Measure the temperature with your hand. Features of measuring temperature under the arm, rectally, in the mouth or ear. Measuring temperature without a thermometer

An increase in temperature is one of the signs of the development of infectious diseases or other pathologies in the human body. This symptom is a kind of defensive reaction, a sign of the functioning of the body.

Leading experts do not recommend taking any action to lower the temperature until it reaches 38 degrees, but, unfortunately, you don’t always have a thermometer at hand. In this case, it is important to know how to understand whether there is a temperature without a thermometer.

The fact that a person’s body temperature has increased will be indicated by certain manifestations of deterioration of the condition. We are talking about external changes in behavior and deterioration in well-being, which are represented by:

• general weakness;
• chills;
• acquisition of a reddish tint to the skin on the neck and face;
• inflammation of the eyes and redness of the sclera;
• increased sweating;
• body aches, soreness in muscles and joints;
• increased thirst, because against the background of rising temperature, a person rapidly loses fluid;
• the acquisition of a bright yellow color in human urine, which indicates dehydration associated with an increase in temperature.

It should be noted that manifestations of increased temperature may be individual in nature.

Thus, many people may not even notice a slight increase in temperature and from the outside seem absolutely healthy. The best method for determining temperature is to use a thermometer, but this is not always possible. If you don’t have a thermometer at hand, you can use other simple methods.

This simple method is known to almost everyone, because it is actively used by mothers and grandmothers to quickly determine the child’s condition. The fact is that the temperature of a healthy sick person is different and it is difficult not to feel this difference.

As the temperature rises, a person's forehead becomes hot, but this symptom should be used as a reliable indicator. The fact is that the skin can cool under the influence of perspiration, thereby providing false information.

More reliable ideas about a person’s condition can be obtained by touching the skin in the neck, under the arms or on the stomach.

If you feel hot skin when touched, we are most likely talking about exceeding the temperature mark of 38 degrees. It is quite difficult to detect temperatures below 38 degrees in this way. If at the same time there is coldness in the fingers and toes, then we are talking about extreme heat.

If you suspect an increase in temperature, you should pay attention to your breathing patterns.

An increase in temperature is accompanied by increased breathing, which becomes tense. The number of inhalations and exhalations that a healthy person takes in one minute ranges from 12 to 17 times. Against the backdrop of rising temperatures, these indicators increase by 1.5-2 times.

A sick person, against the background of an increase in temperature, also experiences an increase in heart rate, which can also be used as one of the indicators of deterioration of the condition.

The norm is 80 beats per minute, so an increase in this indicator can be regarded as a symptom indicating an increase in temperature. So, a sign of reaching 38 degrees is a heart pulse at a speed of 100 beats per minute.

In children, an increase in temperature is often accompanied by convulsions, so you should carefully monitor the baby’s condition so that you can promptly seek qualified help.

It is recommended to call an ambulance if the duration of the convulsions is three minutes or more, as well as in the situation if this symptom is accompanied by vomiting, stiff neck, breathing problems and severe drowsiness.

Qualified help should not be ignored even if we are talking about a sick child under the age of 2 years, as well as if disturbing symptoms persist for 24 hours or more.

To normalize the condition, you can use medications designed to reduce temperature indicators. It is also important to drink as much fluid as possible, ensure regular and nutritious meals, and give preference to bed rest so that the body has the opportunity to recover faster.

Test the person's forehead and neck with your hand. The most common way to check temperature without a thermometer is to touch the person's forehead or neck with your hand. If these areas are hotter than usual, your loved one most likely has a fever.

• Use the back of your hand or lips to touch the forehead or neck of the person who may have a fever. If the temperature is elevated, the forehead will be hot.
• Do not check the temperature of a person's hands or feet; they may be cold, although the person may have a fever.
• Using this method, you will be able to determine that the temperature is elevated, but you will not be able to say with certainty what it is. Sometimes a person's skin may feel cold and clammy when they have a fever, and in some cases, a person's skin may feel very hot even if they do not have a fever.
• Make sure your loved one's room is not too hot. Also, do not check temperature after a person has exercised.

Look at your complexion. A person who has a fever usually has an unhealthy blush on their face. However, if the person has dark skin, you may not notice the blush.

A person with a high fever tends to be lethargic. Fever is often accompanied by lethargy or fatigue. It is difficult for a person to move, he speaks slowly and does not want to get out of bed.

• A child with a high fever may complain of weakness. He may also refuse to eat or play.

