What is a thermometer? A medical device familiar to many is found in almost every apartment. There is no need to explain why it is not difficult to find in a family of any income (and often in several copies), since it is not possible to measure the temperature without a thermometer.
You can touch the forehead of a sick person with your lips or measure a person’s pulse, but these actions will only help to understand that the temperature is too high, but you can’t hope for accurate results. Any working thermometer is an important and necessary item. This fact does not cause controversy. Disputes about how long you should hold the thermometer are ongoing. Let's try to find out optimal time required to determine body temperature.
- inexpensive and most accurate device. Its disadvantage is its fragility and for a long time measurements, but there are no competitors in terms of accuracy of readings. How long to hold a mercury thermometer depends on the method of measuring temperature:- in the rectum or mouth – 5 minutes;
- in the armpit – 10 minutes.
Historical reference. The prototype of the liquid thermometer was the thermoscope, invented by Galileo in 1603. After 23 years, Santorio improved this device and for the first time measured the temperature of the human body. The famous Fahrenheit filled the device with mercury in 1714. At first he suggested using physical properties alcohol But I noticed that under the influence of heat, mercury expands more evenly.
This is interesting . A tattoo thermometer is a type of electronic thermometer for permanent wear on the skin. The personal device was developed by a group of scientists from America, China and Singapore. Externally, it is a thin film with golden sensors, reminiscent of a barcode tattoo. It is attached to the skin with inside wrists using special glue. Measures body temperature throughout the day. True, it is not particularly accurate yet.
New developments. Today, in pharmacies you can often find thermometers in the form of a pacifier. Unfortunately for manufacturers and parents, not all babies like these options. Some spit them out, others begin to chew them... Korean designers tried to correct the situation. They suggested measuring temperature using... lollipop. Very real and completely edible. The thermometer is a stick with a replaceable sweet at the measuring end. While the baby is eating, his temperature is measured. If the idea is implemented and goes into mass production, the replacement sweets will be sold in pharmacies.
How long to keep the thermometer under your arm?
Mercury and electronic devices are most in demand due to their affordable cost and ease of use. They are usually used to determine body temperature in the armpit, since this method brings the least inconvenience, especially when you need to understand whether a child has a fever or not.
The answer to the question of how long to keep a thermometer under your arm is as follows:
- from 2 to 5 minutes when using an electronic device;
- from 8 to 10 minutes when using a mercury device.
Which thermometer should you choose?
You need to choose a medical gadget based on who needs to measure their temperature and under what conditions.
For babies and children younger age An infrared thermometer will work as it can determine the exact temperature in a few seconds. It is very convenient that the child does not need to be undressed and it is enough to free the forehead.
For adults, it is better to use a mercury device, as it shows the most accurate result. It will take some time for adequate information about body temperature to be displayed.
For trips and business trips Disposable strips are perfect because you don’t have to worry about them breaking or breaking.
Body temperature is checked in different ways:
- Rectally - in the rectum.
- Orally - in the mouth.
- Under the arm.
- On the forehead - for this, infrared scanners are used to check the artery.
- In the ear - also with the help of scanners.
For each method, there are electronic thermometers specifically designed for each location. There is plenty to choose from. But there is also a problem: cheap (sometimes not very cheap) devices often lie or fail. Therefore, when choosing an electronic thermometer, do not skimp, be sure to read the reviews and check the mercury readings at least once.
The latter, by the way, is preferred by many. A maximum mercury thermometer (as a thermometer is correctly called) costs a penny and is quite accurate, which cannot be said about many electronic devices with “so-so” quality. However, it is dangerous because it is easy, and shards of glass and mercury vapor have not made anyone healthier.
No matter what kind of thermometer you use, read its instructions first.
After each use, it would be good to clean the thermometer: wash it, if possible, or wipe it with an antiseptic. Be careful if the thermometer is sensitive to moisture and may become damaged. It’s embarrassing to mention, but still, a thermometer for rectal measurements should not be used anywhere else.
