Mention the thermometer must be familiar to everyone. When you catch a cold, take the thermometer and put it in your armpit. You can know if you have a fever later by looking at the reading.
However, although everyone has used thermometers, many people do not know those who choose thermometers.
Next, Ding Ma will talk in detail about the exquisite use of thermometers, starting with the selection of thermometers.
All kinds of thermometers compete
1. Electronic thermometer
When we talk about electronic thermometers, we usually refer to the pen thermometer shown in the figure below.
This kind of thermometer is generally multi-purpose, can be used to measure the temperature of armpit, also can measure the temperature of oral cavity, rectum. Electronic thermometer is also very convenient to use, reading is simple, measuring speed is faster, the price is also relatively cheap.
Anal temperature measurement
It is more suitable for babies under 3 years old. At present, it is generally believed that when the anal temperature exceeds 38.0 ℃, it represents fever.
The measurement result of anal temperature is closer to the real temperature of human body, but the baby may not feel very comfortable during measurement.
When measuring body temperature, the child’s anal temperature is more accurate than the oral temperature and axillary temperature. If there are several thermometers in the home, attention should be paid to marking which part each thermometer measures, and the same thermometer should not be used in different parts.
Oral temperature measurement
Generally suitable for children over 4 years old, the oral temperature is generally 0.5 ℃ lower than the anal temperature on average, and fever can be considered when the oral temperature exceeds 37.5 ℃.
When measuring, pendulum is very important to the position of the thermometer. The tip of the thermometer should be placed under one side of the tongue instead of directly on the tongue for the child to hold.
Axillary temperature measurement
Basically, children of any age can measure the axillary temperature. The axillary temperature is 0.8 ℃ lower than the anal temperature on average. When the axillary temperature exceeds 37.3 ℃, fever can be considered.
Before measurement, care should be taken to ensure that the skin surface is dry. If the skin is humid after sweating or just taking a bath, the measured axillary temperature cannot accurately reflect the child’s real body temperature.
During measurement, it is necessary to ensure that the tip of the thermometer is completely clamped by the skin. If the child does not cooperate well, it cannot be clamped tightly when moving around, or the measurement time is not enough, the measured temperature will also be lower than the real temperature of the child.
2. Ear temperature gun
Ear temperature gun is also called tympanic membrane thermometer, which measures the temperature according to the infrared heat wave released by tympanic membrane when in use.
When used correctly, the accuracy of the measurement results is relatively high. Earwax in the ears may sometimes affect the measurement results to some extent. The measurement time is relatively short and the baby does not need to cooperate for a long time, but the price is relatively expensive.
Ear temperature measurement
It is suitable for babies over 6 months old. It is generally believed that ear temperature exceeding 38.0 ℃ indicates fever.
When using the ear temperature gun, the temperature can only be measured accurately if the probe of the ear temperature gun and the tympanic membrane are on the same horizontal line, but the external auditory canal of a person is not a straight line, so it is necessary to properly lift the auricle of the child during measurement to ensure that the ear canal forms a straight line.
For children under 1 year old, gently pull the ear back and down before use to ensure that the ear canal can be measured after straightening. For children over 1 year old, the ear can be measured by gently pulling back and up before use to ensure that the ear canal is straightened.
Under normal circumstances, there may be certain differences in the temperatures of the left and right ears. It is better to fix one ear to measure the ear temperature.
In addition, the earwax in the ear will also affect the measurement results. Generally speaking, most of the earwax can be discharged by itself. However, sometimes there will be too much earwax blocking the ear canal. At this time, you must ask a doctor to deal with it and do not pick out the ear for your child.
3. Frontal temperature gun
Forehead temperature gun is also called forehead thermometer or infrared thermometer. When in use, it can be read as long as it is gently swept on the forehead. It is convenient and fast. It is more common in public places to check the body temperature of the crowd. Besides measuring the body temperature, it can also measure the water temperature and bottle temperature. However, the forehead temperature gun measures the temperature of the skin surface, with relatively poor accuracy and repeatability.
