Temperature can also be measured on your forehead. The standard in Canada and most other countries is degrees Celsius. In the United States, temperatures are often measured in degrees Fahrenheit. Take your temperature a few times when you are well.
This will help you find out what is normal for you. Check your temperature in both the morning and evening. Body temperature can vary by as much as 0. Glass thermometers that contain mercury aren't recommended. If you have a glass thermometer, contact your local health unit to find out how to dispose of it safely. If you break a glass thermometer, call your local poison control centre right away. Oral by mouth is the most common method of taking a temperature.
For you to get an accurate reading, the person must be able to breathe through their nose. If they can't, then use the rectum, ear, or armpit to take the temperature. Before you take a temperature, read the instructions for how to use your type of thermometer.
Time yourself with a clock or watch. Some digital thermometers give a series of short beeps when the reading is done. This is the most accurate way to measure body temperature.
It's recommended for babies , small children, and people who can't hold a thermometer safely in their mouths. It's also used when it is very important to get the most accurate reading.
Don't use a thermometer to take an oral temperature after it has been used to take a rectal temperature. Time yourself with a watch or clock. Taking a temperature in the armpit may not be as accurate as taking an oral or rectal temperature. An armpit temperature reading may be as much as 0. Ear thermometers may need to be cleaned before they are used. Forehead thermometers aren't as accurate as electronic and ear thermometers. Pacifier thermometers are not as accurate as electronic and ear thermometers.
Taking an oral temperature causes only mild discomfort. You have to keep the thermometer under your tongue and hold it in place with your lips. Taking a rectal temperature can cause a little discomfort, but it should not 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. There is very little chance of having a problem from this test. When taking a rectal temperature, do not push the thermometer in more than 1.
Pushing it farther can be painful and may damage the rectum. If you tell your doctor about your temperature reading, be sure to say where it was taken: on the forehead or in the mouth, rectum, armpit, or ear. But that may not be normal for you. Your temperature also changes during the day. It is usually lowest in the early morning. It may rise as much as 0. Your temperature may also rise by 0. A woman's body temperature often changes by 0. It peaks around the time she ovulates. A rectal or ear temperature of less than You can take a temperature using the mouth oral , anus rectal , armpit axillary , or ear tympanic.
But the temperature readings vary depending on which one you use. And you need an accurate measurement to know if a fever is present. Medical research hasn't found an exact correlation between oral, rectal, ear, armpit, and forehead temperature measurements. In general, here's how the temperatures compare:. Author: Healthwise Staff. Symptoms of heatstroke include mental changes such as confusion, delirium, or unconsciousness and skin that is red, hot, and dry, even under the armpits.
Heatstroke can be deadly. It needs emergency medical treatment. It causes severe dehydration and can cause body organs to stop working. Take your temperature a few times when you are well. This will help you find out what is normal for you. Check your temperature in both the morning and evening. Body temperature can vary by as much as 0. Glass thermometers that contain mercury are not recommended.
If you have a glass thermometer, contact your local health unit to find out how to dispose of it safely. If you break a glass thermometer, call your local poison control centre right away. Before you take a temperature, read the instructions for how to use your type of thermometer.
Some common ways to take a temperature are described below. Oral by mouth is the most common method of taking a temperature. This method can be used for children who are older than 5 years of age. For you to get an accurate reading, the person must be able to breathe through his or her nose. If this is not possible, use the rectum, ear, or armpit to take the temperature.
This is the most accurate way to measure body temperature. It is recommended for babies , small children, and people who can't hold a thermometer safely in their mouths.
Use a rectal thermometer only if you are comfortable doing so. It is also used when it is very important to get the most accurate reading. Do not use a thermometer to take an oral temperature after it has been used to take a rectal temperature. Taking a temperature in the armpit may not be as accurate as taking an oral or rectal temperature. This method is recommended for children older than 2 years. Ear thermometers may need to be cleaned before they are used.
Taking an oral temperature causes only mild discomfort. You have to keep the thermometer under your tongue and hold it in place with your lips. Taking a rectal temperature can cause a little discomfort, but it should not 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 an armpit temperature does not cause any discomfort. There is very little chance of a problem from taking a temperature. When taking a rectal temperature, do not push the thermometer in more than 1.
Pushing it farther can be painful and may damage the rectum. If you tell your doctor about your temperature reading, be sure to say where it was taken: in the mouth, rectum, armpit, or ear.
But that may not be normal for you. Your temperature also changes during the day. It is usually lowest in the early morning. It may rise as much as 0. Your temperature may also rise by 0. A woman's body temperature often changes by 0. It peaks around the time she ovulates. A rectal or ear temperature of less than A temperature reading may not be accurate if:.
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All rights reserved. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. British Columbia Specific Information Body temperature is a measure of the body's ability to generate and get rid of heat. Top of the page. Test Overview Body temperature is a measure of your body's ability to make and get rid of heat. When you are too hot, the blood vessels in your skin widen to carry the excess heat to your skin's surface.
You may start to sweat. As the sweat evaporates, it helps cool your body. When you are too cold, your blood vessels narrow. This reduces blood flow to your skin to save body heat. You may start to shiver. When the muscles tremble this way, it helps to make more heat. Fever In most adults, an oral or axillary temperature above A fever may occur as a reaction to: Infection.
This is the most common cause of a fever. Seek medical care if your baby or child has a fever and:. Hypothermia is a serious condition that occurs when you lose too much body heat. Most people associate hypothermia with being outside in cold weather for long periods of time. But hypothermia can occur indoors, too. Babies and older adults are more susceptible. Hypothermia can also be a concern in a poorly heated house in winter or an air-conditioned room in summer.
Most of the time, a fever goes away with a few days of rest. However, when your fever climbs too high, lasts too long, or is accompanied by severe symptoms, seek treatment. Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms. They might perform or order tests to determine the cause of the fever. Treating the cause of the fever can help your body temperature return to normal. On the other hand, a low body temperature can also be cause for concern. Hypothermia can be life threatening if left untreated.
Seek medical assistance as soon as you notice signs of hypothermia. To diagnose hypothermia, your doctor will use a standard clinical thermometer and check for physical signs. They may use a low-reading rectal thermometer if needed. In some cases, your doctor may order a blood test to confirm the cause of your hypothermia, or to check for infection. In mild cases, hypothermia may be harder to diagnose but easier to treat. Heated blankets and warm fluids can restore heat. For more severe cases, other treatments include blood rewarming and using warmed intravenous fluids.
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