How to measure the temperature under the arm
Most often, we measure the temperature under the arm with a regular mercury or electronic thermometer. Here's how to do it right:
- You cannot take your temperature after eating or physical activity. Wait half an hour.
- Before starting the measurement, the glass thermometer must be shaken off: the mercury column should show less than 35 °C. If the thermometer is electronic, just turn it on.
- The armpit should be dry. The sweat needs to be wiped off.
- Keep your hand pressed tightly. In order for the temperature under the armpit to become the same as inside the body, the skin must warm up, and this takes time. It is better to press the child’s shoulder yourself, for example, by picking up the baby in your arms.
- The good news: if you follow the previous rule, the mercury thermometer will take 5 minutes, not 10, as is commonly believed. Many electronic thermometers respond to temperature changes and measure as long as these changes exist. Therefore, if you do not press your hand, the temperature may change for a long time and the results will be inaccurate.
How to measure temperature rectally
This method is sometimes needed when you need to check the temperature of babies: it is difficult for them to hold their hand, it is unsafe to put something in their mouth, and it is expensive infrared sensor Not everyone has it.
- The part of the thermometer that you will insert into the rectum should be lubricated with petroleum jelly or petroleum jelly (available at any pharmacy).
- Place the child on his side or back, bend his legs.
- Carefully insert the thermometer into the anus 1.5–2.5 cm (depending on the size of the sensor), hold the child while the measurement is taken. A mercury thermometer should be held for 2 minutes, an electronic one - for as long as written in the instructions (usually less than a minute).
- Remove the thermometer and look at the data.
- Treat your child's skin if necessary. Wash the thermometer.
How to measure the temperature in your mouth
This method is not suitable for younger children four years, because at this age children cannot yet reliably hold a thermometer. Do not take your mouth temperature if you have eaten something cold in the last 30 minutes.
- Wash the thermometer.
- The sensor or reservoir of mercury should be placed under the tongue and the thermometer should be held with the lips.
- Use a regular thermometer to measure the temperature for 3 minutes, and an electronic thermometer for as long as necessary according to the instructions.
How to measure ear temperature
There are special infrared thermometers for this: it is useless to stick other thermometers into the ear. Children under 6 months old should not have their ear temperature measured. Age guidelines, because due to developmental characteristics, the results will be inaccurate. You can measure the temperature in your ear only 15 minutes after you return from the street.
Pull your ear slightly to the side and insert the thermometer probe into your ear. It takes a few seconds to measure.
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Some infrared devices measure temperature on the forehead, where the artery runs through. Data from the forehead or ear are not as accurate Fever: First aid, as with other measurements, but they are fast. But for household measurements, it is not so important what your temperature is: 38.3 or 38.5 °C.
How to read a thermometer
The measurement result depends on the accuracy of the thermometer, the correctness of the measurements and where the measurements were taken.
The temperature in the mouth is higher than under the armpit by 0.3–0.6 °C, rectal - by 0.6–1.2 °C, in the ear - up to 1.2 °C. That is, 37.5 °C is an alarming figure for measurement under the arm, but not for rectal measurement.
The norm also depends on age. In children under one year old, the rectal temperature is up to 37.7 °C (36.5–37.1 °C under the arm), and there is nothing wrong with that. The 37.1°C under the armpit that we suffer from becomes a problem as we age.
In addition, there is also individual characteristics. A healthy adult's temperature ranges from 36.1 to 37.2°C under the armpit, but someone's personal normal is 36.9°C and someone else's is 36.1. The difference is big, so in an ideal world it would be nice to take your temperature for fun when you are healthy, or at least remember what the thermometer showed during your medical examination.
The process of thermoregulation is one of the most important physiological mechanisms, which ensures the constancy of the internal environment and the course of all biological reactions. Normal human body temperature is between 36.5 and 37.2 degrees. This range of temperature values guarantees the normal functioning of the body's defenses and other vital systems.
