Axillary temperature is the least accurate because the area is exposed to circulating air outside of the armpit cavity, and in order for the result to be accurate, it takes 10 minutes of holding the thermometer in place. This is hard on the patient and the lab tech/nurse taking the person's temperature.
Axillary
There are four ways to get someones temperature: orally (by mouth), axillary (armpit), rectally or they can stick a thermometer in your ear. Axillary is the least accurate but sometimes is the only way to get a persons temperature.
An axillary reading which is a thermometer placed in the armpit. The one that you stick in the ear, 2 seconds later, the temperature is read. It can be done without the patients knowledge if done correctly.
No, this is an accurate reading. You add a degree when obtaining temperature under the arm (axillary) or in the ear (tympanic).
37.5
A blue-tipped thermometer is commonly used for axillary temperature readings.
An axillary temperature is typically 0.5°F (0.3°C) lower than an oral temperature. Therefore, an axillary temperature taken as 98.6°F would be roughly equivalent to an oral temperature of 99.1°F.
Yes, when taking an axillary (armpit) temperature, you typically add 1 degree Fahrenheit to the reading to account for the lower accuracy of this method compared to oral or rectal measurements. Axillary temperatures are generally lower than core body temperatures, so this adjustment helps provide a more accurate estimation of the body's actual temperature. However, it is always best to follow specific guidelines or recommendations from healthcare professionals.
An axillary thermometer should be left in place for about 3-5 minutes to ensure an accurate reading.
putting a probe in the patients armpit?
The three main routes for taking a temperature are oral, rectal, and axillary (underarm). Oral measurements are taken in the mouth, rectal measurements are taken in the rectum, and axillary measurements are taken in the armpit. Each route can provide slightly different readings, so it's important to use the same method consistently for accurate comparisons.
36.5 - 37.0 Celsius or 97.7 - 98.6 Fahrenheit, though we rarely take an axillary temperature on an adult. If you leave the thermometer in place long enough, it is quite an accurate measure of the body's core temperature