Taking it in the mouth...How is your temperature taken?

One cultural difference Americans who fell ill while visitng Poland have reported is having their temperature taken. When the nurse approached them with a thermometer they would open their mouth and wonder why nurse looked bewildered. Eventually those who could make themselves understood in Polish explained that Americans take it in the mouth or (if they are 2 years of age) in the rectum.

nice title P3. u certainly had me worried.

Hm, taking it "orally" (in the mouth) or "rectal" (in the anus) would be a less "double" description.

>^..^<

M-G (tiens)

That's a bit cruel and'll leave a nasty taste.

What about under the arm? It's probably more hygienic.

Actually, we take it across the forehead.

exergen.com/medical/TAT/tatconsumerpage.htm

Mercury thermometers are rarely used in modern hospitals.

Nice title for sure, thought you were bragging about your wife? :)

It's been years since I've had my temp taken either of the two ways you describe. Usually it's the temp sensor they hold near my ear or my forehead and 5 secs or so later they have it.

In UK kids take it in the armpit.

The last time I saw a mercury thermometer it was sticking in my dogs ass at the vets office. Come to think of it, it was actually a digital therometer.

Polonius that's interesting, can you link me to a source for that? It'll help with some work I'm doing.

Here at work I use an aural thermometer (ear), it takes seconds and is less invasive than rectal but for an infant the rectal thermometer is the more accurate way to get a temperature especially if serious illness is suspected.

At home I have an underarm digital thermometer which is starting to get old so I'll get an aural one when that one gives up the ghost. :)

The nurse takes the temperature by touching the forehead with the thermometer.

Is this like a strip of plastic placed against the forehead? Or something else?

yes... Vicks makes good stuff for kiddos...

It's not the adhesive kind, just a themometer with a tip the nurse touches the forehead with and it reads temperature in less than a minute.

Yes, like the one above :) You can use it for anyone.

Unfortunately I don't think that kind are particularly great...but I may be proved wrong in the long run. :)

I'm not sure how they work but at the moment I have a hot forehead but I doubt that's indicative of my real temp.