Under the influence of infectious and non-infectious factors in children of different ages Body temperature may increase. This condition is usually accompanied by general malaise, headache, body aches and decreased appetite. In order to have an idea of the true indicators of the child’s body temperature, parents often use a mercury thermometer.
Thermometer characteristics
The nature and duration of the assessment of body temperature indicators directly depend on the type of thermometer chosen. Thermometers, which operate by expanding mercury particles, are products that have been used since the invention of the thermometer to measure body temperature. The fact that this type of thermometer has not lost its popularity is due to a number of advantages of a mercury thermometer:
- Accuracy of the data obtained regarding temperature indicators;
- Affordable price;
- Possibility of measurement by any of the known methods;
- Ease of operation;
- The probability of obtaining an unreliable result is reduced to zero.
Despite these advantages, mercury thermometers have a number of disadvantages. These disadvantages include:
- The duration of the standard procedure is at least 8 minutes;
- Fragile frame of the thermometer;
- If the thermometer is damaged, a person risks getting poisoned by mercury vapor.
Even taking into account the above disadvantages correct operation of these products will guarantee effective and safe measurement of indicators.
Measurement Rules
To obtain the most accurate result from this procedure, parents should familiarize themselves with the key recommendations:
- Before starting to measure indicators in the child’s armpit, parents should make sure that it is dry there. If the baby is sweating, wipe the armpit area dry with a paper napkin. This event will allow you to avoid false results that occur when sweat evaporates and the child’s skin cools;
- Before using the thermometer, shake it until it reaches 35.5 degrees;
- The air temperature in the room where the measurement takes place should be from 18 to 25 degrees. If the room is less than 18 degrees, then before starting to measure the child’s body temperature, you need to warm the thermometer with your palms;
- When inserting a mercury thermometer into the armpit, ensure that the mercury tip is in contact with skin baby. When the thermometer is installed, it is important to ensure that the armpit is covered with the baby’s hand;
- When measuring temperature indicators, it is important to ensure that the child does not move, eat or talk;
- It is incorrect to assess a child’s body temperature immediately after returning from a walk and after swimming. If the child has recently been capricious or crying, then this procedure is postponed for 30-40 minutes.
To assess this parameter in children of different ages, the areas of the armpit, oral cavity, inguinal fold and rectum are used. If the baby is sick, then this procedure is carried out every 3 hours. If your child is taking antipyretics medicines, then the measurements are carried out before using the drug and 40 minutes after that.
Assessment of body temperature in the oral cavity is most often used in children over 3 years of age, as this procedure can be traumatic for younger children. To ensure the safety of measuring oral temperature, you should familiarize yourself with the following recommendations:
- Before the mercury thermometer is in the child’s mouth, it is wiped with a solution of Chlorhexidine or Miramistin;
- Before starting the measurement, you need to shake the thermometer to 35 degrees;
- The optimal place to place the mercury tip of the thermometer is the child’s sublingual area. Parents of the baby need to ensure that the child’s teeth do not press the thermometer tightly (to avoid damaging it). The duration of this procedure is 56 minutes.
In children of different ages, there is often a need to measure indicators rectally (through the rectum). Before using the thermometer, it must be treated with an antiseptic solution and wiped dry. To obtain reliable results of rectal temperature, the following rules should be taken into account:
- The depth of insertion of the mercury tip into the child’s rectum is 1.5-2 cm;
- Before inserting the thermometer, the baby is placed on his left side, with his legs bent towards his stomach;
- The tip of the thermometer should be inserted carefully, using a screw-like motion;
- The duration of rectal temperature measurement is from 6 to 8 minutes. During this time, the baby should lie still;
- After the specified time has passed, the tip of the thermometer is carefully removed from the rectum.
