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Oral thermometry
Oral temperature is easily influenced by recent ingestion of food or drinks and by breathing through the mouth. To measure oral temperature, the mouth must remain
closed and the tongue lowered for three to four minutes which is a difficult task for young children to accomplish.
Axillary (armpit) temperature
Although it may be easy to measure axillary temperature, it has been proven that it does not provide an accurate measurement of the child’s internal temperature. To take
this type of temperature, the thermometer must be wedged tightly over the axillary artery. Despite the low sensitivity and relative inaccuracy of axillary temperature in
detecting fever, this method is recommended by The American Academy of Pediatrics as a screening test for fever in newborns.
Tympanic thermometry
In order to obtain a precise temperature reading, good command of the measurement technique is required. The thermometer probe must be placed as close as possible
to the warmest part of the external ear canal.
Normal temperatures according to measurement method
MEASUREMENT METHOD NORMAL TEMP°
RECTAL
36.6°C ~ 38°C
ORAL
35.5°C ~ 37.5°C
AXILLARY
34.7°C ~ 37.3°C
AURICULAY
35.8°C ~ 38°C
TEMPORAL
35.8°C ~ 37.8°C
The temperature of the human body varies throughout the day. It can also be influenced by numerous external factors: age, sex, type and thickness of skin…
Advantages of temporal artery (ta) temperature
Infrared arterial temperature can be measured using a device placed on the forehead, in the temporal artery region. It has been demonstrated that this relatively new
method of measuring temperature is more precise than tympanic thermometry and better tolerated than rectal thermometry. The JXB-311 thermometer has been
designed to produce an instant forehead temperature reading without any contact with the temporal artery. As this artery is quite close to thesurface of this skin and
therefore accessible and given the blood flow is permanent and regular, it allows precise measurement of the temperature. This artery is linked to the heart by the carotid
artery which is directly linked to the aorta. It forms part of the main trunk of the arterial system. The efficiency, speed and comfort of taking a temperature from this area
make it ideal compared with other temperature measurements methods.
Normal temperature according to age
Age
°C
°F
0-2 years
36.4-38.0
97.5-100.4
3-10 years
36.1-37.8
97.0-100.0
11-65 years
35.9-37.6
96.6-99.7
> 65 years
35.8-37.5
96.4-99.5
Practical considerations when taking a temperature
• In order to ensure that precise and accurate temperature measurements are obtained, it is essential that each user has received adequate information on and training
in the temperature measurement technique when using such a device.
• It is essential to remember that although procedures such as taking a temperature may be simple they must not be trivialised.
• Temperature should be taken in a neutral context. The patient must not have undertaken vigorous physical activity prior to taking his/her temperature and the room
temperature must be moderate.
• Be aware of physiological variations in temperature which must be taken into consideration when evaluating the results: temperature increases by 0.5°C between 6
am and 3 pm. Women have a temperature that is higher, on average, by around 0.2°C. Their temperature also varies in accordance with their ovarian cycle. It rises by
0.5°C in the second half of the cycle and at the early stages of pregnancy.
• When sitting, temperature is lower by about 0.3°C to 0.4°C than when standing.
How to take a temperature
Aim at the FOREHEAD, over the right temporal region, from a distance of about °Cm~3cm, press the thermometer’s measurement button and the temperature
is instantly displayed. The reliability of the measurement cannot be guaranteed if the temperature is measured over another part of the body (e.g.arm, torso…)
Constraints
Please observe the following before any temperature measurement to ensure a stable and reliable result:
• Push back hair from the forehead.
• Wipe away any perspiration from the forehead.
• Avoid any drafts (e.g. from nasal specs, air conditioning…)
• Allow a 3~5 seconds interval between two measurements.
• Each time there is a significant change in the ambient temperature due to a change in environment, to allow the JXB-311 to acclimatise to this ambient temperature
for at least 15 minutes before using it.
