Measuring the temperature without thermometer

The patient’s general condition alone can give an indication as to whether a fever is present: a pale, weakened, ill-looking general condition is evident. If the fever is high, mere touch may be sufficient to determine the fever. Therefore, placing the back of the hand on the forehead or in the neck can be a reliable method of assessing whether a fever is present or not. However, an exact body temperature cannot be determined without a thermometer.

Different measuring methods

There are different methods for measuring fever, but their accuracy varies greatly. For example, the target values for normal body temperature are in a different range depending on the method of measurement: Under the armpit: 34.7° – 37.7°C In the buttocks (rectally): 36.6° – 38.0°C Over the mouth: 35.5° – 37.5°C Forehead: 35.4° – 37.4°C

Under the armpit: 34,7° – 37,7°C
In the buttocks (rectal): 36.6° – 38.0°C
Over the mouth: 35,5° – 37,5°C
Forehead: 35,4° – 37,4°C
Ear: 35,6° – 37,8°C

In this method, the clinical thermometer is inserted about one centimeter deep into the anus and the body temperature is measured through the anus. To make it easier to insert the thermometer, the tip can be greased with vaseline, for example.

This is the most accurate method and reflects the actual body core temperature. This method should be preferred for children younger than 6 years of age. All other methods are too inaccurate and more difficult to perform at this age to measure fever.

For this method of measuring fever there are special ear thermometers (infrared thermometers) which are inserted into the ear canal. However, a very precise insertion of the thermometer into the ear is important for accurate temperature measurement.Therefore it should be noted that with this measuring method the real body temperature can be 0.3° above or below the measured value. After the rectal measurement method, however, the measurement via the ear is the most accurate method for determining the body temperature.

This method is also very accurate and can be used as an alternative to the rectal method to obtain an accurate value. The clinical thermometer is placed under the tongue. About 0.5° Celsius must be added to the measured value.

The clinical thermometer is placed under the armpit and the upper arm is placed against the body. This method is not very reliable and should therefore be avoided. The measured temperature is one or even two degrees less than the actual body temperature.

It should also be noted that false low fever values are measured if fever-reducing medication has been taken beforehand. Then it is possible that the temperature in the periphery, i.e. under the armpit, has already dropped, but is still high or has even risen in the body. Now there are forehead thermometers for measuring fever.

The special thermometer is placed on the forehead. But there are also thermometers with a non-contact mode, in which the temperature can be measured even from a distance of about 5 cm without putting it on. The forehead thermometer then measures the radiated body heat, similar to the ear thermometer.

Again, the correct positioning of the thermometer is important to get a correct result. Therefore, the instructions for the respective thermometer should always be read beforehand. Nevertheless, this method can only measure the surface temperature and not the core body temperature.

As already described above, the measurement method over the buttocks, i.e. rectally, should be preferred for babies and children up to 6 years of age. In order to be able to insert the thermometer easily, the baby should be placed on its back and both legs should be bent slightly. The two feet should then be held with one hand while the thermometer can be inserted with the other hand.

The normal body temperature should be between 36.8° and 37.5° Celsius. If the baby is very restless and a measurement using the method described above is not possible, the baby can also be placed on the lap on its stomach. Then the baby can be held with one hand and with the other hand the thermometer can be carefully inserted into the bottom.