The groin area is not the preferred location for this procedure. The use of this zone is acceptable for infants. To carry out the procedure, the baby is placed on his back, and one leg is bent in the area hip joint and pressed to the stomach.
The mercury tip of the thermometer is placed in the area of the inguinal fold, pressing it with the baby’s leg. The duration of the measurement procedure in this format is from 7 to 10 minutes. During the procedure, care must be taken to ensure that the baby does not make sudden movements or cry.
Another less common area for measuring body temperature is the ear canal. For this procedure, infrared thermometers are most often used, but their absence can easily be compensated for mercury thermometer.
To carry out the procedure, you need to carefully move the child’s earlobe up and back. After this, the tip of the thermometer is installed in the ear canal. The insertion depth is no more than 1 cm.
It takes 5 to 8 minutes to measure the temperature in the ear canal. This method is preferable for children over 2 years of age, since the ear canal is not sufficiently developed in newborn children. Typically, these babies have an increased risk of traumatic injury.
Now we will get acquainted with thermometers and find out how long to keep the thermometer under your arm?
There are now several different methods temperature measurements. In the best ways Measurements under the arm, in the mouth, in the ear or rectally are considered. Digital electronic thermometers - the simplest and most quick way temperature measurements. But mercury and alcohol thermometers are also used.
Normal temperature is 36.6 °C, but can range from 36.2 °C to 37.7 °C. Body temperature may change throughout the day. It is usually lower in the morning and higher in the evening. The temperature may also change depending on your activity. For example, exercise or sports raises your temperature. There are recommendations about how long you should wait after doing certain activities before measuring this indicator. You need to wait at least 15 minutes after you or your child has consumed hot drinks or food to place the thermometer. After acceptance hot bath You should also wait about 15 minutes.
- Digital.
- Electronic.
- Mercury.
- Alcohol.
You should carefully read the instructions for each type of thermometer.
Digital thermometers are the most common and give the fastest and most accurate results. Digital thermometers can be used in the mouth and under the arm. They are usually made of flexible plastic with a temperature sensor on one end and a display panel on the other. How long should you keep the thermometer under your arm? Until a sound signal signals the end of the measurement.
Electronic thermometers have a heat-sensitive panel on one side and a digital panel on the other. Electronic thermometers are not always accurate, but they are safe. Digital thermometers can be purchased at pharmacies or medical supply stores.
Electronic ear thermometers are fast and easy to use. Ear thermometers can give false readings if there is excess hair or wax in the ears, or if it is not inserted into the ear correctly.
A thermometer for frontal measurement is applied to the forehead and temporal area. Make sure your forehead is dry when you use this thermometer.
How long should you keep the thermometer under your arm?
Clean the mercury thermometer warm water with soap or alcohol before and after use. Do not immerse it in water. To measure the temperature under your arm: insert the tip under the mouse. Make sure the thermometer does not touch clothing. Squeeze your hand against your body to hold the thermometer in place. How long should you keep the thermometer on? Hold the thermometer under your arm just long enough until you hear a beep.
In children, normal temperature body temperature ranges from 36 degrees C (96.8 F) to 37 °C (98.6 F). Any temperature above 37.7°C (100F) is classified as a fever.
Mercury thermometers are the most accurate means of measurement, but are now used less and less. A mercury thermometer is a thin glass tube with a silver (metallic) tip and a line inside.
Mercury is toxic and dangerous chemical. Protection Agency environment(EPA) caution against the use of mercury thermometers. If the thermometer breaks, mercury can enter your respiratory tract or skin.
Temperature control (thermoregulation) is part of the homeostatic mechanism that maintains the body at its optimal operating temperature, which in turn influences the rate of chemical reactions.
Main deviations and diseases
- Fever.
- Hyperthermia.
- Hypothermia.
Fever – elevated temperature. No consensus about the upper temperature threshold, and how dangerous it is. Fever is not a disease, it is one of the symptoms of an underlying disease, most often an infection. Depending on your age and physical condition, it is advisable to know the root cause of the fever as you may need treatment. Many experts believe that fever is the body's natural defense against infection. There are also many non-infectious causes of fever.
