Vital Signs: Assessing Temperature

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Questions and Answers

What is an advantage of tympanic membrane temperature measurement?

It is the most accurate method of temperature measurement

It is a non-invasive method

It is a safe method that requires minimal training

It provides a fast measurement (correct)

What is a contraindication for tympanic membrane temperature measurement?

Presence of ear ache (correct)

High blood pressure

Age less than 3 years

Presence of cerumen in the ear

What is the normal temperature range for an axillary temperature measurement in a 3-10 year old child?

97.5-100.4°F

96.6-98.0°F (correct)

98.6-100.6°F

95.9-99.5°F

What is the formula to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius?

C = (F – 32) X 5/9 Signup and view all the answers

What is an advantage of axillary temperature measurement?

It is a safe and non-invasive method Signup and view all the answers

What is the normal temperature range for a rectal temperature measurement in a 65-year-old adult?

97.1-99.2°F Signup and view all the answers

What is the disadvantage of tympanic membrane temperature measurement?

It can be uncomfortable Signup and view all the answers

What is the formula to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit?

F = (C X 9/5) + 32 Signup and view all the answers

What is the normal fluctuation of the core body temperature over the course of the day?

1°C Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for an abnormally low body temperature, below 35°C (95°F) rectally?

Hypothermia Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of heat loss through movement by air currents or fluid?

Convection Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors can alter core body temperature?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a body temperature that is elevated, but not extremely high?

Fever Signup and view all the answers

What is the type of fever characterized by wide temperature fluctuations, more than 2°C over the 24-hour period, all of which are above normal?

Remittent fever Signup and view all the answers

What is the normal range of body temperature for women?

Wider than men Signup and view all the answers

Why are oral temperatures generally lower than the core body temperature?

Because of the measurement site Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between oral and axillary temperatures?

1°C lower Signup and view all the answers

Why are oral temperatures considered inaccurate?

If the patient has just ingested hot or cold food or fluid Signup and view all the answers

What is a contraindication for oral temperature measurement?

Patients with oral surgery Signup and view all the answers

What is the advantage of oral temperature measurement?

It is convenient and accessible Signup and view all the answers

What is characteristic of tympanic membrane temperatures?

They are more variable than oral or rectal temperatures Signup and view all the answers

What correlates more closely with pulmonary artery temperature?

Oral and temporal artery temperatures Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of using glass thermometers for oral temperature measurement?

They can break if bitten Signup and view all the answers

Why are axillary temperatures considered less accurate?

They take 5 to 10 minutes to register Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Temperature Measurement

Core body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F) and fluctuates around 1°C over the course of the day.
Body temperature can be measured from several different areas of the body.
Women have a wider range of normal temperature than men.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Four Sites for Body Temperature Measurement

Axillary

Advantages: safe and non-invasive
Disadvantages: thermometer must be left in place for a long time to obtain an accurate measurement

Tympanic Membrane

Advantages: readily accessible; reflects the core temperature
Disadvantages: can be uncomfortable; involves risk of injuring the membrane if the probe is inserted too far; repeated measurements may vary; presence of cerumen can affect the reading
Contraindications: presence of earache, significant ear drainage, scarred tympanic membrane, sleeping with the head turned on one side

Oral

Advantages: accessible and convenient
Disadvantages: glass thermometers can break if bitten; inaccurate if client has just ingested hot or cold food or fluid or smoked; could injure the mouth following oral surgery
Contraindications: infants and very young children, patients with oral surgery, unconscious or irrational patients, seizure-prone patients, mouth breathers

Rectal

No specific advantages or disadvantages mentioned

Temporal and No-Touch

No specific advantages or disadvantages mentioned

Normal Ranges of Temperature

Oral: 95.9-99.5°F (3-10 years), 97.6-99.6°F (11-65 years), 96.4-98.5°F (65 years and older)
Tympanic Membrane: 97.5-100.4°F (0-2 years), 97-100°F (3-10 years), 96.6-99.7°F (11-65 years), 96.4-99.5°F (65 years and older)
Rectal: 97.9-100.4°F (0-2 years), 97.9-100.4°F (3-10 years), 98.6-100.6°F (11-65 years), 97.1-99.2°F (65 years and older)
Axillary: 94.5-99.1°F (0-2 years), 96.6-98.0°F (3-10 years), 95.3-98.4°F (11-65 years), 96-97.4°F (65 years and older)
Temporal and No-Touch: 97.9-110.7°F (0-2 years), 97.9-100.3°F (3-10 years), 97.9-100.1°F (11-65 years), 97.9-100.1°F (65 years and older)
Core: 97.5-100.0°F (0-2 years), 97.5-100°F (3-10 years), 98.2-100.2°F (11-65 years), 96.8-98.8°F (65 years and older)

Conversion of Celsius to Fahrenheit and Vice Versa

Formula to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius: C = (F – 32) × 5/9
Formula to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit: F = (C × 9/5) + 32

Definition of Terms

Body temperature: the balance between heat produced and heat lost by the body
Fever (Pyrexia): elevated body temperature
Hyperpyrexia: body temperature above 41°C
Afebrile: normal body temperature, without fever
Hypothermia: abnormally low body temperature, below 35°C rectally

Types of Fever

Intermittent: temperature alternates at regular intervals between periods of fever and periods of normal or subnormal temperatures
Remittent: wide temperature fluctuation (more than 2°C) occurs over the 24-hour period, all of which is above normal
Relapsing: short febrile periods of a few days are interspersed with periods of 1 or 2 days of normal temperature
Constant: body temperature fluctuates minimally but always remains above normal

Process of Heat Loss

Radiation: surface to surface by waves
Conduction: contact between 2 surfaces
Convection: movement by air currents or fluid
Evaporation: water to steam
Elimination: urination, defecation

Factors that Might Alter Core Body Temperature

Infection
Metabolism
Age
Temperature of the environment
Diurnal variations (circadian rhythms)
Malignancy
Trauma such as surgery or crush injuries
Drug reactions
Immune disorders
Amount of exercise
Hormones

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Description

This quiz covers the fundamentals of body temperature, its measurement, and its fluctuations throughout the day.