Which method of temperature measurement is considered appropriate for obtaining a rapid, non-invasive estimate of core body temperature in a cooperative adult during a routine clinic visit?
Rectal temperature measurement using a glass mercury thermometer
Axillary measurement with a single-use chemical dot thermometer
Infrared tympanic (ear) thermometry
Palpation of the forehead with the back of the hand
Infrared tympanic thermometry measures the infrared heat emitted from blood vessels in the eardrum, which shares blood supply with the hypothalamus, giving a good reflection of core temperature. The reading is obtained within seconds and, when the probe is placed correctly and the canal is free of excessive cerumen, the method is reliable for adults. Axillary chemical dot thermometers are slower and less accurate; palpating the forehead provides no measurable value; glass mercury rectal thermometers, while accurate, are invasive and no longer recommended because of mercury safety concerns and patient discomfort.
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