Body Temperature Measurement Options

22 issue 15 p880. Assessment of body temperature is important for decisions in nursing care medical diagnosis treatment and the need of laboratory tests. The mercury type and the organic liquid type. 1senior lecturer at faculty of health sciences linköping university and futurumacademy of health and care jönköping county council sweden. Rectal temperatures provide the best readings for infants especially those 3 months or younger as well as children up to age 3. With regard to diagnosing ethics safety and the patients dignity the tympanic ear thermometer might comprise a desirable alternative to rectal noninvasive measurement of body temperature.

Sund levander m1 grodzinsky e. Regular digital thermometers use electronic heat sensors to record body temperature. An easy to read panel shows the temperature. Versions employing gas instead of liquid are also available. These thermometers can be used in the rectum mouth or armpit. A german doctor in the 19 th century set the standard at 986 f but more recent studies say the baseline for most people is closer to 982 f.

Armpit temperatures are usually the least accurate. Place the probe under the tongue and close the mouth. Corrected and republished from br j nurs. Assessment of body temperature measurement options. Grodzinsky ewa british journal of nursing882013 vol. Body temperature readings vary depending on where on the body a person takes the measurements.

Fluid expansion temperature measurement devices fluid expansion devices typified by the household thermometer generally come in two main classifications. For a typical adult body temperature can be anywhere. To do this many governments and businesses rely on thermometer guns devices that use infrared sensors to measure a persons surface temperature without touching their skin. Rectal readings are higher than oral readings while armpit readings tend to be lower. Breathe through the nose. The probe can be placed in the mouth rectum or armpit.

2013 aug 8 sep 122215880 882 8. Assessment of body temperature measurement options.