4 ways to measure the temperature of the human body

The most prominent 4 ways to measure the .temperature of the human body

Measuring the temperature of the human body

The purpose

How to measure body temperature

It is to identify the condition of the person or patient and its progress and help the doctor in diagnosing the patient's condition.

The normal human body temperature ranges from 36.4 to 37.4 degrees Celsius.

Used equipments

A medical thermometer, which is of several types, including oral, rectal, electrical, electronic, auricular, and tape (this tape is used only once).

A piece of cotton.

Types of thermometers

From mouth

Oral body temperature

And the temperature is recorded after being measured from the mouth (under the tongue) as it is without an increase or decrease.

This method is used for an adult. The thermometer is placed for three minutes.

Steps

• wash your hands.
• Hold the thermometer between your thumb and forefinger.
• Wipe the thermometer with a cotton swab in the direction from the mercury reservoir to the side of the glass.
• Shake your hands well until the mercury level drops to 35°C.
• Place the thermometer under the tongue on one side of the mouth.
• Ask the patient to close his lips on the thermometer tightly for 3 minutes and not press his teeth.
• In the case of an electric thermometer, it is left for thirty seconds.
• Remove the thermometer from the patient's mouth and wipe it in the direction from the glass to the mercury reservoir once.
• Throw the cotton swab with which you wiped the thermometer in the designated place so that it is not a source of microbes spreading.
• Avoid touching the warehouse with your fingers.
• Place the thermometer at eye level and rotate it between your fingers (thumb and forefinger) until you see the mercury line and make it easier to read.
• Retake the temperature in the same way if there is any doubt.
• Disinfection of the thermometer: Clean the thermometer with running water and soap and soften.
• Disinfect with alcohol at a concentration of 70%. By using a cotton swab moistened with alcohol.
• Dry the thermometer with a cotton swab and return it to its pouch.

Important Notes

• Make sure that the patient has not eaten or drunk anything hot or smoked for half an hour so as not to affect the thermometer reading.
• It is necessary to wipe the thermometer after washing and disinfecting it, with the direction from the warehouse to the glass.
• It is taken into account that each patient has his own thermometer and not to use a thermometer for another patient so that the infection does not spread.

Contraindications to oral temperature measurement

• Oral and jaw surgeries.
• Burns or mouth infections.
• children.
• Epilepsy.
• A patient has convulsions.
• elderly patients.
• without teeth.
• Unconscious/coma patients.
• A patient who cannot breathe through the nose, such as cases of colds, the installation of a Ryle tube in the nose, and nose surgeries.

From the anus

Anal body temperature

The temperature is recorded from the rectum after decreasing 0.5 degrees (half a degree) from the thermometer reading one minute after it is placed in the annotation.

It is considered one of the most accurate readings when taking a person’s temperature for the following reasons:

• The anus is tightly closed.
• The presence of many capillaries in this area.

Body temperature is measured from the anus for the following cases:

• children.
• Patients who are unconscious.
• Having a broken jaw.
• Oral operations or a burn prevents the thermometer from entering the mouth.

The purpose

Get a more accurate reading in case of contraindications to oral and axillary thermometers.

Steps

• Maintain patient privacy.
• Wear gloves.
• Place a tarpaulin and a towel under the patient.
• Wipe the thermometer with an oily substance in the direction from the reservoir.
• Lift the upper mechanism with your left hand and wipe the anus with a piece of gauze.
• Insert the thermometer into the anus slowly, a distance of no more than 3 cm for a minute while you are holding it so that it does not slip out, break or injure the patient.
• Take out the thermometer and wipe it once in the direction from the glass to the mercury reservoir with a cotton swab.
• Read the thermometer, taking into account the reduction of half a degree.
• Wash the thermometer with running water and soap, disinfect with alcohol, put it in its own pouch, and wash hands well.

Contraindications to rectal temperature measurement

• Anal operations.
• cases of diarrhea.
• The presence of hemorrhoids.
• Heart disease because the vagal nerve may be stimulated, causing the heart to beat less than normal.
• Anal infections.
• A pelvic fracture that is difficult to move the patient in.

From under the armpit

Under armpit temperature

The temperature is recorded after a 0.5 degree (half a degree) increase from the thermometer reading, after placing the thermometer under the armpit for five minutes.

The purpose

This method is used if it is difficult to take the temperature from the mouth or anus.

Steps

• Dry the armpit with a piece of cloth.
• Place the thermometer in the axillary cavity and ask the patient to lock his or her arm tightly around the thermometer for 5 minutes.
• Pull out the thermometer, read and add half a degree when noting.

Contraindications to taking armpit temperature

• Having a broken arm/dislocated arm.
• Having armpit infections.
• Having a lot of hair affects the reading of the thermometer.
• Very thin/elderly patient.
• Young children, because the circumference of the armpits has a small area.

From the inguinal fossa

The temperature is recorded after a 0.5 degree (half a degree) increase from the thermometer reading after placing the thermometer five minutes later.

The last two modes are used if it is difficult to measure the temperature from other places.

Steps

• Dry the area at the crease of the thigh.
• Place the thermometer in the groin socket and leave it for 5 minutes.
• Take out the thermometer and tell the patient the temperature.

Contraindications to measuring the temperature of the European fossa

• If there is a fracture of the pelvis and / or lower extremities.
• If the patient has severe diarrhea.
• If there is an obstruction in the flexion of the thigh due to the presence of the skin or bone traction device in the lower extremities.