Understanding the body’s core temperature is a vital aspect in providing effective medical care. Thermometers are an important diagnostic tool for nurses and healthcare professionals and the body’s core temperature can provide a lot of information about the health of a patient.
Understanding body temperature is particularly important when dealing with babies and toddlers.
Medical thermometers allow healthcare professionals to provide accurate diagnosis. Temperature can be measured in various locations on the body which maintain a stable temperature. These include oral, axillary(armpit), rectal, tympanic(ear), or temporal(forehead).
A high temperature (over 38°C) usually suggests a fever or illness in a patient. The most effective way to check for a temperature is to use a medically graded thermometer to get an accurate reading.