There are two types of rectal thermometers, mercury and digital. Digital thermometers display the temperature on a small screen. Mercury thermometers are manually read as the mercury within the glass raises along side the measurement scale. You need to use lubricant when inserting the thermometer into the rectum and leave it in the rectum for a few minutes before getting an accurate reading. Rectal thermometers are more or less the same size as the Oral ones. Rectal temperatures don’t fluctuate that much so it’s said that oral thermometers are the most accurate. However, the discomfort patients feel is embarrassing at times. Non-contact thermometers promise a better deal and they are cheaper as they are now quickly spreading in the market. They are as accurate as rectal thermometers measuring the temperature in centigrade or Fahrenheit. They are also green or eco friendly since the probe covers don’t need to be used and therefore it creates less waste to the environment.

Taking your baby’s rectal temperature might be unpleasant, uncomfortable, and if not taken properly very painful to the baby. Studies have shown that temporal artery and tympanic thermometers are comparable in accuracy to rectal thermometers. Infrared ear thermometers, when taken properly, yield temperature measurements equal to those of rectal thermometers. The right position in the ear will assure its accuracy. Temperatures taken in the mouth and rectum don’t agree most of the time though. In spite of the rectal thermometer’s superiority, there are other options that promise to be more sanitary, such as the non-contact infrared thermometers. These thermometers    have the ability to detect temperature from a distance and require no touch in order to obtain an accurate reading.

Before Galileo the presence of fever was solely determined by palpation for warmth and pulse rate. Galileo invented a rudimentary water thermometer in 1593 allowing temperature variations to be measured for the first time. However, the first Mercury thermometer was invented by Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1714. In 1754 Antonius de Haen insisted that the thermometer should be used rather than to judge by the hand. However, he wasn’t that successful…

Yellow fever made its first appearance in New York in 1668. Reverend Samuel Megapolensis writes to a friend in a letter on September that very same year that God was somehow punishing people for their sins. By 1702 more than five hundred people of all ages had died of yellow fever. Luckily, Carlos Finlay discovered many years later in 1881 that a mosquito was a carrier of the deadly disease. In 1742, Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius reintroduced the centigrade scale. Nevertheless, it was neglected until the late 19th century. Thomas Clifford Allbutt designed, in 1866, a portable 6-inch clinical thermometer that was able to record the temperature in 5 minutes. The previous device took about 20 minutes to record the temperature.

We shouldn’t take for granted our modern thermometers that enable us to take our temperature in less than a minute.  In 1984, David Phillips invented the first infrared ear thermometer. The first commercialized infrared tympanic thermometer (FirstTemp and Genius brands) was invented by Gary O’hara in 1997, for which he was cited as Inventor of the Year

by the San Diego Patent Law Association. Unfortunately, scientists say none of the above thermometers is 100% accurate so probably new designs are on the way with more accuracy and manageability.

There are also digital pocket-sized thermometers and non-contact pocket thermometers. The later seems to be more viable. Non-contact devices for measuring human temperature don’t seem to come in that size though, except for Vicks, who sales a pocket-size forehead thermometer: You move the prove across the patient’s forehead and instantly it beeps and give you the temperature reading. The digital version of the pocket-size thermometers is not hygiene as you have to touch the skin in order to take your temperature.

Next time you put something in your pocket, make sure you pick the right thing.  Non-contact infrared thermometers, although not in pocket size, promise more accuracy in the medical field, and in the food critical Danger Zone. They need a limited range for measuring temperature, and pride themselves on being distinctive and highly sanitary.

Mercury Thermometer

Mercury is found in thermometers, thermostats, fluorescent lamps, barometers and car switches. It’s extremely dangerous. Mercury slowly evaporates when exposed to the air. Air in a room can reach high levels of contamination just from a few drops of mercury contained in a glass thermometer. If the thermometer breaks, mercury vaporizes and can be inhaled, causing toxicity. Symptoms of mercury poisoning might include muscle weakness, problems walking, lack of coordination of movements, speech impairment, skin rashes, mood swing, memory loss, mental disturbances, impairment of peripheral vision, hearing loss, etc. Mercury has been linked to many different diseases, including autism, learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, depression, and bipolar disorder.

