One of the main indicators of human health is his body temperature. At the first sign of pathogenic bacteria or viruses entering the body, the body immediately responds with an increase in degree. It is interesting that, depending on the place of measurement of such indicators, the result can radically differ even in a healthy person. What should be the temperature in the mouth or armpit and how to measure it correctly is described below.
The rules of measurement in the usual way
This option is considered the safest and is used everywhere in Russia, but in some states it is considered inaccurate. To measure the temperature axillary (armpit), you must first shake off the mercury thermometer so that its column drops below 35 degrees.
After that, its entire tip must be placed in the armpit. At this time, it is advisable not to make sudden movements so as not to knock down the readings, and it is better to hold the hands of children until the end of the process.
How much to keep a mercury thermometer under your arm depends on the accuracy of the required readings. An approximate result can be seen after 5 minutes, but the exact data will be known only after 10 minutes. You can hold the thermometer even longer, the thermometer column still does not rise above body temperature.
Rules for measuring the mouth
It should be noted right away that it is strictly forbidden to measure the temperature in the mouth with a mercury thermometer. This is due to the fact that they can accidentally damage the instrument with their teeth and injure themselves, moreover, mercury is very toxic.
Before starting the procedure, it is forbidden to eat too cold or hot food, this may affect the result. Any inflammation in the oral cavity automatically raises the local temperature, so the thermometer will show an overestimated result. In case of nasal congestion, one should not take temperature measurements in the mouth, since oral breathing will cool the thermometer. Unreliable indicators are often observed in smokers.
How to measure the temperature in the oral cavity
Before starting the procedure, the thermometer should be thoroughly washed and dried. If a mercury thermometer is used, it must be shaken off so that the column drops to a value of no higher than 35 degrees. The patient should be at rest before the procedure for a while, so that his pulse normalizes. Dentures, braces or plates must be removed from the oral cavity so as not to damage the instrument.
Before measuring the temperature in the mouth with an electronic thermometer, you should also remove all potentially dangerous objects. After that, the instrument is placed behind the cheek or under the tongue. The mouth must be kept closed during the measurement. The procedure usually takes 4-5 minutes.
Difference of indicators
Before measuring, you should pay attention to the fact that even if absolutely all of the above rules are observed, the temperature in the mouth will significantly differ from the measurement in the armpit. The difference can vary between 0.3-0.8 degrees, and sometimes reach a whole degree, depending on the structural features of the body or the location of the focus of infection in the disease.
Some electronic devices today are specifically configured to measure temperature only in the mouth. Such thermometers do not give an error and show the same data as the mercury ones in axillary measurement, since they are so tuned and they signal the completion of the process before.
Norms for adults
The norm of body temperature in the mouth is individual for each person. On average, it is 37.3 degrees for a healthy person. It can be determined more accurately based on the thermometer when measuring the temperature on the skin surface, that is, the armpit.
There, the column in most cases shows 36.4-36.7 degrees, but in some cases the norm is considered the result of 35-37 degrees. To the obtained data you need to add an average of half a degree, you get the norm of the thermometer in your mouth.
Norms for children
The body temperature in young children is generally poorly controlled by the body and depends on many external factors, even ordinary overheating. For example, during sleep, the child’s body temperature is higher than when he is awake. The result also depends on the measurement method. The temperature in the mouth is considered normal for children if it does not exceed 37.1 degrees. At the same time, the measurement under the armpit will show the usual 36.6, but the measurement norm in the anus will be much higher and usually is half a degree higher than in the mouth. Since many parents measure the temperature of infants precisely rectally, you need to know about this.
There are also special nipple thermometers that are configured to immediately show the baby's body temperature, as with axillary measurement.
What is the temperature
In fact, the temperature norm is exactly that indicator at which a person feels comfortable and maintains working capacity. It can depend on the region of residence, nationality, time of measurement and many other factors. During the day, these indicators fluctuate absolutely for everyone within a whole degree. During rest, the heartbeat slows and the temperature drops. With active movement, stress, or after eating hot food or drink, on the contrary, it rises.
In addition, temperature indicators are divided into several types, which are preserved in any human condition.
- Elevated body temperature. At the same time, the indicators when measuring in the mouth exceed the mark of 37.5 degrees, but the person is completely healthy and feels good.
- Low temperature. In such cases, the thermometer does not rise above 36 degrees in the oral cavity. This condition is called hypothermia.
- Norm. This includes the average statistics for all people, which range from 36-37.5 degrees in the mouth or half a degree lower with axillary measurement.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that the temperature norms for adults and children depend on many factors, it is easy to determine the deviation. First of all, it is feeling unwell, always accompanied by additional symptoms of the disease. Too low indicators can indicate overwork and weakness of the body, which also necessarily signals secondary symptoms. In any case, the norm of your temperature should be determined by measuring only in good health and subject to all the rules, then the results will be as accurate as possible.