Is 37.5°C considered a fever for a baby?
Oct 17, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lu Chengyu
Introduction
Fever generally refers to an elevated body temperature. Typically, a temperature of 37.5°C in infants is considered feverish. If the measured body temperature exceeds 37.3°C, it is usually regarded as a fever. However, there are standard procedures for taking temperature: the measurement should be taken when the baby is calm and the armpit is dry to reflect the infant's true body temperature accurately. If the baby is calm and the axillary (underarm) temperature is 37.5°C, this may indicate a fever.
Fever generally refers to an elevated body temperature. In most cases, a temperature of 37.5°C in infants is considered feverish. The specific analysis is as follows:
If the measured body temperature exceeds 37.3°C, it is generally considered a fever. However, there are standard procedures for taking temperature. To reflect the infant's true body temperature, measurements should be taken when the baby is calm and the armpit is dry. If the baby's axillary temperature measures 37.5°C while in a calm state, this is classified as low-grade fever. In such cases, physical cooling methods should be used to help reduce the temperature.
Additionally, when measuring an infant's temperature, it's important to note that their thermoregulatory center is unstable and easily influenced by external environmental factors. For example, in hot weather or if the baby sweats heavily, excess moisture under the armpit may lead to falsely elevated readings. Similarly, body temperature may temporarily rise after feeding, intense crying, physical activity, or bathing—all situations in which perspiration may occur, potentially leading to inaccurate, higher temperature readings.
Therefore, it is recommended to measure the infant’s temperature only when they are calm and the armpit is dry to ensure an accurate reading. If, under these conditions, the axillary temperature is 37.5°C, this indicates a fever within the low-grade range.