Non-mercury glass, digital, and electronic thermometers are now available. These new thermometers, specially the infrared non-contact thermometers, give accurate temperature readings without having to expose the patient to such dangerous substance. Mercury must be disposed properly. Traditional methods such as vacuum cleaner, broom, flushing mercury down the toilet, placing unsealed mercury in trash, and washing clothes contaminated with mercury might only help to spread contamination. Always wear gloves when disposing mercury.  Collect mercury pieces by using a small paintbrush. Place mercury and cleaning supplies in a bag and seal for disposal.

Medical thermometers are number one health devices in our modern homes. Health thermometers have one mission and that is detecting the presence of fever. Fever is one of the most common symptoms in many types of diseases and infections. Medical thermometers are used to take oral, axillary, vaginal or rectal temperatures. For oral thermometers patients hold the thermometer in his/her mouth.

Patients coughing or vomiting and also patients who have drunk hot or cold liquid will not have an accurate temperature reading. Rectal thermometers require lubricant such as petroleum or jelly in order to take the temperature properly. Patients might feel a little uncomfortable going through this process. That’s why in many cases this process is only administered to young children. Mercury thermometers are still used in some countries today but they aren’t as popular as they used to be. They have been banned from most countries since they contain mercury, a very dangerous substance patients are exposed to each time a glass thermometer breaks. These thermometers should be avoided.

Thermomedics for Professionals.

To stop patient cross-infection, disposable single used thermometers have become an option in some clinics and hospitals today. However, the infrared technology is becoming a more viable option. There are infrared non-contact thermometers in the market now. Non-contact thermometers use harmless infrared technology and lower the risk of germ transfer to others.  Temperature readings can be taken without touching the skin. You simply move the thermometer close to the forehead and it will scan the temperature for you.

Thermomedics

Most traditional thermometers make contact with our bodies one way or another making it easier for bacteria to scatter. All of us have heard of outbreaks of bird flu, swine flu, etc.

Certainly, these things happen all the time and it is good having at hand a medical device we trust won’t spread germs. Ear thermometers make contact with the ear as they are introduced using infrared sensors to remotely sense the temperature of the eardrum. Pacifier thermometers are inserted in the baby or infant’s mouth using the baby’s natural sucking instinct to read his/her body temperature. Underarm and oral thermometers are kept in the underarms or held in the mouth for temperature measurement.

Large families or even couples with only one child tend to prefer non-contact thermometers for the safety of their families. When you use a non-contact thermometer you don’t need to touch the patient to measure his/her temperature. All you have to do is aim the unit’s sensor toward the forehead, push the button and the temperature reading is immediately displayed.

Dr. Akerkar held several senior management positions at Ciba Giegy, Becton Dickinson, and Technicon Corporation. Dr. Akerkar has successfully managed the development, launch and management of in-vitro diagnostic products. While at Becton Dickinson, he was a member of the industry review board for the FDA that helped to define the 510(k) submission requirements and other clinical chemistry standards. Dr. Akerkar holds 11 patents and has been published over 150 times in recognized scientific journals. Dr. Akerkar was instrumental in getting over 400 FDA 510(k) for over 500 medical devices companies. Dr. Akerkar has been a consultant to the healthcare industry since 1986.

Dr. Akerkar was the Scientific Advisor to ex-U.S. Congressman Benjamin Gilman and advised the scientific committee previously led by former House Majority Leader – Congressman Tom Delay. He has been President and CEO of mdi since 1994.

Mr. Relis received a B.S. in Business from Long Island University in 1985 and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the States of Florida and New York. He is a member of the American, Florida and New York Institutes of Certified Public Accounting.