Generally, the rectal thermometer is used to measure the body temperature in newborns, but it can also be used for elderly patients. Doctors believe it is the most accurate method of taking body temperature, especially in children under the age of four or in people who are unable to measure it in the classic ways (oral and axillary). However, care must be taken when using this method because of the risk of injury in case of incorrect maneuvers. Below, you will find some tips for learning how to use the rectal thermometer safely and effectively.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Knowing When to Use the Rectal Thermometer
Step 1. Identify the symptoms of fever
Be aware that infants and young children may not show the following symptoms:
- Sweating and tremors
- Headache;
- Muscle aches;
- Lack of appetite;
- Sense of general exhaustion;
- Hallucinations, confusion, irritability, seizures, and dehydration can accompany a high fever.
Step 2. Consider the age, health condition, and behavior of the person whose temperature you need to take
For infants under 3 months of age, it is recommended to take the temperature rectally because the ear canal is too small to use the electronic ear thermometer.
- In the case of children between the ages of 3 months and 4 years, the ear or rectal thermometer can be used. You can also use the digital thermometer to measure the temperature in the armpits, although it is less accurate.
- In case of children over 4 years of age who are able to cooperate, the digital thermometer can be used to measure the temperature orally. However, if they are forced to breathe through their mouths due to a stuffy nose, consider that the result may be inaccurate. In this case, you can use the ear thermometer, the temporal artery thermometer (for the forehead) or the digital one to put under the armpits.
- Similarly, to determine the best method to use with an older person, you will need to consider any pathology or lack of cooperation that may interfere with the temperature measurement. If oral or rectal measurement is impractical, try using the ear or forehead thermometer.
Part 2 of 4: Preparing to Use the Rectal Thermometer
Step 1. Get a rectal thermometer
You can buy it at the pharmacy. Make sure it's designed to take temperature rectally. If you need a digital thermometer to detect fever in both the mouth and rectum, purchase two and label them appropriately. Also, avoid the older generation mercury thermometer which is made of glass.
- Rectal thermometers have a specially designed bulb to safely measure the temperature in the rectum.
- See the instructions to use it properly. This way, you will avoid keeping it plugged in for too long. Follow the instructions in the package insert and keep it, in order to use the device correctly and accurately.
Step 2. Make sure that the baby or elderly person has not bathed and swaddled in the last 20 minutes (for example, the baby is wrapped in a cloth so that it does not lose body heat)
Otherwise, the temperature reading could be distorted.
Step 3. Clean the tip of the thermometer with soapy water or denatured alcohol
Never use the same thermometer that you use in the rectum in other areas of the body, otherwise you could spread the bacteria.
Step 4. Apply petroleum jelly to the tip of the thermometer to make it easier to insert
If you prefer to use a disposable thermometer sheath, always throw it away after use and get a new one every time. However, be careful as it may turn off the thermometer while it is running. You must hold it while you take out the device when the temperature reading is finished.
Step 5. Put the baby on his back and insert the thermometer into the rectum
Just introduce it for 1-2 cm without pushing in case of resistance. Hold it in this position until it's finished taking the temperature. Then remove it and read the result.
Turn on the light to see the display clearly
Part 3 of 4: Measure the Rectal Temperature
Step 1. Use the thumb and forefinger of one hand to gently separate the buttocks until you can see the anus
With the other, gently insert the thermometer into the rectum for 1-2 cm.
- Direct the device towards the patient's navel.
- Stop if you feel resistance.
Step 2. Hold the thermometer by placing one hand on your buttocks
Use the other to comfort the patient and keep them from moving. It is important that you remain stationary while the thermometer is inserted so that it does not get hurt when taking the temperature.
- If it moves excessively, the result may be inaccurate or there is a risk of injury.
- Never leave an infant and an elderly person unattended with the thermometer inserted into the rectum.
Step 3. Gently pull it out once it beeps
Read the result and write it down. Typically, body temperature detected rectally is 0.3-0.6 ° C higher than that measured orally.
If you have a disposable sheath attached to the thermometer, be sure to pull this sheath out as well when removing the device from the rectum
Step 4. Thoroughly clean the thermometer before storing it away
Use soap and water or denatured alcohol. Dry the thermometer and store it in its packaging so it is ready for the next time, making sure to mark it for rectal use.
Part 4 of 4: See Your Doctor
Step 1. Call the pediatrician immediately if the baby is under 3 months old and the rectal temperature does not drop below 38 ° C, even if there are no other pathological signs
Is very important. Newborns have limited ability to fight disease because they do not have a mature immune system. They are more at risk of developing serious bacterial infections, such as the kidneys, blood and lungs.
If you get a fever on the weekend or at night when the pediatrician's office is closed, take the baby to the emergency room
Step 2. Call your pediatrician if your body temperature is high, even if it's not accompanied by other symptoms
Contact him if the fever fluctuates around 39 ° C and the 3-6 month old baby seems unusually lethargic, irritable, or uncomfortable; also call him when he has no symptoms in the presence of a high fever.
If the baby is 6-24 months, call the pediatrician if the temperature is above 39 ° C that has lasted more than a day without symptoms. If it is accompanied by symptoms - such as cough, diarrhea, cold - consider contacting him first, depending on the severity of the situation
Step 3. Consider other situations in which you need to see your doctor
In other circumstances, it may also be necessary to seek medical attention. It depends on the age of the patient and the symptoms he presents.
- If it is a child who is over 2 years old, call the pediatrician in case of fever within 39 ° C accompanied by vague symptoms, including lethargy, restlessness, feeling of discomfort. Also call it if the temperature rises above 39 ° C for more than 3 days and it doesn't respond to medication.
- If you are an adult, contact your doctor if you have a fever that is unresponsive to medication, exceeds 39.5 ° C, or lasts more than 3 days.
Step 4. See if the baby's temperature is below normal
If the baby has a temperature below the normal minimum values, that is, lower than 36 ° C, call the pediatrician immediately. When young children get sick, the body's thermoregulatory mechanisms can become dysfunctional.
Step 5. Contact your pediatrician if the patient is at least 2 years old and has fever without other symptoms (cold, diarrhea, etc. for 3 days)
) or if pyrexia is accompanied by:
- Sore throat that has lasted for more than 24 hours
- Signs of dehydration (dry mouth, baby wets less than a diaper within 8 hours or urinates less frequently)
- Pain when urinating
- Loss of appetite, skin rash or difficulty breathing;
- Recent return from a trip abroad.
Step 6. Seek immediate medical attention under certain circumstances
In some cases of pyrexia, you may need to see your doctor urgently. If the child develops a fever following a long stay in a car exposed to the sun or another potentially dangerous situation, do not hesitate to have him examined, especially in the case of:
- Fever without sweating;
- Bad headache;
- Confusion;
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Convulsions;
- Stiffness in the neck;
- Noticeable irritability or discomfort
- Any abnormal symptoms.
Step 7. Seek urgent medical attention if an adult patient complains of certain symptoms
Also for adults there may be the need for an urgent medical check-up in case of fever, also accompanied by:
- Bad headache;
- Severe swelling in the throat;
- Abnormal skin rash, especially if it gets worse in a short time
- Stiffness in the neck and pain when bending the head forward
- Hypersensitivity to bright lights;
- Feeling confused
- Persistent cough;
- Muscle weakness or altered sensory perceptions;
- Convulsions;
- Breathing problems or chest pain
- Strong irritability or apathy
- Abdominal pain when urinating
- Other unexplained symptoms.