Fever is not generally considered dangerous, but hyperthermia can cause dangerous jumps body temperature. Hyperthermia can be caused by extreme temperatures such as heat stroke, as well as side effects some medications and narcotic substances. With hyperthermia, the body is no longer able to control body temperature.
Hyperthermia occurs when the body produces or absorbs more heat than it can dissipate. This is usually caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures. The body's heat-regulating mechanisms are consequently overloaded and unable to effectively deal with the heat, causing the body's temperature to rise uncontrollably. Hyperthermia at or above about 40°C is life-threatening and is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Common symptoms include sweating, headache, body aches and fatigue.
Treatment includes cooling the body. Antipyretic drugs are not useful for treating hyperthermia. Moving the patient to a cool place, wearing a gauze bandage soaked in a vinegar solution and drinking plenty of fluids are the main methods of combating hyperthermia.
In children, symptoms associated with fever include lethargy, poor appetite, sore throat, cough, ear pain, vomiting and diarrhea.
Hypothermia is a decrease in body temperature that occurs when the body dissipates more heat than it absorbs. Hypothermia is a potentially dangerous drop in body temperature, usually caused by prolonged exposure to cold. The main cause of hypothermia is hypothermia. But it can also be observed in people with diabetes, anorexia and the elderly. It can often be found in people affected by alcohol intoxication.
Symptoms of hypothermia in adults: drowsiness or fatigue, chills, high blood pressure, slow, weak pulse. Treatment for hypothermia includes hot drinks, warm clothes and physical activity.
Body temperature can indicate many problems in the body. The body reacts to tooth growth, bone fractures, poisoning, and dehydration.
Anhidrosis is a pathogenic condition of a person when he cannot sweat. This may be caused various factors such as genetics, some skin diseases, medications or damage nervous system. Unable to cool down through the sweating system, the temperature rises to dangerous levels.
Conclusion
There are certain processes in Everyday life who never stop. In order to maintain a healthy metabolic process, our body must function at a certain level. optimal temperature – from 36.2 °C to 37.7 °C. That is, maintain a balance between heat losses and gains.
If your body temperature drops too low, your respiratory system will work slowly, eventually leading to death. On the contrary, if your body temperature becomes too high, the enzymes in your blood will stop functioning normally, which will also lead to death.
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Correct thermometer readings are very important for determining treatment tactics for the disease. It is not for nothing that many people wonder how long to keep the thermometer under their arm, because it depends on how accurate the measurement is.
Measurement methods
Today, the most popular method remains measuring the temperature in the armpit. However, this is far from the only way. Measurements can also be taken in the following areas:
- in the rectum;
- behind the ear (using an infrared thermometer);
- in the oral cavity;
- under the knee.
How long does it take to measure? This depends on two factors: the above-mentioned measurement methods and the type of thermometer.
Mercury thermometer
A mercury thermometer is an inexpensive and at the same time accurate device. Disadvantages include fragility and significant amount time required for measurement, but in terms of accuracy of readings it is unrivaled.
How many minutes should you hold the mercury thermometer?
- rectally or in the oral cavity – 5 minutes;
- under the arm – 10 minutes;
- under the knee – 10 minutes.
Such a device costs much more, and it is not as accurate as a mercury thermometer, but the temperature measurement procedure takes much less time.
You don’t even need to time the time required for the measurement, because at the end of the process the device will emit a sound signal notifying you that the measurement is completed. This usually occurs within 1–3 minutes, regardless of the measurement method.
Modern manufacturers offer wide choose electronic pacifier thermometers for babies. With such a gadget, the procedure will not cause any concern to the baby, because he will perceive the device as an ordinary pacifier.