Frontal temperature measurement
It is suitable for babies over 3 months old. Generally speaking, fever can be considered if the frontal temperature exceeds 38.0 ℃.
When in use, the forehead temperature gun can be swept over the bridge of the nose and between the eyes to quickly measure the body temperature, which can be conveniently measured without the complete cooperation of the baby.
4. Temporal artery thermometer
This kind of thermometer is quite common in foreign countries, It is not very common on the market in our country. Temporal artery thermometer measures the temperature of temporal artery on the forehead. When in use, the thermometer is flat on the middle of the forehead, between the eyebrows and hairline, and then gently flashes along the forehead until touching one side of the hairline, which can complete the measurement and reading. It can also be used when the child is asleep or has ear canal infection.
Precautions for Measuring Body Temperature
1. What time to measure body temperature?
People’s body temperature is not fixed during the day. Generally speaking, it is possible to measure body temperature at any time.
However, attention should be paid to avoid the time period when the child has just finished eating, crying and playing, because the baby’s body temperature may slightly increase after the activity has just been done, and the child should rest for at least 30 minutes after the activity.
The temperature of the environment sometimes affects the measurement results, so if you just enter the room in cold winter or hot summer, it is better not to take the temperature of the child immediately, but to stay indoors for 15 minutes before taking the temperature.
2. There is no need to take your child’s temperature frequently.
When taking the child’s temperature, Frequent and continuous measurement in a short period of time may affect the accuracy of measurement results, and human body temperature is inherently fluctuating, and the fluctuation range of body temperature is often greater when children are hot. When children are hot, body temperature is only one of the reference standards, and indicators such as children’s eating, sleeping and mental state are more noteworthy.
Excessive frequent body temperature measurement does not help parents to better understand their children’s situation, but increases parents’ anxiety and makes children easily resist body temperature measurement.
Please seal up the mercury thermometer
Mercury thermometer is the most common thermometer in our daily life. Many hospitals still use mercury thermometer. Many parents also told Ding Ma that mercury thermometer is accurate and convenient to use.
However, Ding Ma is here and must solemnly stress once again that parents are advised to seal up the mercury thermometer in their home and stop using it.
Three Reasons for Rejecting Mercury Thermometer
1. Mercury thermometers are glass products and are fragile.
From the point of view of household use safety, mercury thermometer is a glass product, which is fragile in itself. It is possible to break the thermometer if you don’t pay attention to it a little.
2. Risk of mercury poisoning
After being broken, mercury in it will volatilize into the air, and inhaling a large amount of mercury vapor in a short period of time may cause mercury poisoning.
Moreover, children’s body systems are not yet mature, and the tolerance dose to toxic and harmful substances is often lower than that of adults. Under the same circumstances, they are more likely to be poisoned than adults. Not only children, but also pregnant women at home need to be paid enough attention.
Some mothers may say: [Breaking mercury thermometers does not necessarily cause poisoning, and some people have broken mercury thermometers before and have not caused mercury poisoning.]
However, no one can guarantee that it will be all right if it is broken this time, and it will definitely be all right if it is broken next time.
The World Health Organization also called for the global elimination of mercury thermometers as early as 2013 by 2020. Many countries and regions including Taiwan, the European Union, Canada and the United States have already banned the sale of mercury thermometers.
3. Electronic thermometers are sufficient to meet the demand.
As far as body temperature measurement is concerned, electronic thermometers and ear temperature guns can also fully meet the needs of temperature measurement. There is no need to pursue very accurate body temperature. Besides, human body temperature inherently fluctuates within a certain range, and there is no absolutely accurate body temperature measurement value at all.
When a child has fever, the measurement of body temperature is important, but it is not the only judgment indicator. The child’s mental state often reflects the problem better than body temperature.
So, why do parents still think mercury thermometer is indispensable? Don’t wait for something to happen before regretting it!