Recording the body temperature

a) Rectal temperature : is measured by using a rectal thermometer which has rounded, atraumatic bulbous ends. It is inserted carefully, generally about 5 cm in infants and 7 cm in children. Equilibration takes 2-4 minutes with a mercury thermometer.

b) Axillary and oral temperature: are the usual methods in older children and adults but they are unreliable as they are subject to variation.

c) Device such as "temperature strips" measure skin temperature but may under estimate core temperature.

d) Electronic thermometers requiring 30 sec to equilibrate, are practical, for hospital, clinic and office use.

e) Auditory canal temperature: is measured as a fraction of infrared emissions.

f) Urinary temperature.



Which to follow ?

The most accurate measurements are made when the thermometer is

left in the mouth for 3 minutes (the readings taken < 2 min are inaccurate).

In younger children and infants, it is preferable to measure axillary temperature for convenience.

The measurement is read as X degree F by axilla and there is no need to add (the conventional) 1 degree F to give the final reading.





Comments

calyn, Malaysia

My son fever for 6 days and nearly finish 2 bottles of paracetamol, I'm so worried. Took blood test shown viral infection. Lost, what should I do instead of just continue giving medicine only from 3 bottles increase to 9 bottles now.

banketiwari, India

very educative

dom21, United States

My 2 year old son exoeriences periodic high fever spell associated with vomiting about every 3 weeks or so. His first episode was in Oct 2012. His doctor states it seemed like a bacterial infection but the symptoms would reoccur every 3 weeks, skipping the month of december and jan now resurfacing in february. Im worried that this seems to be happening in patterns. Could this be a sign of something more serious?

eshan, India

i dunno what to do my son is 6yrs and he has fever with headache,stomach ache,chest pain and frequent cold and barking cough on geting tests done his WBC and ESR is high and gastrin level is high have given a course of antibiotics but to no relief