Temperature Fact Sheet Method Range Oral 36.5-37.5 (97.7-99.5 F) Tympanic 35.8-38.0 (96.4-100.4 F) Rectal 37.0-37.5 or ( 98.6-99.5 F) Axillary 36.1-37.1 (96.9- 98.8 F) *Range does not vary with age *Screening temp- axillary, temporal, tympanic (all of these are less accurate) *Definitive temp- oral and rectal (these increase as reflection of core temp) * Premature and small term infants may not be able to generate an elevated temperature in response to an infection * No longer add 1 degree to axillary temp to determine core temp (see text book, page 763, nursing alert). * Rectal temp is gold standard but should not be used in children younger than 1 due to risk of perforation (see text book, page 765). *Oral Temps are standard but less accurate than rectal temp/ they are contraindicated in mouth breathing children, an altered loc, patient’s receiving oxygen, recent oral surgery or trauma, patient’s with mucositis, or younger than age of 5 (unless can hold under tongue) (see text book, page 765). *Tympanic temperatures are not considered reliable in the pediatric setting. Not considered an accurate measurement of core body temp (see text book, page 765) Recommended temperature measurement techniques Age Recommended technique Birth to 2 years 1. Rectal (definitive) Over 2 years to 5 years Older than 5 years 1. Rectal 1. Oral 2. Axillary (screening) 2. Oral (if can hold under tongue) 3. Tympanic 2. Axillary 3. Tympanic 4. Axillary
