What is the best way to measure temperature?
The true body temperature is represented by the rectal temperature. This method is most reliable for infants and very young children. Axillary temperatures give an approximation of the body temperature but are more convenient and certainly quite fine for screening. Please don’t add a degree to the number obtained; just report the temp obtained and the method used. Most children are able to provide enough cooperation for an oral temperature by 4 or 5 years. Don’t use any of the older mercury thermometers. The ear or “tympanic” thermometers are certainly convenient. However, they should never be used in infants under one year. Their failure to provide consistently accurate readings makes their usefulness limited. We have stopped using them in our office for this reason. Normal rectal temperatures are under 100.4. Oral temperatures are fine if they are less that 99 while axillary temps are usually under 98.
