Your chemist is right; a digital thermometer placed in a child’s ear canal will give you the most accurate reading.

A team of researchers from Queen Mary’s Hospital, in Sidcup, Kent, recently reviewed the literature on the most effective methods of monitoring a child’s body temperature. They found that tympanic temperature, the temperature monitored in a child’s ear canal, gives the most accurate reading even when his or her body temperature is changing rapidly. Their report was published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood.

For taking your children’s temperature at home you may choose to invest in a digital thermometer to measure tympanic temperature but, as you’ve found, these thermometers can be rather expensive. There are several other options you could consider.

Most parents can tell whether their child has a high temperature simply by touching their forehead. There may be times when you want a more accurate measure. Normal body temperature is 37C (98.4), although this can vary slightly. A thermometer strip over the forehead is the easiest way of measuring temperature, but is not the most accurate.

A mercury thermometer held under the arm can also be helpful, but it will provide a reading about 0.6C lower than a child’s actual temperature.

Meningitis fear

One of my three-year-old daughter’s nursery school friends is in hospital with bacterial meningitis. The local public health team said the others do not need antibiotics as they were not in close contact with the affected child, but I am concerned. My daughter had the meningitis C vaccine as a baby. Is she still at risk?
Name and address supplied

Assuming that it’s caught early enough, most children who have bacterial meningitis will make a full recovery. It would be difficult for your daughter to have caught it from her friend. The bacteria that cause the condition cannot live for more than a few seconds outside the body and are transmitted only through close contact, usually within the family. Therefore, it is normal for the public health team to recommend antibiotics only to those living in the same house as the person affected.

Most young children, like your daughter, have been immunised against the meningitis C strain. However, you are right to be concerned. There is no vaccine for meningitis group B, the most common form of bacterial meningitis.

Recognising the early signs and symptoms is important. Meningitis is most often associated with a rash that can range from tiny red dots to large blotchy bruises. The bacteria that cause meningitis can also cause septicaemia (blood poisoning). This produces the distinctive rash that will not fade when a glass is pressed against the skin. In fact, the rash is often one of the last symptoms to appear. Those that may appear earlier are cold hands and feet, leg pains and abnormal skin colour.

Symptoms in children can include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights and drowsiness or confusion.

Meningitis can develop quickly. If your child is ill and you suspect meningitis, don’t wait for a rash to appear before you get help. Trust your instincts if you think that you or someone you are close to may have meningitis or septicaemia and get medical help immediately.

For a free information pack, call the Meningitis Trust on 01453 768000 (www.meningitis-trust.org) or call the helpline on 0845 6000800.

Niggling cough

My son is 4 and has had a bad cough for six weeks. Our GP diagnosed bronchitis and prescribed antibiotics. His cough has improved, but it’s still keeping him awake at night. Is there anything that would help?
Name and address supplied

Young children, especially when they start school and are exposed to a new range of infections, often suffer coughs and colds. A viral infection is the most common cause.

Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi, the main air tubes of the lungs. An acute attack of bronchitis can follow a cold. In most previously healthy children, this should settle of its own accord within a week or so. Your GP may have prescribed an antibiotic if a secondary infection was suspected.

Sometimes children with persistent coughs are prescribed an inhaler. It can relieves breathing, and sometimes coughing, but there is no guarantee that it will make a difference.

Jane Collins is the chief executive and honorary consultant paediatrician at Great Ormond Street Hospital. E-mail her at drjane@thetimes.co.uk or write to her at Body&Soul, The Times, 1 Pennington Street, E98 ITT. Please include your name, address and telephone number. She cannot enter into personal correspondence.

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