A popular method for diagnosing diseases and inflammatory processes is measuring body temperature using special devices - thermometers, also called thermometers. Depending on the deviation of the obtained indicator from the norm, the doctor makes a forecast about the state of the body systems and determines the intensity of the necessary drug therapy in the first days of treatment. Answers to questions about which thermometers are best to use and on which part of the body to measure temperature will help you understand how to measure it correctly and reduce the error as much as possible.

What is temperature measurement

Thermometry is a set of methods and methods that help to measure the temperature, in medicine, of the human body. The degree of heating of the object is compared with the absolute thermodynamic scale. Deviations from the average norm, up or down, show the doctor that processes are occurring in the body that disrupt its thermoregulation, for example, fighting a virus or inflammation. Regular measurements of this parameter allow you to monitor the patient’s condition, promptly increase the effectiveness of treatment, and avoid possible complications.

What does body temperature depend on?

In addition to infectious infections and other external factors (for example, hypothermia or overheating), many circumstances influence the body temperature. You will see different numbers on the thermometer, measuring the temperature on the surface of the skin (in the armpit or in the groin folds) or using one of the internal methods (orally or rectally). In addition to the location of the measurement, the indicator is affected by:

• time of manipulation (morning/evening);
• patient's age;
• period of the menstrual cycle in women.

Normal human body temperature

Physiological indicators of normal human body temperature can fluctuate between 36.3 – 37.3 °C. The norm of 36.6 °C, which we have become accustomed to since childhood, is set for measurement in the axillary region; due to individual characteristics, it can deviate within 36.4 - 37.0 °C. The average rectal temperature (in the rectum) is 37.3-37.7 ° C; temperature ranges for oral measurements considered healthy indicators are 36.8 – 37.2 °C.

Minimum human body temperature

The human body is better adapted to hypothermia than to increased temperature. Deviation from the norm towards the lower limit of up to 35 ° C is accompanied by severe weakness; after a decrease to 29 ° C, the person loses consciousness. The lowest recorded temperature at which the life of a hypothermic patient could be saved was 14.9 °C. Death, as a rule, occurs when the temperature reaches 25°C.

Critical temperature

If the temperature of a victim from overheating increases to an absolute scale level above 42 °C and it is impossible to reduce the indicator, there is a high probability of death. There was a recorded case where a patient managed to survive overheating up to 46.5 °C. The lower limit in some cases can reach 25-26 °C. With hyperthermia - an increase in the indicator to 42 ° C and above - loss of consciousness, hallucinations, and delirium are observed. In this case, the patient’s life is in serious danger, so it is necessary to lower this biometric indicator in any available way.

How is temperature measured?

The SI system (International System of Units) uses two basic units for measuring temperature indicators: degrees Celsius and degrees Kelvin. In medicine, body temperature is measured on the Celsius scale, on which zero is the freezing temperature of water, and one hundred degrees is the boiling point of water.

Temperature measuring instruments

In thermometry, a special measuring device is used - a thermometer to measure body temperature. These devices are also called thermometers. They are made from different materials (glass, plastic), have their own specifics and operating principle (contact, non-contact; digital, mercury, infrared), and measurement error. Each type of these devices has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Classification of devices

The main principle by which thermometers for measuring body temperature are classified is the principle of operation of these measuring instruments. According to it they are divided into:

• mercury;
• digital;
• infrared (for non-contact measurement method).

Mercury thermometers are made of glass and work on the principle of expansion of mercury contained in their glass reservoir. When heated from the body, the mercury column moves up the scale, reaching a mark corresponding to the t temperature of the body. This method of determining temperature characteristics helps to obtain high accuracy of measurement results; the error in actual temperature when using this type of thermometer is only 0.1 degrees.

Along with the advantages - affordability, wide range of applications, durability, obtaining accurate measurements - liquid thermometers with mercury have significant disadvantages:

• fragility of the body;
• mercury toxicity (there is a danger of poisoning if you accidentally damage a mercury tank or break a thermometer);
• measurement duration (up to 10 minutes).

Digital, electronic thermometers are widely used. They can have a different appearance, their body is made of plastic, and the temperature is determined through the operation of a thermodynamic sensor. Electronic thermometers are safer than mercury thermometers and help to obtain quick measurement results (within one minute), however, the accuracy of the readings of these devices is significantly inferior to mercury thermometers.

Infrared devices for measuring temperature indicators do not require direct contact with the body; measuring the temperature value takes several seconds. A special sensor displays a digital infrared image; the device requires configuration, produces an error of about 0.2 degrees, is expensive, and is often used in cases where the patient cannot be disturbed.

Especially for infants who cannot remain at rest for a long time, nipple thermometers disguised as a regular pacifier have been invented. They are made from silicone, the measurement duration is about five minutes, but this does not bring any inconvenience to the child. The deviation from the exact data can reach 0.3 degrees.

