Examination Overview
Body temperature is a measure of your body's ability to make and get rid of oestrus. The trunk is very good at keeping its temperature within a safe range, fifty-fifty when temperatures outside the body change a lot.
- When you are too hot, the blood vessels in your skin widen to carry the backlog oestrus to your skin's surface. You may start to sweat. Every bit the sweat evaporates, it helps absurd your body.
- When y'all are also cold, your blood vessels narrow. This reduces blood menstruation to your skin to salvage torso heat. You may start to shiver. When the muscles tremble this fashion, it helps to make more heat.
Your torso temperature tin be measured in many places on your torso. The near common ones are the mouth, the ear, the armpit, and the rectum. Temperature can as well be measured on your forehead.
Thermometers show body temperature in either degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or degrees Celsius (°C). In the United states of america, temperatures are often measured in degrees Fahrenheit. The standard in about other countries is degrees Celsius.
Normal body temperature
Most people recall a normal body temperature is an oral temperature (past oral cavity) of 98.6°F (37°C). This is an average of normal body temperatures. Your normal temperature may actually be i°F (0.six°C) or more above or below this. Also, your normal temperature changes by as much as 1°F (0.six°C) during the day, depending on how active you are and the fourth dimension of day. Body temperature is very sensitive to hormone levels. So a woman's temperature may be higher or lower when she is ovulating or having her menstrual menstruation.
A rectal or ear temperature reading volition be a little higher than an oral reading. A temperature taken in the armpit will exist a petty lower than an oral reading. The most authentic way to measure temperature is to take a rectal reading.
Fever
In nigh adults, a fever is an oral temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) or a rectal or ear temperature in a higher place 101°F (38.3°C). A child has a fever when his or her rectal temperature is 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
A fever may occur as a reaction to:
- Infection. This is the most common cause of a fever. Infections may touch on the whole body or one body part.
- Medicines. These include antibiotics , opioids , antihistamines , and many others. This is called a "drug fever." Medicines like antibiotics raise the body temperature directly. Other medicines continue the body from resetting its temperature when other things cause the temperature to rising.
- Severe trauma or injury. This may include heart assail, stroke, heatstroke , or burns.
- Other medical weather condition. These include arthritis, hyperthyroidism, and even some cancers, such every bit leukemia and lung cancer.
Low trunk temperature (hypothermia)
If a low body temperature is your merely symptom, information technology is not something to worry most. If a low body temperature occurs with other symptoms, such as chills, shaking, breathing bug, or defoliation, and so this may be a sign of more serious illness.
Low torso temperature usually happens from existence out in cold weather. Only information technology may as well be caused by booze or drug use, going into daze , or sure disorders such every bit diabetes or depression thyroid .
A low body temperature may occur with an infection. This is near common in newborns, older adults, or people who are frail. A very bad infection, such equally sepsis, may also cause an abnormal low torso temperature.
High body temperature (heatstroke)
Heatstroke occurs when the body fails to control its own temperature and body temperature keeps ascent. Symptoms of heatstroke include mental changes (such as confusion, delirium, or unconsciousness) and pare that is ruby-red, hot, and dry, even under the armpits.
Heatstroke can be deadly. It needs emergency medical treatment. It causes severe dehydration and can cause torso organs to stop working.
In that location are ii types of heatstroke.
- Archetype heatstroke tin can happen even when a person isn't doing much, equally long every bit information technology'south hot and the trunk isn't able absurd itself well enough by sweating. The person may even stop sweating. Classic heatstroke may develop over several days. Babies, older adults, and people who have chronic health problems take the greatest take chances of this type of heatstroke.
- Exertional heatstroke may happen when a person is working or exercising in a hot place. The person may sweat a lot, only the body all the same makes more heat than it can lose. This causes temperature to rise to loftier levels.
Why Information technology Is Washed
Body temperature is measured to:
- Check for fever.
- Cheque for a very low torso temperature in people who have been exposed to cold.
- Bank check for a very high trunk temperature in people who have been exposed to heat.
- Detect out how well a fever-reducing medicine is working.
- Help a woman programme for pregnancy by finding out if she is ovulating.
How To Prepare
Take your temperature a few times when y'all are well. This volition help you find out what is normal for you. Bank check your temperature in both the morn and evening. Torso temperature can vary past as much as 1°F (0.6°C) during the day.
Before y'all take your temperature:
- Wait at least 20 to 30 minutes after yous fume, you lot swallow, or you drink a hot or common cold liquid.
- Wait at least an 60 minutes afterward hard exercise or a hot bath.
In that location are dissimilar types of thermometers.
- Electronic thermometers are plastic and shaped like a pencil. They have a brandish window at i stop and the temperature probe at the other stop. These thermometers can be used in the rima oris, rectum, or armpit. They are easy to use and piece of cake to read. If you buy this blazon of thermometer, check the package for information about its accuracy.
