1. Advice for GPs on thermometer use and urine collection
Dr Fiona Hikmet, Consultant Paediatrican, Princess Alexandra Hospital

2. NICE guidance (2013) on thermometer use
Oral or rectal temperature should not be routinely recorded in children 0-5 years.
Electronic thermometer under the arm(axilla) for infants <4 weeks old.
Children aged 4 weeks – 5 years can have temperature recorded by:
Electronic thermometer in axilla.
Chemical dot thermometer in axilla.
Infra-red tympanic thermometer.
Forehead thermometers are unreliable.

3. Urine collection – NICE CG45
Note urine dipstix is unreliable in children who are not toilet trained
All collection methods have a risk of contamination
Clean catch is the preferred method of collection.
Bags urines are no longer used in hospitals due to contamination. Bags if used should be put on a clean area and removed immediately once filled and if positive a clean catch should be obtained.
The Newcastle pad collection method is used but the pad needs to be changed after 20 minutes.

4. NICE states the evidence does not support the use of pads over bags, other than pads are cheaper and less painful.
Remember Clean Catch is the ideal and the onus is on the parents to do this.