Infrared thermometer
It is a non-contact device that just needs to be brought to the area behind the ear or to the forehead, and it will give accurate readings. The cost of such a gadget is quite high, but its ease of use is difficult to dispute.
First of all, comfort is associated with the duration of the procedure: measuring the temperature with an infrared thermometer will take no more than 5 seconds, and it is absolutely safe.
Disposable thermometer
A travel thermometer is a strip that is held on the forehead or placed under the tongue. Body temperature is determined after a minute using the colored divisions on the strip.
You should not expect accurate results from such a device, but it is ideal for determining indicators on the road.
To obtain reliable indicators, it is not enough to know how long you need to hold the thermometer; you also need to carry out the measurement procedure correctly. So, if you measure body temperature with a mercury or electronic thermometer, then adhere to the following rules:
- When measuring temperature, make sure that the skin is not wet. It is known that a sweaty person will have elevated readings.
- When measuring under the arm, you need to press your hand to your body and hold the inserted thermometer tightly. Then the question will not arise: “Why is the temperature on the thermometer minimal, since I have been holding it for a long time?”
- If the measurement is taken under the knee, then you need to hold the device with your leg bent for 10 minutes. In this case, you need to lie down.
- Measuring temperature to a small child, you need to first warm the thermometer in your hands so as not to frighten the baby by touching a cold object. It is most convenient to take measurements under the arm while the baby is sleeping.
- Children can use the thermometer rectally. An electronic device is better suited for this. Firstly, it is not so traumatic, and secondly, the procedure time with it is shorter. However, it is worth considering that the temperature in the rectum is slightly higher than, for example, under the armpit.
- It must be remembered that older mercury thermometers respond more slowly to changes in readings, so they require more time to measure.
- Shake the mercury thermometer with sharp short movements, holding it between your index finger and thumb. The column should drop to approximately 35.5 degrees. It is better to do this over a soft surface to avoid damaging the thermometer if it falls.
- After the procedure, rinse the device with cool water.
- To take repeated measurements, use the same thermometer.
Now you know how to measure temperature correctly, how long to hold the device under your arm, under your knee, etc. Every adult who cares about own health and about the health of their children.
The effectiveness and correctness of therapy depends on how responsibly you approach the issue of temperature measurement. We hope that our advice will help you get the correct readings and begin the required treatment immediately.
Measurements can be made with either a mercury or an electronic thermometer. While the child is sleeping, the temperature can be measured under the armpit. Other countries use a thermometer to measure body temperature by placing it in the anus or mouth. The thermometer readings when taking measurements at different points will be different.
Traditionally in every home or medical institution There is a mercury thermometer. It was the mercury content in the thermometer and the possibility of pouring mercury that became the reason for the ban on the use of these thermometers in some countries Western Europe. The 21st century offers new safe methods temperature measurements with electronic, infrared and liquid crystal thermometers.
Such a thermometer will show the temperature with an accuracy of half a degree in 20-30 seconds. The operating principle of an infrared thermometer – contact and non-contact – is quite clear. This thermometer works extremely quickly.
The operating principle of an electronic thermometer comes down to a simple chain: the resistor heats up, its resistance drops and the current increases. The operating time of such a thermometer is quite long - up to 5 minutes, this is because the thermometer clearly reacts to minor changes in armpit temperature and cannot “calm down” in any way.
To obtain an accurate result, the temperature sensor of the electronic thermometer should fit as tightly as possible to the skin under the armpit. This method is strictly prohibited for measuring with mercury thermometers! To accurately measure body temperature on the forehead, just gently hold the forehead infrared thermometer at the temples, and after a few seconds the temperature will be determined.
ATTENTION! Under no circumstances should you use your ear canal to measure your temperature with conventional thermometers. Therefore, changes in body temperature occur faster and more accurately in the ear than in other places. It is carried out by inserting a thermometer into the rectum. It is the most accurate, since the rectal cavity is closed from the outside by the external sphincter.
