Home / Fever / Different Ways To Take Body Temperature
Fever

Different ways to take body temperature

It is perfectly okay for young children to get a fever. This is nature’s way of boosting up the body’s immune system. Every time there is a fever, our cells and other tissues get together to ward off the harmful bacteria and virus.

In most cases, fever goes away on its own provided we are taking the right medication. In some cases, however, it may last longer than desired and this may be a cause for concern.

Different ways to take body temperature
Doctors may like to consult the fever temperature chart of the patient before making an opinion about her illness. Let us understand the various ways of taking temperatures of the patient.

An important point to be noted is not to use mercury based thermometers lest they should break while taking the readings.
Rectal method: This is the most dependable method to take the temperature of your baby.
Clean the thermometer with soap and cover its tip with a thin film of petroleum jelly.
Place your baby on her stomach with her knees bent.
Now gently insert the thermometer inside her anus, about 2.5 cm, and hold it firmly.
Wait for 1 minute.
After you have heard a beep, take out the thermometer, note the reading and the time and record your findings on a piece of paper.
Wash the thermometer once again and store it away.

Mouth: This method is not recommended for children below 5 years as it is difficult for them to hold the thermometer under the tongue for more than 1 minute.
Clean the instrument with soap and rinse.
Lay your baby on her back and open her mouth.
Gently place the thermometer under her tongue and wait for 1 minute.
After you have heard a beep, take out the instrument and record the time and temperature displayed on a piece of paper.
Store the thermometer after cleaning it once again.

Armpit: This method is not an accurate way of recording temperature of new-borns and young children. The procedure of taking temperature under the armpit is generally the same as in the case of mouth. If the thermometer is not showing any temperature but the baby is feeling warm, then go in for the rectal method also.

Ear method: This method gives highly inaccurate results even when the manufacturer’s directions are followed.

Tips for taking temperature
Do not use a rectal thermometer to take oral temperature and vice versa.
Use a digital thermometer for taking oral and rectal temperatures. This kind of thermometer is made of unbreakable plastic and does not harm the human body.
Temporal artery temperature thermometers are not as accurate as the other instruments.
Space your recordings as closely as you can so that the doctor can make a more informed assessment of the patient’s illness.
Do not use fever strips as they give inaccurate readings.
Use the rectal method if your child is below 2 years.

Disclaimer:
The content provided on our blog site traverses numerous categories, offering readers valuable and practical information. Readers can use the editorial team’s research and data to gain more insights into their topics of interest. However, they are requested not to treat the articles as conclusive. The website team cannot be held responsible for differences in data or inaccuracies found across other platforms. Please also note that the site might also miss out on various schemes and offers available that the readers may find more beneficial than the ones we cover.

Most Recommended Blogs

Identification And Treatment Of Kidney Stones
Health & Wellness

Identification And Treatment Of Kidney Stones

Identification and treatment of kidney stones A kidney stone is formed when there is a gradual buildup of material in the kidney through substances in the urine. It has a plethora of causes and can affect any part of the urinary tract from the kidneys to the bladder. The stones can be as small as grains of sand or as big as pearls.
How Can You Control The Symptoms Of Liver Damage
Health & Wellness

How Can You Control The Symptoms Of Liver Damage

How can you control the symptoms of liver damage? The liver is an integral part of a human body. It is located just under the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen. The liver helps in digestion and removes toxins from the body. It filters out all the blood coming out of the digestive tract before it goes to the rest of the body.
Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) Infection – An Overview
Health & Wellness

Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) Infection – An Overview

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection – An overview H. pylori can be described as a common bacteria found in the human digestive tract. These have the tendency of attacking the lining of the stomach. These bacteria are the main reason for stomach infections. Typically speaking, H. pylori infections do not tend to be harmful, but they are responsible for ulcers in the small intestine and the stomach.
Everything You Need To Know About The Flu
Health & Wellness

Everything You Need To Know About The Flu

Everything you need to know about the flu Flu is a common viral infection that can affect anyone. In some cases, the flu can be deadly. It is often mistaken as other health conditions because of the symptoms it exhibits. Flu is contagious. Every person is affected by the flu at least once in their life.
Head And Neck Cancer Treatment Options In The Country
Health & Wellness

Head And Neck Cancer Treatment Options In The Country

Head and neck cancer treatment options in the country Most cancers of the head and neck are curable if they are caught at an early stage. Apart from eliminating cancer, which is the primary goal, preserving the functionalities of the nearby organs, nerves, tissues, and glands are also very important.
An Overview Of Frequent Urination- Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment
Health & Wellness

