Biologically, a person is a warm-blooded creature. This means that to ensure the normal course of physiological processes in the body, he needs to maintain body temperature in a fairly narrow range. On average, it is +36.4 ... + 36.8 degrees. An increase in this temperature by only half a degree means that the body's defenses have come to battle with an infectious invasion, or there is a serious disruption in the functioning of a vital organ, and inflammation is developing. Lowering the temperature also indicates pathology. Thus, measuring a person’s body temperature is a basic procedure for determining whether the body’s systems are working properly and whether they are healthy.
Where to measure
In the “healthy” state of the human body, the temperature is constant and independent of the environment. Despite this, human organs and tissues have different temperatures. If the skin is healthy at +29.5, then the liver - at +38. On the contrary, the brain has the most constant and stable thermal regime. However, the technique of measuring body temperature should show the value closest to the thermal state of the internal organs.
This is achievable with rectal temperature measurement, when the measuring element of the thermometer is inserted into the rectum. But with diarrhea, constipation and critical days in women, the values ​​obtained differ significantly from the real ones. Also, this method of measurement is contraindicated in diseases of the rectum.
The most familiar measurement of body temperature is a mercury thermometer in the armpit. The obtained values ​​are less than by rectal measurement, half a degree and are +36.5 ... + 37.0.
In the UK and the USA, body temperature is measured orally (in the oral cavity). To do this, place the measuring element of the thermometer under the tongue. Here the temperature is 0.3 degrees higher than in the armpit. Measurements lose their accuracy with inflammation in the oral cavity and respiratory diseases. This method is not suitable for small children because of the danger of injury.
Also familiar to all is the “mother’s method” (applying a palm to the forehead) has found its application in the modern measurement method using infrared technology.
Finally, rarely, but the temperature in the ear canal is measured, for which all the same infrared thermometers are used. Inflammation in the ear distorts the testimony.
How to measure
Despite the fact that the world is gradually abandoning mercury thermometers for obvious reasons, they are still in the lead in terms of the "price - measurement accuracy" ratio. They can perform axillary, oral and rectal measurements (the last two with caution), they are easy to disinfect. You will have to wait 10 minutes to get the result.
Safely and very quickly measure the temperature of electronic thermometers (they are also called digital). But they are sensitive to humidity, unlike a glass thermometer, give an error of 0.1-0.2 degrees, cheap models can not be disinfected, the battery may run out at the most crucial moment.
A relative novelty is the measurement of body temperature with infrared thermometers. The most advanced of them do not require disinfection at all due to non-contact measurement. Ideal for children, since they can not be undressed, get temperature values ​​from sleeping, and all this in a matter of seconds. However, just like electronic ones, they have an error and are very expensive.
For very young, a digital thermometer was invented to measure body temperature in the form of a pacifier. It gives the desired value within 3-5 minutes.
There are also thermal strips based on a sensitive film. However, they do not give an exact figure, they simply show the limits within which the temperature is. The indications are affected by sweating of the skin and the tightness of the thermal strip to the body.
If the measurement of body temperature is inaccurate, then it is probably not the devices that are to blame, but people who did not bother to read the instructions for use before use.