- Ear thermometers are plastic and come in different shapes. The pocket-size cone-shaped end of the thermometer is placed in the ear. Body temperature is shown on a digital brandish. The results appear in seconds. Some models besides show what the oral and rectal readings would be.
- Temporal artery thermometers have a small "loving cup" that is moved across the peel over the avenue in the forehead. When used correctly, these thermometers are accurate.
- Disposable thermometers are thin, flat pieces of plastic with colored dots and temperature markings on one end. The color of the dots shows the temperature. These thermometers can be used in the oral fissure or rectum. A patch course tin exist used on a infant's peel to measure out temperature for 48 hours straight. These thermometers are not as accurate as electronic or ear thermometers.
- Brow thermometers are thin pieces of plastic with numbers on them. Y'all press the strip against a person'due south forehead. The temperature makes some numbers alter colors or light upward. These thermometers are non very accurate.
- Pacifier thermometers are shaped like a baby'south pacifier. They have a brandish that shows the temperature. You place the pacifier in your kid's mouth to measure temperature. These thermometers may take longer to get a reading and are not every bit authentic as other types.
Glass thermometers that contain mercury are not recommended. If you take a drinking glass thermometer, contact your local wellness department to discover out how to dispose of it safely. If you lot break a glass thermometer, phone call your local poison control center right away.
How Information technology Is Done
Before y'all take a temperature, read the instructions for how to use your blazon of thermometer. Some common ways to have a temperature are described beneath.
How to take an oral temperature
Oral (by mouth) is the almost common method of taking a temperature. For you to become an accurate reading, the person must be able to breathe through his or her olfactory organ. If this is non possible, employ the rectum, ear, or armpit to take the temperature.
- Place the thermometer nether the tongue, merely to one side of the middle. Ask the person to shut his or her lips tightly effectually it.
- Leave the thermometer in place for the required corporeality of time. Time yourself with a clock or watch. Some digital thermometers give a serial of brusque beeps when the reading is washed.
- Remove the thermometer and read it.
- Clean a digital thermometer with absurd, soapy water and rinse it off before you put it away.
How to take a rectal temperature
This is the virtually accurate way to measure body temperature. Information technology is recommended for babies , pocket-size children, and people who tin can't hold a thermometer safely in their mouths. Information technology is also used when it is very of import to become the nearly accurate reading.
- Apply a lubricant jelly or petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, on the seedling of the thermometer. This will make information technology easy to insert.
- With a baby or small child, plough the child facedown on your lap or on a apartment covered or padded surface, such as a bed. Choose a quiet place so that the child won't exist distracted or move effectually likewise much.
- Spread the child's buttocks with one hand. With the other paw, gently insert the bulb end of the thermometer into the anus. Push it in about 0.5 in. (i.25 cm) to 1 in. (ii.five cm). Don't force it into the rectum. Agree the thermometer in place with two fingers close to the anus (not near the finish of the thermometer). Pressing the child's buttocks together volition aid keep the thermometer in place.
- Leave the thermometer in place for the required amount of time. Fourth dimension yourself with a scout or clock. Some digital thermometers give a series of brusque beeps when the reading is done.
- Remove the thermometer and read it.
- Make clean a digital thermometer with cool, soapy water and rinse information technology off before you put information technology away.
Do not use a thermometer to have an oral temperature subsequently it has been used to take a rectal temperature.
How to accept an armpit (axillary) temperature
Taking a temperature in the armpit may non be equally accurate every bit taking an oral or rectal temperature.
- Identify the thermometer nether the arm with the bulb in the center of the armpit.
- Press the arm confronting the body, and leave the thermometer in place for the required corporeality of time. Time yourself with a watch or clock.
- Remove the thermometer and read it. An armpit temperature reading may be as much equally one°F (0.6°C) lower than an oral temperature reading.
- Clean a digital thermometer with cool, soapy water and rinse it off earlier you put it abroad.
How to take an ear (tympanic) temperature
Ear thermometers may need to be cleaned before they are used.
- Check that the probe is clean and costless of debris. If muddied, wipe it gently with a clean material. Do not put the thermometer underwater.
- To keep the probe clean, use a disposable probe cover. Use a new cover each time you accept an ear temperature.
- Turn on the thermometer.
- For babies younger than 12 months, gently pull the earlobe downwards and dorsum. For children older than 12 months and for adults, pull the earlobe upward and back. This will aid you lot place the probe in the ear canal.
- Heart the probe tip in the ear, and push gently in toward the eardrum. Practise not force it in.
- Press the "on" push button to display the temperature reading.
- Remove the thermometer, and throw away the used cover.
How to take a temporal artery temperature
- Remove the cap over the cup office of the thermometer, if it has a cap.
- Plow on the thermometer.
- Place the thermometer loving cup on the skin in the middle of the forehead. Make certain nothing is between the thermometer cup and the skin.
- Press the button for making a measurement.
- Slide the thermometer across the forehead to i side (not upward or downward).
