Why thermometer kept under toung

A fever with other symptoms may mean a more serious illness. Babies younger than 3 months of age must be seen by a health care provider when they have a fever. During the first 3 months of life, babies are not always able to fight infections, so they need to be seen sooner than older babies and children with fevers. Skip to main content. Last Updated:. August Download PDF:. A digital thermometer is best for taking temperatures by the armpit and mouth. Several factors influence the ability of NCITs to detect fever accurately, including: Relative humidity Significant perspiration Positioning on forehead Exposure to cold or hot weather before temperature measurement Follow the best practices and the manufacturer's instructions when using NCITs.

For babies 3 to 6 months, the parents should speak with their health care provider. Is it an emergency? It's likely to be lowest in the early morning. And it's probably highest in the early evening.

Before you take a temperature, read the instructions for how to use your type of thermometer. Oral by mouth is the most common method of taking a temperature. For you to get an accurate reading, you must be able to breathe through your nose. If you can't, then use the rectum, ear, or armpit to take your temperature. Forehead thermometers aren't as accurate as electronic and ear ones. Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional.

If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. While this is the least accurate way to get a child's temperature, it's often used in schools and daycare to avoid spreading germs.

To use an axillary thermometer:. Rectal thermometers are specifically designed with short tips that allow them to get a proper reading without going too far into the body. This method should be used for infants or those whose temperature cannot be taken any other way. To use a rectal thermometer:. Wash your thermometer before and after use with cold water , then rubbing alcohol. Rinse thoroughly to remove the alcohol. These in-the-ear thermometers are very popular, especially among parents of small children, since they're faster than regular digital thermometers and are easy to use.

However, tympanic thermometers can be difficult to use on babies and are often inaccurate because their ear canals are so small. To use a tympanic thermometer:. Make sure excess earwax isn't built up before using this method, as it can cause less accurate results. The newest and most expensive thermometer on the market, temporal thermometers read heat coming from the temporal artery, which is right under the skin of your forehead.

They are the fastest and probably the easiest thermometers to use. However, they may read too low at times. Different models may have different instructions for use.

Generally, to use a temporal thermometer:. Note: Some models require a swipe across the forehead and on the neck below the ear. This is fairly new technology, but research suggests that it's at least as accurate as tympanic devices. Mercury thermometers are no longer sold in the United States. They pose a danger if they break and release the mercury, which is toxic. If you have an old mercury thermometer that you decide to use, shake it to get the mercury down to below 96 degrees F.

Then hold it in place for about five minutes to get an accurate reading. The "normal" body temperature is usually stated as However, there's actually a range of body temperatures that's influenced by all kinds of factors, including age, height, weight, sex, ethnicity, and even time of day and activity level.

Interestingly, what's average appears to have dropped over time. A study found that the average body temperature is closer to This is relatively new information, though, and it hasn't yet impacted what the medical community considers normal and abnormal.

Book Online Book Now. Request Appointment Our Office. Stay in Touch. All Rights Reserved. Terms of use Sitemap. New Patients: W.