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Underarm (axillary) temperatures tend to be less accurate than oral body temperature by a full degree. However, they can still be helpful for screening changes in body temperature.
Monitoring your body temperature can tell you important things about your health.
Normal body temperature runs around 98.6°F (37°C), on average. However, some people have a body temperature that’s usually a bit warmer or cooler than average, and that’s normal.
Having a temperature that’s much warmer or cooler than your usual temperature, though, may indicate some kind of health problem, such as fever caused by infection or low body temperature caused by hypothermia.
Body temperature is often measured by placing a thermometer in the mouth. But there are four other ways to take body temperature, and these involve different body parts:
- ear (tympanic)
- anus (rectal)
- under the armpit (axillary)
Ear, oral, and rectal temperatures are considered the most accurate readings of actual body temperature. However, measuring your axillary temperature can still be useful. Read on to learn how to do it.
A digital thermometer is useful for taking underarm temperature. Don’t use a mercury thermometer, which can be dangerous if it breaks.
To measure underarm temperature:
- Check that the thermometer is on.
- With the tip of the thermometer pointing at the child, have the child lift up their arm, slide the thermometer under their arm, with the tip gently pressed against the center of the armpit.
- Have the child put their arm down, close against the body so the thermometer stays in place.
- Wait for the thermometer to take its reading. This will take about a minute or until it beeps.
- Remove the thermometer from their armpit and read the temperature.
- Clean the thermometer and store for its next use.
When taking axillary temperature, it can be useful to compare it to ear, oral, and rectal temperature readings, which are more precise.
Use the following chart to find the ear, oral, or rectal reading that corresponds to the axillary reading.
|Axillary temperature||Oral temperature||Rectal & ear temperature|
|98.4–99.3°F (36.9–37.4°C)||99.5–99.9°F (37.5–37.7°C)||100.4–101°F (38–38.3°C)|
|99.4–101.1°F (37.4–38.4°C)||100–101.5°F (37.8–38.6°C)||101.1–102.4°F (38.4–39.1°C)|
|101.2–102°F (38.4–38.9°C)||101.6–102.4°F (38.7–39.1°C)||102.5–103.5°F (39.2–39.7°C)|
|102.1–103.1°F (38.9–39.5°C)||102.5–103.5°F (39.2–39.7°C)||103.6–104.6°F (39.8–40.3°C)|
|103.2–104°F (39.6–40°C)||103.6–104.6°F (39.8–40.3°C)||104.7–105.6°F (40.4–40.9°C)|
Underarm temperature is considered the safest way to check the body temperature of children under 3 months old.
It’s also commonly used to check temperature in infants to 5-year-olds because it’s one of the easiest, least invasive methods.
Take a child’s underarm temperature the same way you’d take your own. Hold the thermometer to keep it in place, and make sure they don’t move around while the thermometer is underneath their arm, which can throw off the reading.
If their temperature reads higher than 99°F (37°C), confirm this temperature using a rectal thermometer, as your child may have a fever.
Taking rectal temperature is a safe way to get a very accurate body temperature reading in young children.
It’s important to confirm fever as quickly as possible in young children and get them to a doctor as soon as possible once one is detected.
To take a child’s rectal temperature:
- Clean the digital thermometer with cool water and soap, and rinse thoroughly.
- Cover the end (silver tip) with petroleum jelly.
- Put your child on their back with knees bent.
- Carefully insert the end of the thermometer into the rectum to about 1 inch, or 1/2 inch if they’re less than 6 months old. Hold the thermometer in place with your fingers.
- Wait about 1 minute or until the thermometer beeps.
- Slowly remove the thermometer and read the temperature.
- Clean the thermometer and store for next use.
Ear thermometers are also safe to use in children over 6 months old.
Oral thermometers aren’t recommended for young children, as they often have trouble keeping the thermometer under their tongue long enough for a temperature reading to be taken.
