Rectal thermometry
Encyclopedia
Rectal thermometry is an umbrella term
covering the practice, widely used in modern medicine and science, of taking a mammal's temperature by inserting a thermometer into the aforementioned mammal's rectum
via the anus
. This is generally regarded as the most accurate means of temperature-taking, but some may consider it to be an invasive or demeaning procedure. Thus, it is often used sparingly and primarily on young children or adults for whom taking an oral temperature would risk injury (e.g. an unconscious patient, a post-oral surgery patient, or a person suffering a seizure
).
s have long been made in a tube shape that fits into the anus. Medical literature shows the practice dating back to at least the 18th century, and it is probable that rectal thermometry was thought to be a safer alternative to oral temperature-taking, due to the use of mercury
and other
toxic chemicals in early thermometers. As thermometry-related technology improves in the 21st century, rectal thermometry is becoming less and less pervasive, but it is still the preferred method for taking the temperature of infants and pets.
and pediatrics
as well as by adults at home who want the most accurate possible temperature reading and do not mind the discomfort associated with the procedure. It is accomplished by inserting the tip of a thermometer, usually coated in some kind of water-based lubricant such as KY Jelly, about 1-2 inches into the anus. The thermometer tip must then be left in place until a reading can be derived, usually about 1-3 minutes. It is important to remember that the normal human core temperature range measured with a rectal thermometer spans from 98.6 to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (37.0 to 38.0 degrees Celsius).
Rectal thermometers are often colored cherry red
to differentiate them from oral or axillary thermometers, as well as having a shorter, squat bulb shape. They are not meant to be used interchangeably with other types of thermometers.
Umbrella term
An umbrella term is a word that provides a superset or grouping of concepts that all fall under a single common category. Umbrella term is also called a hypernym. For example, cryptology is an umbrella term that encompasses cryptography and cryptanalysis, among other fields...
covering the practice, widely used in modern medicine and science, of taking a mammal's temperature by inserting a thermometer into the aforementioned mammal's rectum
Rectum
The rectum is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, and the gut in others, terminating in the anus. The human rectum is about 12 cm long...
via the anus
Anus
The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to control the expulsion of feces, unwanted semi-solid matter produced during digestion, which, depending on the type of animal, may be one or more of: matter which the animal cannot digest,...
. This is generally regarded as the most accurate means of temperature-taking, but some may consider it to be an invasive or demeaning procedure. Thus, it is often used sparingly and primarily on young children or adults for whom taking an oral temperature would risk injury (e.g. an unconscious patient, a post-oral surgery patient, or a person suffering a seizure
Seizure
An epileptic seizure, occasionally referred to as a fit, is defined as a transient symptom of "abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain". The outward effect can be as dramatic as a wild thrashing movement or as mild as a brief loss of awareness...
).
History
The precise history of rectal thermometry is largely unknown, but medical thermometerMedical thermometer
Medical thermometers are used for measuring human body temperature, with the tip of the thermometer being inserted either into the mouth under the tongue , under the armpit , or into the rectum via the anus .-Liquid-filled:The traditional thermometer is a glass tube with a bulb at one end...
s have long been made in a tube shape that fits into the anus. Medical literature shows the practice dating back to at least the 18th century, and it is probable that rectal thermometry was thought to be a safer alternative to oral temperature-taking, due to the use of mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
and other
Other
The Other or Constitutive Other is a key concept in continental philosophy; it opposes the Same. The Other refers, or attempts to refer, to that which is Other than the initial concept being considered...
toxic chemicals in early thermometers. As thermometry-related technology improves in the 21st century, rectal thermometry is becoming less and less pervasive, but it is still the preferred method for taking the temperature of infants and pets.
Use and procedure
Rectal thermometry is widely used in veterinary medicineVeterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
and pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
as well as by adults at home who want the most accurate possible temperature reading and do not mind the discomfort associated with the procedure. It is accomplished by inserting the tip of a thermometer, usually coated in some kind of water-based lubricant such as KY Jelly, about 1-2 inches into the anus. The thermometer tip must then be left in place until a reading can be derived, usually about 1-3 minutes. It is important to remember that the normal human core temperature range measured with a rectal thermometer spans from 98.6 to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (37.0 to 38.0 degrees Celsius).
Rectal thermometers are often colored cherry red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
to differentiate them from oral or axillary thermometers, as well as having a shorter, squat bulb shape. They are not meant to be used interchangeably with other types of thermometers.