Where to take the temperature

Not all parts of the body have the same indicator; therefore, there are different ways to measure temperature. To obtain an accurate determination of the state of the body, this biometric indicator is determined:

• axillary (the thermometer is installed and held with the working end in the armpit);
• orally (measurement is carried out by taking the level of thermal radiation in the mouth);
• rectally (in the rectum);
• in the inguinal folds;
• in a woman's vagina.

How to measure correctly

In different cavities and areas, the temperature indicator is measured according to certain rules. It is important to check the technical condition of the device you are using - replace the battery in the digital thermometer, if necessary, adjust the infrared thermometer, and make sure the mercury thermometer is intact. If you have doubts about the reliability of the results obtained - for example, the child’s forehead is hot, but the device shows normal temperature, repeat the procedure or measure the indicator on another part of the body.

Mercury thermometer

Before using a mercury thermometer, shake it to bring down the mercury column to the minimum value on the scale, less than 35 °C. The device must be dry and clean; if you measure orally or rectally, a prerequisite for using the thermometer is its preliminary disinfection. For glass thermometers, to avoid damage, there are rules for careful storage in a case.

When performing the procedure in the armpit, the device is kept in a state of balance, pressed tightly to the body for the required time. For oral measurement, the device is placed under the tongue, it closes tightly, and breathing is done through the nose. During the rectal method of measurement, the patient is placed in a lying position on his side, the thermometer is inserted through the sphincter into the rectum and held for two to three minutes.

Time to measure body temperature with a mercury thermometer

When using contact thermometers, the type of which is mercury, the time during which the measurement is carried out is important. Depending on the measurement location, it is:

• 5-10 minutes - for the axillary method;
• 2-3 minutes - for rectal;
• 3-5 minutes - for oral.

Electric thermometer

Digital measuring instruments must be used when you want accurate and fast results. The sound signal function, which is equipped with electric thermometers, makes it easier to control the temperature measurement, since it notifies the user when the measurement process is completed. They produce so-called instant thermometers, which, thanks to the high sensitivity of the thermoelement, give results in 2-3 seconds.

Remote temperature measurement

Measuring temperature readings from a distance is a convenient feature of infrared thermometers. These devices are the result of high-tech laboratory developments, which determines the quality of their work and the accuracy of the data obtained. They do not have a harmful effect on the body, and are suitable for both immobilized patients and infants who are in constant motion.

Measurement algorithm

Using the correct algorithm for measuring body temperature, you will reduce the influence of external factors, you will be able to timely monitor changes in temperature indicators, thereby speeding up the patient’s recovery process. With any method and use of any type of contact thermometer, follow the rules of hygiene and disinfection of the devices themselves. Algorithm for using a mercury thermometer:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly.
2. Remove the device from the case.
3. Shake it gently but forcefully, keeping your index finger on the reservoir.
4. Make sure the mercury drops below 35°C.
5. Take a measurement.
6. Disinfect the thermometer after completing the procedure.
7. Record your findings.

Measuring body temperature in the armpit

By following the following algorithm, you will understand how to measure the temperature in the armpit with any thermometer in order to get an accurate value and not use another method:

• take measurements several times a day, at regular intervals;
• press the thermometer tightly to your body to avoid the thermometer being loose;
• keep your body still during the procedure;
• Record in writing the upper and lower indicators during the day.

Which armpit should you measure under?

The physical sensitivity of the right and left armpits is the same, so it does not matter which one you use to measure temperature readings. If you wish, you can take the value from both the right and left sides several times to make sure that you get the same data as a result. If you have doubts about the correctness of the result obtained, you can always measure the temperature in another sensitive area, in the groin area, for example.

In the mouth

The answer to the question of how to measure the temperature in the mouth correctly lies in the following two main points - the position of the thermometer and the time of measurement. Place the device under the tip of your tongue, press it firmly and close your mouth. To obtain data, hold this position for two to three minutes, breathe through your nose, evenly and calmly. Before carrying out the procedure, be sure to treat the thermometer with a disinfectant wipe.

Processing of thermometers

A clean, disinfected thermometer is an important condition for obtaining correct data when measuring indicators. The device should be cleaned after each procedure; at home, this can be done using wipes soaked in any disinfectant alcohol composition. After disinfection, the device is wiped dry and placed in a storage case.

