Rectal thermometry

A nurse taking the rectal temperature of a child
For hygiene reasons, medical mercury-in-glass thermometers that were intended for rectal temperature used to be color-coded red. Instead, those intended for oral temperature used to be color-coded blue or green.

Rectal thermometry is taking a person's temperature by inserting a thermometer into the rectum via the anus.[1] This is generally regarded as the most accurate means of temperature-taking, but some may consider it to be an invasive or humiliating procedure. Thus, it is often used sparingly and primarily on infants, 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) or be inaccurate (due to recently ingested liquids or breathing through the mouth).

  1. ^ King, Christopher; Henretig, Fred M. (2008). Textbook of Pediatric Emergency Procedures. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 29. ISBN 9780781753869. Retrieved 18 August 2018.

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