What is the normal body temperature of a child?

Patient's question:

Over a month
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: It takes quite a while for the child to fall asleep at night, often tossing and turning. Yesterday, their eyes were a bit red with a lot of eye discharge. I would also like to ask about the normal body temperature for children.

Doctor's answer:

The normal basal body temperature of a healthy child is 36.9-37.5 degrees Celsius. Generally, when the temperature exceeds the basal temperature by more than 1 degree Celsius, it can be considered a fever. Among them, low-grade fever refers to a temperature fluctuation around 38 degrees Celsius, while high fever occurs when the temperature is above 39 degrees Celsius. Continuous fever lasting more than two weeks is referred to as prolonged fever.
The aforementioned basal temperature refers to rectal temperature, which is measured from the anus. Generally, oral temperature is lower by 0.3-0.5 degrees Celsius, and axillary temperature is lower by 0.5-0.5 degrees Celsius compared to oral temperature.
If the axillary temperature reaches 38 degrees Celsius, the rectal temperature would be close to 39 degrees Celsius, which is considered high fever.
If the high fever exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, please immediately consult a doctor to confirm whether it is a viral infection or a bacterial infection. For viral infections, antiviral drugs should be used, while for bacterial infections, antibiotics (such as cephalosporins) should be administered. Do not rush to reduce the fever, as the fever is only a symptom. The key is to identify the underlying cause.