Video

The app is a classic Celsius/Fahrenheit thermometer. This app can measure and display the temperature of the environment your device is in (room) and also display the current outside temperature (outdoor) for your location.
The accuracy of measured room temperature on most devices is limited because very few devices have an external temperature sensor.
Most devices measure and display the temperature of the internal electronics, and this only resembles the actual room temperature if the device has been in standby mode for a long time.
The only way to accurately measure room temperature is to launch the app immediately after waking up the device, which has been in standby mode for at least an hour. This limitation is not a fault of the application, but with this method it is possible to realistically measure room temperature to within a degree.
Outdoor temperature measurements vary depending on weather web services and your location. Currently using the YR.NO web service, you must have an active internet connection on your device to be able to see the current outdoor temperature. In addition, for your location, you must have network-based location service enabled for your device (you do not need precise GPS location).
The accuracy of the displayed ambient air temperature is determined by YR.NO weather services, the quality of determination can be improved by manually setting altitudes above sea level (optional) because altitude information is not provided when using network location transmission.
Peculiarities:

• Celsius/Fahrenheit scale
• Internal / External option
• Classic thermometer view
• Digital and analogue type
• Animated liquid
• 16 backgrounds
• 4 types of liquids

Download Thermometer (thermometer) for Android you can follow the link below.

Developer: Borce Trajkovski
Platform: Android 2.1 and higher
Interface language: Russian (RUS)
Root: Not needed
Status: Free

An increase in body temperature is one of the symptoms of infection in a child’s body. This is how the immune system reacts to the penetration of bacteria and viruses. A defensive reaction kicks in and pediatricians do not advise interfering in this process. In cases where the readings become above 38 degrees, the body needs help. You can determine a child’s temperature without a thermometer, but a thermometer is still more reliable. If the necessary device is not at hand, time-tested methods will help out. They give approximate results, but sometimes this is enough to determine the fever and provide help.

How to understand that a child has a temperature

In newborns, “normal” body temperature varies. This is due to the peculiarities of the thermoregulation process. Every mother should know the acceptable values ​​in order to take action and avoid a critical condition. A value of 36.6 is established by the age of 5–7 years; before this age, a value of 37 and 37.5 degrees is considered normal.

You can tell about the illness by the appearance and behavior of the baby. His condition changes dramatically, but attentive parents will not notice it. Let us highlight the signs by which a child is judged to be unwell:

• Blush, redness and spots on the cheeks;
• Tearing;
• Cold hands and feet;
• Atypical lethargy, moodiness;
• Drowsiness;
• Loss of appetite;
• Hot neck and tummy;
• Bright yellow urine;
• Cramps.

Depending on age, symptoms manifest themselves differently. The presence of one or more signs should alert you, especially if the child is less than a year old. But don't rush with antipyretics. The listed symptoms can be caused by a variety of diseases. It’s better to spend a little time and measure the temperature. Moreover, this can be done even in the absence of a thermometer.

Ways to check the temperature of babies without a thermometer

When the temperature rises above 38 degrees, the child begins to develop a fever. You can detect hot spots without a thermometer. Touch your forehead with your lips or palm. Sensitive areas of a person include the neck, armpits, groin, and elbow pits. When temperature fluctuates, they are hot. The traditional method helps, but with its help you can only detect problems in the thermal state of the body. It is almost impossible to measure them accurately and determine the difference between 37 and 40 degrees.

A more effective method to find out the temperature is to check his pulse rate. An increase in temperature is often accompanied by disruption of the heart muscle. The pulse quickens, but in different ways, depending on the age characteristics of the children. As you get older, your heart rate changes. For an accurate determination, it is important to know the standards:

• Newborns – 140 beats per minute;
• 1 month – 1 year - 125–30;
• 1–3 years - 115–125;
• 3–7 years - 90–110;
• 7–10 years - 75–80.

When feeling the pulse, use a stopwatch. If the push indicators exceed age norms by 15–20 beats, the child has a fever.

Young children are very active, so it is not necessary to set a timer for a minute. Feel the artery with your fingers and count the shocks in 10 seconds. When you multiply the resulting figure by six, you get an indicator of the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle in 60 seconds. The most sensitive pulsation is on the temples, neck, wrists and back of the feet.

You can tell if you have a high temperature by breathing. A one-year-old child takes 25–30 breaths per minute. If you count more, the baby has a fever. The respiratory system of babies at 1–2 months is different. The respiratory rate of newborns is the highest among age groups. To receive the required amount of oxygen, the body is forced to take 35–50 breaths per minute.

Conclusions:

Fever is a sign of infection, so fever in young children is a dangerous condition. The body reacts and resists, but it is not yet strong enough to defeat pathogenic viruses and bacteria. Adults should constantly monitor the temperature and condition of the child. Measurements with a thermometer are the most accurate and reliable, but if the necessary device is not available, use all available methods. Even approximate indicators will help alleviate the condition with antipyretic drugs and consult a doctor in a timely manner.