Difference between temperature in arm pit and rectum in infants

If a child is sick, especially if sickness is caused by viral or bacterial infection, it is important to get the accurate temperature. In cases of seizure in children, any neglect in accurate monitoring of the body temperature may lead to a more serious condition. There are several ways or methods in taking a child's temperature and they are as follows: rectal (through anus), axillary (armpit), oral (through mouth), temporal artery (forehead) and tympanic method (ear). The right method usually depends on the age of the child. It is suggested that children from 2 - 5 years old should have the rectal method as the first choice of temperature checking and the axillary or tympanic method as the second choice. As the child gets older, oral can replace the rectal method since the child is old enough to hold the thermometer under his/her tongue. There are also different normal temperature ranges depending on what method is used. Normal temperature ranges are as follows:
         Rectum          36.6 - 38 degrees Celsius
         Mouth            35.5 - 37.5 degrees Celsius
         Armpit            36.5 - 37.5 degrees Celsius
         Ear                35.8 - 38 degrees Celsius.

Rectal temperature are generally the most accurate for checking a child's temperature since the temperture is almost as close as to the inside of the body