Thermometers have been one of the most useful inventions in the medicine domain. Not only are they integral to every doctor’s pandora box but have also been widely accepted as an important instrument in every other household’s first aid box.
Here in this article, we will be throwing more light on different types of thermometers and their usage.
Oral Thermometers
Oral medical thermometers are known to check the temperature by putting it in the mouth. These have their benefits and drawbacks. E.g.; they cannot be used again and again on different people because of hygiene issues.
Digital Thermometers
They are known for showing the temperature in their screen by placing its tip inside the mouth, rectum, or armpit. Thus, they make use of heat sensors to find temperature and are fast and accurate. Since they are used in different parts of the body to identify temperature, a single device must not be used simultaneously and there should be two different devices for the mouth and other parts respectively. Also, checking temperature from the rectum can only happen in infants or kids smaller than 3 years of age but also at the same time very discomforting. Digital Thermometers require a battery to function and should be taken care of by replacing them from time to time.
Mercury Thermometer
One of the oldest thermometers in medical science is the mercury thermometer. They are an icon of medical thermometers. But, today, they are not considered good to use and are even illegal in many countries due to containing harmful mercury. They are made up of glass and are unsafe to use. Further, they take more time and should be kept still for at least three minutes after placing them in the mouth, armpit, or rectum to get an accurate reading.
Temporal Thermometers
Temporal or forehead thermometers are the new trend. They are most suitable for detecting contagious fever or determining the temperature in an accurate and fastest way. They are also called infrared thermometers and don’t require any physical contact for checking the temperature. They are suitable for everyone from an infant to the elderly. And at the same time, one must use them according to the manual instructions to get the right reading. Factors like wind, direct sunlight, etc. can make it hard to get an accurate reading.
Conclusion
Considering the given options, one must choose a thermometer that works best for everyone in terms of comfort as well as accuracy. To date, doctors swear by the results of digital thermometers in the medical domain for infants and smaller children. At the same time, the prevalent pandemic condition has made forehead thermometers most versatile and acceptable worldwide. Further, each thermometer comes with a set of instructions that should be followed carefully to keep it safe, clean, and functional.