Lifestyle and home remedies (1)
- Thermometers: Understand the options
Treatments and drugs (2)
- Fever treatment: Quick guide to treating a fever
- Fever: First aid
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Thermometers: Understand the options
Thermometers come in a variety of styles. Understand the different types of thermometers and how to pick the right thermometer for you.
By Mayo Clinic staffChoosing the thermometer that's best for your family can be confusing. Here's what you need to know about the most common thermometers.
Digital thermometers
Regular digital thermometers, which use electronic heat sensors to record body temperature, can be used in the rectum, mouth or armpit. The most accurate way to take a child's temperature is to use a digital thermometer, either rectally or orally. Rectal temperatures provide the best readings for infants, especially those 3 months or younger as well as children up to age 3. If you use another type of thermometer to take a young child's temperature and you're in doubt about the results, take a rectal temperature. For older children and adults, oral readings are usually accurate — as long as the mouth is closed while the thermometer is in place. Armpit readings tend to be less accurate than rectal and oral readings.
- Pros. Most digital thermometers can record temperatures from the mouth, armpit or rectum — often in a minute or less. A digital thermometer is appropriate for newborns, infants, children and adults.
- Cons. Parents may worry about causing discomfort when taking a child's temperature rectally. Wait at least 30 minutes after eating or drinking to take an oral temperature. Having nasal congestion may make it difficult to keep your mouth closed long enough to get an accurate oral reading from a digital thermometer. If you plan to use a digital thermometer to take both oral and rectal temperatures, you'll need to get two digital thermometers and label one for oral use and one for rectal use. Don't use the same thermometer in both places.
Digital ear thermometers
Digital ear thermometers, also called tympanic thermometers, use an infrared ray to measure the temperature inside the ear canal.
- Pros. When positioned properly, digital ear thermometers are quick and fairly accurate. Digital ear thermometers are appropriate for infants older than age 6 months, older children and adults.
- Cons. Digital ear thermometers aren't recommended for newborns. Earwax or a small, curved ear canal also can interfere with the accuracy of a temperature taken with a digital ear thermometer.
Digital pacifier thermometers
If your child uses a pacifier, you may want to try a digital pacifier thermometer. Your child simply sucks on the pacifier until the peak temperature is recorded.
- Pros. Your child may not even realize you're taking his or her temperature.
- Cons. Digital pacifier thermometers aren't recommended for newborns. For the most accurate reading, your child must hold the pacifier still in his or her mouth for about three to five minutes — which is difficult for many young children, particularly those who have nasal congestion. Recent research doesn't support the accuracy of temperature readings from pacifier thermometers.
(1 of 2)
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- Paes BF, et al. Accuracy of tympanic and infrared skin thermometers in children. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 2010;95:974.
- Thermometers. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/hg/thermometer-main.html. Accessed June 15, 2012.
- Penning C, et al. Is a temporal artery thermometer a reliable instrument for detecting fever in children? Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2010;20:1632.
- Hockenberry MJ, et al. Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children. 9th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011:117.
- Jana LA, et al. Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality. 2nd ed. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2011:306.
- Schmitt BD. Pediatric Telephone Protocols. 13th ed. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2011:1.
- Krych E (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 12, 2012.
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