Before you begin the procedure for inserting the thermometer, you must thoroughly disinfect it. It is carried out by placing a mercury or electronic thermometer in the oral cavity under the tongue. Before use, the tip of the thermometer must be thoroughly disinfected. It does not give the most accurate results, however, most people most often resort to it in everyday life. However, not everyone knows how long to keep a mercury thermometer under their arm.
Temperature measurement methods
Firstly, you should not start measuring your temperature immediately after taking a bath or performing intense physical activity. Before performing the procedure, it is necessary to disinfect the tip of the thermometer and wipe it dry with a napkin or towel. The thermometer is inserted deep into the armpit, then pressed tightly with your hand. It is necessary to prevent air from entering the measurement location.
Mercury thermometer
Plus the thermometer needs five minutes for the mercury to reach desired point on a scale corresponding to the actual temperature. Many mothers are also interested in the question: how long should a thermometer be held under a child’s arm? And after that, set the thermometer for the remaining 5 minutes.
The simple mercury thermometer, known to everyone from distant childhood, has not lost its relevance even now. Electronic thermometers have become popular among the population along with mercury thermometers. In order to learn how to correctly measure temperature with an electronic thermometer, you must carefully read the instructions included with it. The disadvantages of digital thermometers include: the possibility of obtaining incorrect information due to an error in the internal program of the thermometer.
This situation occurs if the electronic thermometer is removed immediately after the sound signal is triggered. In this case, you should press your hand closer to your body, since the temperature sensor of an electronic thermometer requires closer contact with the skin than a mercury thermometer. A malfunction of the thermometer should not be ruled out.
Electronic thermometer
In some Western European countries, it is customary to measure children's body temperature in the ear canal using an infrared thermometer. In addition, a high-quality infrared thermometer has high cost. There are also dummy thermometers for newborn children. Having studied and tried all the options for measuring temperature, everyone can choose the most convenient method for themselves.
When there is a suspicion that someone is sick, to check this, the first thing they do is measure their body temperature using a thermometer. How to hold it correctly so that the readings are true? Temperatures are measured differently for adults and small children. If you have a mercury thermometer, then after checking your body temperature, be sure to shake it to reset the readings.
Otherwise, the procedure for mercury and electronic thermometers is no different. The fact is that the sweat released has more high temperature, than the body itself, so the results on the thermometer will be overestimated. You can increase the measurement time for older mercury devices, which over time begin to respond more slowly to temperature changes. Another way to hold a thermometer is to insert it under your knee.
For young children, you can take their temperature rectally by inserting a thermometer into the baby's bottom. If you leave your baby alone with a thermometer, he may break it while playing and cut himself. Increasing the time of measuring body temperature will not change the thermometer readings. Another disadvantage of a mercury thermometer is the relatively long time (up to 10 minutes) for measuring temperature. Such thermometers require a battery to operate, which lasts for a long time.
Only after this, carefully place and hold the thermometer under your arm. How many minutes should you hold an electronic thermometer with a flexible tip? Insert the thermometer under your arm, press your hand to your body and hold it tightly while you take the temperature. To find out your temperature, take a thermometer and hold it under your arm.
How long to hold the thermometer
Conventional mercury thermometers are not going to go out of use yet. Their advantages include low cost and low measurement error (0.1 degrees). A very serious drawback is, of course, the use of mercury. You need to hold them for 7-8 minutes.
Electronic thermometers are gaining increasing popularity. You need to hold the electronic thermometer for about 5 minutes.
The duration of measuring body temperature depends on the type of thermometer. To measure body temperature as accurately as possible mercury thermometer, you need to hold it at least 6-7 minutes, and if you measure the temperature electronic thermometer, then you need to keep in the armpit for 4-5 minutes. Personally, I hold the electronic one for 5 minutes, because this is the only way to measure correctly, although the instructions say that the measurement time is 1-1.5 minutes. But you need to take into account that in the instructions, when they write a short measurement time, they expect that it will not be kept in the armpit.
