vital signs - temperature

main 5

temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, pain

where can temperature be taken?

mouth, rectum, armpit, ear, temporal artery on the forehead, surface of skin with noncontact thermometer

measured most in

Fahrenheit but some taken in Celsius

temperature 

balance between heat lost and heat produced by the body 

lost by 

perspiration (sweating), respiration (gas exchange), excretion (pee poop)

heat production

metabolism, muscle activity

oral temp

normal - 98.6 F; range- 97.6F - 99.6F

rectal temp

normal - 99.6 F; range- 98.6F - 100.6F

axillary or groin temp

normal - 97.6 F; range- 96.6F - 98.6F

normal body temp

97-100 F

variations for body temp

body sites, time of day, individual differences

aural temp

special tympanic thermometer that is placed in the ear and takes 2 seconds (not accurate all the time)

temporal temp 

temporal scanning thermometers used across the forehead in between the eyebrows. wigs, coverings, hair, pillows can block the way of use, takes 1-2 seconds

causes increase in body temperature

illness, infection, excerise, excitement, high temperatures in the environment

causes decrease in body temperature

starvation or fasting, sleep, decreased muscle activity, mouth breathing, exposure to cold temperatures in the environment, certain diseases

hypothermia

body temp below 95 F measured rectally, prolonged exposure to cold and has no treatment

fever

body temp over 101 F measured rectally; pyrexia

febrile

fever present

afebrile  

no fever is present, normal range of temp 

hyperthermia

body temp over 104 F measured rectally, prolonged exposure to heat

clinical thermometers

slender glass tube that contains mercury or heat reactive mercury free liquid; supported by WHO, NIH, EPA

oral thermometer

shorter rounder bulb and marked with blue tip

rectal thermometer

short, stubby, rounded bulb, marked with red tip (plastic sheaths used to cover thermometer)

electric thermometers

uses a heat sensor to record temperature and shows on the display, can be taken in all areas, plastic covers used, can be used at home

noncontact infrared thermometers

uses a light wavelength technology to measure thermal energy radiating from the skin, some use a laser light, ensure no clothing and is a dry area, used during COVID-19

paper thermometers

has chemical dots/strips that change color when exposed to certain temperatures, forehead, skin, orally used

read and write temp

read at the point that the liquid line ends, short lines represent the decimal points, charts of health records can print these out, write the decimal point as an exponent

cleaning thermometers

cool water, soaked in disinfectant for 30 minutes, plastic sheath used

axillary letter

Ax

aural letter

A or T or Tym

oral letter

no letter

temporal artery reading letter

TA