An Overview Of Frequent Urination- Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment

An overview of frequent urination- Causes, symptoms, and treatment Frequent urination, as the name suggests, is the recurrent urge to pass urine more often than usual. An individual’s everyday normal routine and sleep cycle can be disrupted by this condition. Frequent urination may be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
Things To Consider Before Going For Head And Neck Cancer Treatment
Health & Wellness

Things To Consider Before Going For Head And Neck Cancer Treatment

Things to consider before going for head and neck cancer treatment The head and neck are the most vital and fragile parts of the body. If diagnosed with head and neck cancer, there are a lot of things that should be kept in mind before starting the treatment. One should know how long the treatment would take and what are the chances of them defeating it.
Everything You Need To Know About Frequent Urination
Health & Wellness

Everything You Need To Know About Frequent Urination

Everything you need to know about frequent urination Frequent urination is called polyuria in medical terminology. Also called frequency, it is a condition many people live with and do not seek medical assistance as they consider it to be a normal thing. Frequent urination means a desire to pass urine more often than what is normal for them.
Best Detox Drinks That Can Help You Lose Weight
Health & Wellness

Best Detox Drinks That Can Help You Lose Weight

Best Detox drinks that can help you lose weight If you have tried a lot of methods to lose weight and still are unable to shed those extra pounds then detox water and other healthy drinks might be the answer for you. Drinking detox water helps the body in many ways.
Low Calorie Health Drink Ideas For Winners
Health & Wellness

Low Calorie Health Drink Ideas For Winners

Low-calorie health drink ideas for winners Low-calorie health drinks are becoming more and more popular with every passing day, as people start to realize the number of health benefits these drinks bring to the table. Healthy drinks not only have low-calorie content but also contain varying amounts of nutrients and antioxidants.
Signs And Symptoms Of Internal Hemorrhoids
Health & Wellness

Signs And Symptoms Of Internal Hemorrhoids

Signs and symptoms of internal hemorrhoids Hemorrhoids, also known as piles are of two types: internal & external. They are essentially swollen veins found in your anus or lower rectum and consist of blood vessels, elastic fibers, and multiple tissues. It is a common medical condition and found among most US citizens before they touch the age of 50.
Treatment Options For The Prolapsed Bladder Condition
Health & Wellness

Treatment Options For The Prolapsed Bladder Condition

Treatment options for the prolapsed bladder condition The bladder is a muscular sac located just behind the pubic bone, which stores urine. The front wall of the vagina supports the bladder in women, and it weakens or loosens with age. If it continues to deteriorate, it can lead to a prolapsed bladder or fallen bladder condition.
Everything You Should Know About Treating Gas Problems
Health & Wellness

Everything You Should Know About Treating Gas Problems

Everything you should know about treating gas problems Gas can be quite embarrassing to deal with, to say the least. However, the problem of a gassy stomach extends far beyond just embarrassment and can actually be a very painful experience indeed. Also known as flatulence, a gassy stomach is characterized by the excessive buildup of gas inside the digestive tract.
An Overview Of Fibromyalgia Pain
Health & Wellness

An Overview Of Fibromyalgia Pain

An overview of fibromyalgia pain Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain, stiffness, and tenderness in muscles, tendons, and joints throughout the body. People experience fibromyalgia pain differently, and its triggers vary from one person to another. The condition can affect anyone, but it is seen more often in women.
Remedies And Treatment For The Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) Infection
Health & Wellness

Remedies And Treatment For The Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) Infection

How to manage and treat the symptoms of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection? Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are bacteria that enter our body and live in the digestive tract. They are usually harmless and infect the stomachs of roughly 60 percent of the world’s population. The spiral-shaped bacteria usually don’t cause any symptoms but have a tendency to attack the stomach lining, leading to diseases, including peptic ulcers and an inflammatory stomach condition known as gastritis.
Factors Triggering Fibromyalgia Pain And Ways To Alleviate It
Health & Wellness

Factors Triggering Fibromyalgia Pain And Ways To Alleviate It

Factors triggering fibromyalgia pain and ways to alleviate it Generally, when a person is injured or hurt, the signal travels all the way from the injury point to the brain and the brain comprehends this as pain. The brain signals the body to respond accordingly. Slowly, the pain lessens with time and treatment and finally goes away.