I use both a mercury thermometer and an electronic one. I see the advantage of an electronic thermometer over a mercury thermometer when measuring a child's temperature. It is much more convenient, because it can be difficult to keep kids, even with a fever, in one place. For adults, a mercury thermometer is more common. For greater accuracy in measuring temperature, you need to hold the thermometer for at least 6-8 minutes. When measuring the temperature in the armpit, it must be dry!
To correctly determine the temperature of the human body, the thermometer must be held for at least five minutes, but if the thermometer is held too long, nothing bad will happen, it will show the temperature quite clearly, the main thing is to hold the thermometer for at least five minutes.
Several years ago I bought an electronic thermometer. So after a minute he already gives a signal that he measured the temperature, although in fact he did not measure it completely. I think that for optimal determination The temperature of the thermometer should be kept for 5-6 minutes, and if the thermometer is mercury, then more can be done. But from my observations I can say that if the temperature is very high, then the numbers increase quickly both on a mercury thermometer and on an electronic one.
To correctly measure temperature, the thermometer must be held pressed with the measuring element (where the mercury is located) to the body for at least 15-20 minutes. In this case, the thermometer should not be wet and should not be pressed too tightly against the body so as not to break.
There are two types of thermometers: electronic thermometers and mercury thermometers, of course electronic thermometers are better, but at their price they are not affordable for everyone; it is better to buy mercury thermometers. The mercury thermometer must be held under the arm for ten minutes for an accurate reading. But you only need to hold an electronic thermometer for a few seconds.. Better save some money and buy the best electronic thermometer.
Experts advise holding a regular thermometer filled with mercury for at least 7 minutes. The electronic thermometer is held for at least 5 minutes. Although, as far as I remember from childhood, an ordinary thermometer that was placed at the clinic was taken away after 2-3 minutes.
And I really like it electronic thermometers, since they reach the desired mark in a minute and begin to squeak, this means the highest point of your body temperature has been determined. While our mercury thermometers need to be held for a long time, 5-7 minutes, this is if the thermometer is normal, for some this time is not enough.
So that the thermometer does not fail, you should know about How long should you hold the thermometer?. It all depends on which thermometer you prefer to use, i.e. The holding time of a mercury thermometer is up to seven minutes, and an electronic thermometer is up to five minutes.
It is believed that mercury thermometers are more effective than electronic ones.
To be sure of the temperature readings, it is better to measure again.
I have heard many times and for a long time that you must hold a mercury thermometer for at least seven to eight minutes. Then the measurement will be more accurate. Although, if I take the temperature myself, I try to keep it for up to ten minutes. If the thermometer is electronic, then determining the temperature occurs much faster in four to five minutes. Therefore, depending on what kind of thermometer you have, you need to hold it for four to eight minutes.
It is enough to hold the thermometer, whether mercury or electronic, for 5 minutes. During this time, the accuracy of the readings will be plus or minus one tenth of a degree. That is, it will be possible to clearly understand whether there is a temperature or not.
Especially in order to answer this question, I read several sources and asked the doctor what the answer was. The thermometer must be held for at least six minutes and the thermometer will show the exact temperature!
The mercury thermometer should be held under the arm (but can be placed in other places) for about five minutes. It could be more, but there’s not much point in it - well, we find out that the temperature is 2 tenths of a degree higher, and so what? In general, it is better to check the dynamics of temperature growth when measuring - periodically look at how much has increased and how much the readings have changed. When the change becomes insignificant, the body temperature can be considered measured. By the way, this is exactly the principle that electronic thermometers operate on. When the temperature change stops, they give a signal.
Usually, any thermometer needs to be held for at least five minutes, but if the thermometer is an ordinary one (with mercury), then you can hold it for a couple of minutes longer.
There are also electronic thermometers that emit a beep when they can be removed, but they are not very accurate.