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
Temporal artery thermometers
Temporal artery thermometers use an infrared scanner to measure the temperature of the temporal artery in the forehead.
- Pros. Temporal artery thermometers can record a person's temperature in about six seconds. Temporal artery thermometers are appropriate for infants older than age 3 months, older children and adults.
- Cons. Temporal artery thermometers aren't recommended for newborns. Although research suggests that temporal artery thermometers more accurately measure infant temperatures than do digital ear thermometers, the reliability of temporal artery thermometers hasn't yet been verified. A temporal artery thermometer may be more expensive than other types of thermometers.
Temperature strips
Temperature strips contain liquid crystals that react to heat. Simply apply a temperature strip to the forehead and the strip will register body temperature by changing color.
- Pros. Temperature strips are appropriate for infants older than age 3 months, older children and adults.
- Cons. Temperature strips aren't recommended for newborns. Temperature strips aren't precise. The temperature of a person's surroundings also can affect the recorded temperature. If you need an exact temperature reading, use a digital thermometer instead.
Mercury thermometers
Once a staple in most medicine cabinets, mercury thermometers use mercury encased in glass to measure body temperature. Mercury thermometers can record temperatures from the mouth, armpit or rectum — but they're no longer recommended because they can break and allow mercury to vaporize and be inhaled. If you have a mercury thermometer, consider replacing it.
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- How to take your child's temperature. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://patiented.aap.org/content.aspx?aid=6368. Accessed Jan. 15, 2010.
- Shelov SP, et al. Caring For Your Baby And Young Child: Birth To Age 5. New York, N.Y.: Bantam; 2009:747.
- Holzhauer JK, et al. Evaluation of temporal artery thermometry in children 3-36 months old. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing. 2009;14:239.
- How to take a child's temperature. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/fever/Pages/How-to-Take-a-Childs-Temperature.aspx. Accessed Feb. 12, 2010.
- Braun CA. Accuracy of pacifier thermometers in young children. Pediatric Nursing. 2006;32:413.
- Greenes DS, et al. Accuracy of a noninvasive temporal artery thermometer for use in infants. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 2001;155:376.
- Robinson JL. Body temperature measurement in paediatrics: Which gadget should we believe? Paediatrics & Child Health. 2004;9:457.
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