One of the main indicators of human he alth is the temperature of his body. At the first signs of pathogenic bacteria or viruses entering the body, the body immediately responds with an increase in the degree. Interestingly, depending on the place of measurement of such indicators, the result can be radically different even in a he althy person. What should be the temperature in the mouth or armpit and how to measure it correctly is described below.
Measurement rules 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 that timeit is advisable not to make sudden movements so as not to knock down the readings, and it is better to hold the children's hands until the end of the process.
How long to keep a mercury thermometer under your arm depends on the accuracy of the desired readings. An approximate result can be seen after 5 minutes, but the exact data will be known only after 10 minutes. You can keep the thermometer longer, the thermometer still does not rise above body temperature.
Measurement rules in the mouth
It should be noted right away that it is strictly forbidden to measure the temperature in the mouth with a mercury thermometer for children. This is due to the fact that they can accidentally damage the tool with their teeth and get hurt, besides, 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. With nasal congestion, you should also not measure the temperature in the mouth, since mouth breathing will cool the thermometer. Unreliable indicators are often observed in smokers.
How to measure the temperature in the mouth
Before starting the procedure, the thermometer should be thoroughly rinsed and dried. If a mercury thermometer is used, then it must be shaken off so that the column drops to a value no higher than 35 degrees. Before the procedure, the patient must be in a calm state for a while so that his pulse returns to normal. Remove dentures, braces or plates from the oral cavity so as not todamage the tool.
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 should be kept closed at all times during the measurement. Treatment time is usually 4-5 minutes.
Difference in 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 differ significantly from the measurements in the armpit. The difference can vary within 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 during the disease.
Some electronic devices today are specifically tuned to measure temperature in the mouth only. Such thermometers do not give an error and show the same data as mercury ones during axillary measurement, since they are configured this way and give a signal about the end of the process earlier.
Adult norms
The norm of body temperature in the mouth for each person is individual. On average, it is 37.3 degrees for a he althy person. It can be determined more precisely based on the thermometer readings when measuring the temperature on the surface of the skin, that is, under the armpit.
There, the column in most cases shows 36, 4-36, 7 degrees, but in some cases it is considered the norm andresult in 35-37 degrees. To the data obtained, you need to add an average of half a degree, you get the norm of thermometer readings in the mouth.
Norms for kids
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 body temperature of a child is higher than when he is awake. The result also depends on the method of measurement. The temperature in the mouth is considered normal for children if it does not exceed 37.1 degrees. At the same time, an armpit measurement will show the usual 36.6, but the measurement rate 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 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 the indicator at which a person feels comfortable and keeps working. It may 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 heart rate slows down and the temperature drops. With active movement, stress, or after taking a hot meal or drink, on the contrary, it increases.
In addition, the temperature readings shareinto several species that persist in any human condition.
- Increased body temperature. At the same time, when measured in the mouth, the indicators exceed 37.5 degrees, but the person is completely he althy and feels good.
- Reduced temperature. In such cases, the thermometer readings do not rise above 36 degrees in the oral cavity. This condition is called hypothermia.
- Norm. This includes the average for all people, which fluctuate between 36-37.5 degrees in the mouth or half a degree lower in the 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, this is poor he alth, always accompanied by additional symptoms of the disease. Too low indicators may indicate overwork and weakness of the body, which also necessarily signals secondary signs. In any case, the norm of your temperature should be determined by measuring only in good he alth and subject to all the rules, then the results will be as accurate as possible.
