How Accurate Is A Sublingual Body Temperature Measurement

The normal oral temperature for adults is about 986 f 37 c. 13815 however many medical professionals still use oral temperature devices to assess core body temperature in their patients. Axillary where you measure the temperature under the armpit can be less reliable for getting an accurate body temperature and can register up to a degree lower than rectal or other methods of taking the internal temperature. In both cases the temperature measured is below the measured value of a rectal measurement approximately up to 11 c. Wait 15 to 30 minutes after eating and drinking before taking an oral temperature. But the temperature readings vary depending on which one you use and you need an accurate body temperature to determine if a fever is present.

Whereby a sublingual measurement is preferable to a buccal measurement. Regular digital thermometers use electronic heat sensors to record body temperature. Normal temperatures are usually between 358c and 380c. Very good measurement results can be obtained by pulling gently on the ear which stretches the auditory canal making it easier for the probe to reach the ear drum. If only the auditory canal is reached the temperature measured may be as much as 1c below the true body temperature. Body temperature changes slightly through the day and night and may change based on your activity.

The normal oral temperature for older persons is 982 f 368 c. In this study the right and left tympanic methods showed high precision sensitivity and specificity accuracy in measuring the body temperature and high correlation with the standard method as well as very good agreement of 88 for right tympanic and 85 for the left. Medical research hasnt determined an exact correlation between oral rectal ear armpit and forehead temperature measurements. But the temperature readings vary depending on which one you use and you need an accurate body temperature to determine if a fever is present. The normal oral temperature range is approximately between 355 c and 375 c. Rectal temperatures provide the best readings for infants especially those 3 months or younger as well as children up to age 3.

Inversely axillary measurements tend to be lower with an average temperature being around 977 f. The normal oral temperature for a child is between 976 and 993 f 364 and 374 c. Generally the correlation of temperature results are as follows. Armpit temperatures are usually the least accurate. But rectal measurements may read as much as a degree higher with the average temperature being 995 f. When rectal and oral temperature assessment devices were compared in resting and exercising participants investigators found that oral temperature was not an accurate measurement of core body temperature.

Medical research hasnt determined an exact correlation between. These thermometers can be used in the rectum mouth or armpit. Even oral measurements tend to be lower than core body temperature with an average reading being 982 f. You can take a temperature using the mouth oral anus rectal armpit axillary or ear tympanic.