It’s considered safe to take a child’s forehead temperature but be sure to use a forehead thermometer made for this purpose and not forehead strips.
There are several ways to measure a person’s body temperature. Here’s how to measure temperature in areas other than the underarm:
Ear temperature usually reads a bit lower than rectal temperature. To take ear temperature, you need a special ear thermometer. Here’s how to use it:
- Add a clean probe tip to the thermometer and turn it on using the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Tug softly on the outer ear so that it’s pulled back and gently push the thermometer into the ear canal until it’s fully inserted
- Press the thermometer’s temperature reading button down for 1 second.
- Remove the thermometer carefully and read the temperature.
Forehead temperature is the next most accurate reading behind ear, oral, and rectal temperatures. It also doesn’t cause much discomfort and getting a reading is very fast.
To take forehead temperature, use a forehead thermometer. Some slide across the forehead others are held stationary in one area. To use it:
- Turn on the thermometer and place the sensor head at the center of the forehead.
- Hold the thermometer in place or move it as the directions that it came with suggest.
- Read the temperature on the display reading.
Forehead strips aren’t considered an accurate way of reading forehead temperature. You should use a forehead or other thermometer instead.
Oral temperature is considered to be almost as accurate as rectal temperature. It’s the most common way to measure temperature in older children and adults.
To take oral temperature, use a digital thermometer. Wait at least 30 minutes to use an oral thermometer if you’ve eaten or had something hot or cold.
- Place the thermometer under one side of the tongue toward the back of the mouth, making sure the tip is completely under the tongue at all times.
- Hold the thermometer in place with the lips and fingers. Avoid using the teeth to keep the thermometer in place. Seal the lips for up to a minute or until the thermometer beeps.
- Read the thermometer and clean it before putting away.
Rectal temperature is considered the most accurate temperature reading. This is most useful for keeping track of temperature in children who tend to be more sensitive to changes in body temperature than adults.
The steps for taking a child’s rectal temperature are outlined above in the section “How to measure an infant or toddler’s temperature.”
Never use the same rectal thermometer to take an oral temperature. Make sure the thermometers are clearly marked, which can prevent you or someone else from accidentally using it in your child’s mouth.
Normal body temperature may be a bit warmer or cooler than the average, 98.6°F (37°C), and how you measure that temperature also affects what’s normal.
However, the general guidelines show what’s considered a fever using the different body temperature measurement methods:
Symptoms of a fever depend on its cause. Some causes include:
- bacterial infections
- other disease
Yet, some of the most common symptoms with various causes include:
- loss of appetite
- muscle aches
Children between 6 months and 5 years old might also experience febrile (fever) seizures.
According to the Mayo Clinic, about a third of children who have one febrile seizure will experience another, often within the following 12 months.
Fevers can be dangerous, especially in:
- young children
- older adults
Seek prompt medical advice if your child shows any signs of fever, especially an elevated body temperature.
There are some things you can do at home to bring down your child’s body temperature when waiting for medical help.
Older adults should also seek prompt medical help for a fever. Otherwise healthy adults should also seek help for a high fever or a fever that lasts longer than a day.
One of the most common causes of fever is infection, which requires immediate medical attention to treat. A course of antibiotics can usually wipe out the infection that’s causing a fever.
Fever can cause life threatening seizures, especially in infants and children. Seek medical guidance if your child has a fever.
Low body temperature can also be a cause for concern.
If you or your child has a very low body temperature, they could be experiencing issues with their body circulation or cold exposure. Both of these issues require immediate medical attention.
There are several ways to take a person’s body temperature, each with varying degrees of accuracy. Using underarm temperature is a safe and effective way to monitor body temperature, especially in younger children.
However, it isn’t the most accurate method. So if you suspect a fever in a young child, it’s best to confirm their body temperature using a rectal or ear thermometer.
If they’re old enough to keep a thermometer under their tongue that would be an option as well. Prompt treatment of a high fever and its causes can reduce the risks of fever symptoms and possible complications.