Body Temperature

Take your temperature several times when you are feeling well to find out what is normal for you. Check your temperature in both the morning and evening, since body temperature can vary by as much as 1°F (0.6°C) throughout the day.

Wait at least 20 to 30 minutes after smoking, eating, or drinking a hot or cold liquid before taking your temperature. Also wait at least an hour after vigorous exercise or a hot bath.

Several different types of thermometers are available:

• Electronic thermometers are plastic and shaped like a pencil, with a display window at one end and the temperature probe at the other end. They work by measuring how well electricity travels through a wire. Electronic thermometers are used in the mouth, rectum, or armpit. They are easy to use and easy to read. If you buy an electronic thermometer, check the package for information about its accuracy. See a picture of an Reference electronic thermometer Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window.
• Ear thermometers are plastic and come in different shapes. They use infrared energy to measure body temperature. The small cone-shaped end of the thermometer is placed in the ear, and body temperature shown on a digital display. The results appear within seconds. Some models also show the corresponding oral and rectal readings. See a picture of an Reference ear thermometer Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window.
• Temporal artery thermometers are electronic devices that measure body temperature on the skin over an artery in the forehead (superficial temporal artery). The device has a small "cup" that is moved across the skin over the artery. Infrared energy is used to determine the temperature. When used correctly, temporal artery thermometers are accurate for measuring body temperature.^{Reference 1, Reference 2}
• Disposable thermometers are thin flat pieces of plastic with colored dots and temperature markings on one end. The color of the dots shows the temperature. Disposable thermometers can be used in the mouth or rectum. A patch form can be used on a baby's skin to measure temperature continuously for 48 hours. These thermometers are safe, but they are not as accurate as electronic or ear thermometers. They do not contain glass, latex, or mercury. You can reuse the thermometer during an illness and then throw it away.
• Forehead thermometers use skin temperature to determine body temperature. They are thin pieces of plastic with numbers on them. You press the strip against a person's forehead, and the temperature makes some numbers change colors or light up. These thermometers are not very accurate.
• Pacifier thermometers are shaped like a baby's pacifier but have a display that shows the temperature. You place the pacifier in your child's mouth to measure temperature. These thermometers may take longer to get a reading and are not as accurate as other types.

Glass thermometers containing mercury are no longer recommended. If you have a glass thermometer, contact your local health department for instructions on how to dispose of it safely. If you break a glass thermometer, call your local poison control center immediately.

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