- Listen for a audio. About of these thermometers make a beep or other audio when they are fix to read.
- Remove the thermometer from the brow, and read the temperature.
How to have a forehead temperature
Brow thermometers are not as authentic as electronic and ear thermometers. If your baby is younger than age 3 months or your child's fever rises higher than 102°F (39°C), check the temperature again using a meliorate method.
- Press the entire plastic strip firmly against a dry forehead.
- Concord the strip in place for the required corporeality of time. Time yourself with a watch or clock.
- Read the temperature before removing the thermometer.
- Clean the thermometer with absurd soapy h2o and rinse it off before y'all put it away.
How to use a pacifier thermometer
Pacifier thermometers are not as accurate as electronic and ear thermometers. If your infant is younger than age iii months or your child's fever rises higher than 102°F (39°C), bank check the temperature again using a better method.
- Some pacifier thermometers tin can be used every bit regular pacifiers. Adhere the temperature role if you need to.
- Allow your child suck on the nipple for the required amount of fourth dimension. Fourth dimension yourself with a sentry or clock.
- Remove the pacifier, and read the temperature.
- Clean the pacifier with absurd, soapy h2o and rinse information technology off before y'all put it away.
How Information technology Feels
Taking an oral temperature causes but mild discomfort. You have to proceed the thermometer under your tongue and hold it in place with your lips.
Taking a rectal temperature can cause a piffling discomfort, simply it should non be painful.
Taking an ear temperature causes little or no discomfort. The probe is not inserted very far into the ear, and it gives a reading in only a few seconds.
Taking a temporal artery, forehead, or armpit temperature does not cause any discomfort.
Risks
At that place is very footling adventure of a problem from taking a temperature.
When taking a rectal temperature, do non push the thermometer in more than 0.5 in. (1.25 cm) to i in. (2.5 cm). Pushing information technology further can exist painful and may damage the rectum.
Results
Body temperature is a measure of your body'due south ability to make and get rid of oestrus.
If you tell your dr. about your temperature reading, be sure to say where it was taken: on the forehead or in the oral fissure, rectum, armpit, or ear.
Body temperature | Normal: | The average normal temperature is 98.vi°F (37°C). Only that may not be normal for you. Your temperature too changes during the day. It is normally everyman in the early morning. It may rise as much as 1°F (0.6°C) in the early evening. Your temperature may also rise by ane°F (0.6°C) or more if you practice on a hot 24-hour interval. A adult female's body temperature often changes by 1°F (0.half-dozen°C) or more through her menstrual cycle. It peaks around the time she ovulates . |
| Abnormal: | Oral, ear, rectal, or temporal artery temperature - Fever: 100.iv°F (38°C) to 103.9°F (39.9°C)
- High fever: 104°F (xl°C) and higher
|
| Armpit temperature - Fever: 99.4°F (37.4°C) to 102.ix°F (39.iv°C)
- High fever: 103°F (39.5°C) and higher
|
| A rectal or ear temperature of less than 97°F (36.1°C) is a low body temperature (hypothermia). |
What Affects the Test
A temperature reading may not be accurate if:
- You don't go on your mouth closed effectually the thermometer when taking an oral temperature.
- You don't go out the thermometer in place long enough earlier y'all read it.
- Yous don't put the thermometer in the right place.
- You don't follow the instructions that come with the thermometer.
- The thermometer has a weak or dead bombardment.
- Yous have your oral temperature within xx minutes after smoking or after drinking a hot or common cold liquid.
- You lot take your temperature within an hour of exercising hard or taking a hot bath.
What To Call back Most
- Thermometers with a digital display normally have a battery. If your thermometer uses a bombardment, brand certain information technology is working before you take the temperature.
- Glass thermometers that contain mercury are not recommended. If you lot have a drinking glass thermometer, contact your local health department to notice out how to dispose of it safely. If you suspension a glass thermometer, call your local poison control eye right away.
- A fever can brand you experience uncomfortable. To reduce discomfort, clothing light vesture and use low-cal bedding. A lukewarm (not absurd) bath or shower can lower body temperature. A fever can also atomic number 82 to dehydration , and then it is of import to drink plenty of fluids.
To learn more about fever, meet:
- Fever or Chills, Age xi and Younger.
- Fever or Chills, Age 12 and Older.
References
Other Works Consulted
- Auwaerter PG (2007). Arroyo to the patient with fever. In LR Barker et al., eds., Principles of Convalescent Medicine, 7th ed., pp. 457–465. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
- El-Radhi As, Barry W (2006). Thermometry in paediatric practice. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 91(4): 351–356.
Credits
Current as of: June 26, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Susan C. Kim Medico - Pediatrics
Adam Husney Dr. - Family unit Medicine
Martin J. Gabica Physician - Family unit Medicine
Kathleen Romito Doctor - Family Medicine
John Pope Medico - Pediatrics
David Messenger MD
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