Diagnosis
Whether or not there is an elevated body temperature is usually measured using a clinical thermometer. The accuracy of the measurement depends not only on the characteristics of the device but also on the location of the measurement. If an elevated body temperature is actually present after correct measurement, the cause must be found.
As a rule, the attending physician first physically examines the patient for other existing signs of, for example, infection or inflammation and may ask about previous stays abroad. A blood, urine or stool sample can also be taken for further clarification, in order to examine for inflammatory and/or bacterial infections.
- The temperature measurement in the buttocks (rectal) is considered to be the most accurate, as it comes closest to the actual temperature inside the body.
- The measurement in the mouth, where the clinical thermometer is placed under the tongue (sublingual) and the lips must be closed, is also still quite accurate, but usually deviates by up to 0.3°C from the more unpleasant rectal measurement. Previously consumed hot or cold food or drinks can additionally falsify the sublingual measurement.
- Furthermore, the body core temperature can also be measured under the armpit (axillary), whereby this method is considered the most pleasant and most widespread, but also the most inaccurate (up to 0.5°C deviation from rectal readings).
- Finally, elevated temperatures can also be measured via infrared waves in the ear, although here, too, false low readings can be caused by inflammation or ear canal obstruction with earwax.
