide to Thermometers
What Thermometer Is the Best When Your Child Has a Fever?
By Melinda Copp
"If you reduce the fever, the child may be sick longer," says Dr. Charles Shubin, director of pediatrics at Mercy Medical Center Family Care in Baltimore, Md. "But it may be worth it for comfort and hydration."
Because fever is not caused by a disease itself, but rather by the body's reaction to a disease, thermometer accuracy is not always critical in all children.
"You're going to be treating the kid, not the fever," Dr. Shubin says. "In older kids, it's not usually useful to know the height of the fever, only how miserable the kid is."
However, accuracy is critical for new babies because a fever may signify an infection capable of overwhelming their system and causing serious problems. In babies less than 2 months old, a rectal temperature of greater than 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit needs a doctor's attention, Dr. Shubin says. This is why accuracy in infant temperature readings is so important.
When shopping for a thermometer to use on your child, consider the following types available on the market.
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Digital Thermometer
Digital thermometers are like glass mercury thermometers, only new and improved. These don't require you to shake the mercury down, they cut the length of time it takes to get a good reading and usually signal with an alarm when the temperature is measured. Plus, you don't have to worry about your digital thermometer breaking and spilling hazardous mercury.
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