Vital Sings – TPR and Blood pressure
What is Body Temperature?
Temperature is a measure of warmth or coldness of the body.
Body temperature is the balance between heat production and
heat loss by the body.
A thermometer is an instrument used to measure body temperature. Check out here parts of clinical thermometer.
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Body Temperature =
Heat Production - Heat Loss of the Body |
Thermogenesis -
Heat production in the body is called thermogenesis.
Thermolysis -
Heat loss to the environment is called thermolysis.
Normothermia or euthermia - Normal body temperature.
Taking vital signs
of patient’s body temperature has to also check pulse rate, respiration
rate, and blood pressure of a patient.
Normal Body Temperature in Adults
Normal body temperature using oral 37°C Celsius or 98.6°F in
adults.
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F = 9/5 * C + 32 |
Check out here what is normal
pulse rate by age.
Measurement of Body Temperature
There are two kinds of body temperature-
1. Core Temperature
Core temperature is the temperature of an internal organ.
It is the temperature of the internal
environment or deep tissues of the body.
For example; the abdominal cavity, pelvic
cavity.
2. Surface Temperature
Surface temperature is the temperature
of the skin.
For example; subcutaneous tissue, and
fats tissue
The surface temperature may be constant,
rise and falls in response to the environment.
Normal Body Temperature Range in Adults
Normal range of temperature for adults-
|
Route |
Normal (°F ) |
Range (°F ) |
Site |
Time |
|
Oral |
98.6 °F |
97°F - 99 °F |
Mouth |
2-3 min |
|
Axillary |
97.7 °F |
96.6 - 98.6 °F |
Axilla, Armpit |
5 min |
|
Rectal |
99.5 °F |
98.6 - 100.4 °F |
Rectum |
1 min |
|
Tympanic |
99.5 °F |
98.6 °F |
Ear |
1 min |
|
Temporal |
98.6 °F |
97°F - 100 °F |
Forehead |
30 sec |
Know here normal
respiratory rate by age.
Sites of Measuring Temperature
Sites of measuring temperature are-
1. Temperature by Mouth
2. Temperature by Axilla
3. Temperature by Ear
4. Temperature by Rectum
1. Temperature by Mouth
To take temperature by mouth, place the
clinical thermometer under the tongue. Healthcare providers should know the parts of the clinical thermometer.
Advantages -
1. Good blood supply under the tongue, so correct
temperature is recorded.
2. No needed privacy.
3. Placed easily under the tongue.
4. Less chance of bulb coming in contact with air.
Disadvantages-
1. If the patient does not keep under the tongue, the false
temperature is recorded.
2. If the thermometer is not adequately disinfected, a chance of
cross-infection.
3. Children can bite the thermometer (if the thermometer is broken,
swallowing mercury causes toxic effects).
Contraindication-
1. Patient who cannot follow instructions to keep their mouth
closed
2. Mentally ill patients
3. Unconscious
4. Client receiving O2
5. Client with a persistent cough
6. Uncooperative or in severe pain
7. Surgery of the mouth
8. Nasal obstruction
9. If the patient has a nasal or gastric tube in place
10. Patient with inflammation, injury, or operation of mouth.
11. Patient suffering from frequent attack of cough.
2. Temperature by Axilla
To take temperature by axilla, place the thermometer under
the armpit.
Advantages-
1. Useful in children and in clients who cannot hold the
thermometer properly.
2. Taking hot and cold a drink will not affect the
temperature.
3. Less chance to cross-infection and biting of thermometer.
Disadvantages-
Presence of moisture, chances of a false reading.
3. Temperature by Ear
To take tympanic temperature inserts the ear thermometer
(tympanic thermometer) into the ear canal by air reflects core body temperature (deep body tissue).
4. Temperature by Rectum
To take temperature by rectum placed the thermometer
rectally. Lubricate the thermometer before use.
This site is used to measure temperature in newborn children
and old age people.
Advantages-
1. Measuring core body temperature.
2. Most reliable method because of large blood supply and
less chance of air contact.
Disadvantages-
1. It needs privacy
2. It needs Lubrication
3. Chances of soiling of hand
Contraindication-
1. Patient with rectal surgery and inflammation
2. Patient with diarrhea
3. Patient is b treatment with enema
Types of Thermometer
Thermometer types are-
1. Glass Thermometer
A glass thermometer is mercury glass the
thermometer is used for measuring oral, axillary, and rectal temperature.
2. Electronic Thermometer
An electronic thermometer is used for
measuring oral, rectal, and axillary temperature.
3. Disposable Thermometer
It is a Chemical thermometer. The
color matrix of the chemical unit changes to a specific temperature.
4. Tympanic Thermometer
A tympanic thermometer or ear thermometer
is used to measure ear temperature/tympanic temperature.
5. Forehead (Temporal) Thermometer
Forehead thermometers use an infrared
scanner to measure the temperature of the temporal artery in the forehead.
Alteration in Body Temperature
1. Fever
A body temperature above the normal range is called fever.
A fever is a body temperature that is higher than
normal, often due to an illness (febrile).
2. Hypothermia
Temperature below 95°F (35°C)
is considered hypothermia.
3. Hypopyrexia
Temperature falls
below 97°F (37°C).
4. Pyrexia
Raised body
temperature (fever) -
a. Low Pyrexia; Temperature ranges between 99-101°F.
b. Moderate Pyrexia; Temperature ranges between 101-103°F.
c. High Pyrexia; Temperature ranges between 103-105°F.
d. Hyper Pyrexia; Temperature more than 105°F is Hyperpyrexia.
5. Hyperthermia
Elevated body temperature range 105°F.
Check out here blood
pressure range in adults and understand the blood pressure reading of
normal blood pressure, stages of hypertension.
Phases of Fever
1. Onset or Invasion
Starting of raising the temperature. It may
be sudden or gradual.
2. Fastigium or stadium
Fever reaches maximum degree and
remains constant at a high level.
3. Decline
The high temperature comes back to normal,
maybe sudden or gradual.
4. Crisis
The sudden decrease in temperature.
5. Lysis
A gradual decrease in temperature.
Common Types of Fever
1. Intermittent fever
The temperature rises very high and may
fall at regular intervals.
Seen in malaria cases.
2. Remittent fever
Variation of more than 2 degrees in the
morning and evening temperature but the temperature never falls to normal.
3. Relapsing fever
Temperature normal for at least a day,
again fever.
4. Constant fever
Remains constantly elevated above
normal. For example, occur with typhoid fever.
5. Inverse fever
The highest range of temperature is
recorded in the morning hours and lowest in the evening hours.
6. Rigor
A sudden attack of shivering in which
body temperature rises rapidly to the state of hyperpyrexia.
Seen in malaria.
Stages of Rigor -
a. Cold stage
b. Hot stage
c. Stage of sweating
7. Crisis
A sudden return to normal temperature
from a very high temperature within a few hours or days.
8. Lysis
Temperature falls in a zig-zag manner
for two or three days or a week before reaching normal.
Causes of Fever
The causes of fever are -
1. A viral infection
2. A bacterial infection
3. Certain inflammatory conditions
4. Overheating of the Body
4. Malignant tumor
5. Some immunizations, such as diphtheria, tetanus
6. Some medications, such as antibiotics and drugs used to
treat high blood pressure or seizures
7. Autoimmune disease.
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