FEVER
Please keep a thermometer available. We recommend rectal temperatures in infants under 2 months of age and axillary (under the arm) temperatures up to age 5. Remember the normal axillary temperature is 97.6 degrees instead of 98.6 which is the normal temperature if taken in the mouth. If you think there is a fever, take the temperature, don’t just touch. Children usually have higher temperatures as a response to infections than adults have. Fever is usually not harmful. It might serve as the only indication that an infection is active. Many experts state that we might be “doing harm” in our overemphasis and treatment of fever. Do not panic if your child has a high fever. Often a temperature is the first sign of illness and if
