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Almost all of us struggle with a fever from time to time. It is caused by a viral, bacterial or other serious disease. According to medical experts, fever is not a disease in itself, but is the result of the body’s own defense response. A thermometer is used to determine how high the fever is. In the past, mercury thermometers were used, but due to the harmful effects of mercury on the human body, they were withdrawn and replaced with non-contact thermometers. What exactly is a non-contact thermometer? How does it work? Is it safe?
What is a non-contact thermometer?
The initial versions of thermometers were mercury thermometers. To test body temperature, thermometers were inserted into the mouth under the tongue or under the armpit, and mercury expansion in a calibrated thin capillary tube gave a reading in degrees Celsius. Rectal temperature reading has been recommended for young children or in other special cases.
The development and use of advanced infrared technology to measure body temperature (or whatever) has radically changed the attitude towards mercury thermometers. The use of modern infrared thermometers does not require close physical contact. An infrared thermometer (non-contact thermometer) is held approximately 5 – 15 cm above the temporal nerve and the temperature is recorded and displayed on a digital LED.
A non-contact thermometer is a device that allows you to measure the temperature of a person without touching the body. So it is a device much more hygienic than a traditional thermometer, which should be disinfected after each use so that it can be used by another household member. The non-contact thermometer is also much safer, especially when it gets into the hands of the youngest. No wonder that it is replacing the previously used contact thermometers.
You can find non-contact thermometers on the Medonet Market. We recommend, for example, Neno Medic T02 or Neno Medic T05 with the function of measuring the temperature of the liquid.
Also read: Baby thermometer – which one to choose?
Non-contact thermometer – what are its advantages?
There are several important advantages that have made non-contact thermometers very popular. As non-contact thermometers, they completely exclude the possibility of transmitting various infections from one person to another. One infrared thermometer can easily be enough for a family, workplace or even a hospital ward. No matter how carefully you clean the tip of a mercury thermometer, the risk of transmission of infection cannot be eliminated. Moreover, with the use of advanced technology, the accuracy of non-contact thermometers is also better than that of mercury thermometers.
In many cases, especially during a hospital stay, it is necessary to measure the patient’s temperature several times, even at night. Using non-contact thermometers, medical personnel are able to measure the temperature without disturbing the patient’s sleep. All you need to do is hold the thermometer to your forehead for a few seconds, press the temperature measurement button and save the reading. The same feature is also very helpful in measuring the temperature of babies, children and even the elderly.
Do you want to buy a non-contact thermometer for measuring body temperature? You can order a universal product from this category on Medonet Market.
Manual thermometer calibration
What is Thermometer Calibration? This is the time it takes the thermometer to adjust to the temperature of the environment in which it is located and at which it is to take a measurement. Why is it so important? Imagine a situation where the thermometer lies in a high temperature cupboard for a long time. If you want to take a measurement, take it out of the cabinet and take it to the room where the temperature is a few degrees lower.
In such a situation, we can be sure that the thermometer without the calibration function, i.e. adapting to the outside condition, will not give an accurate measurement, and the result may differ by up to 2 degrees. Unfortunately, most thermometers that have an automatic calibration function take up to 30 minutes to adjust to the external environment. Therefore, it is worth choosing a thermometer with manual calibration. Thanks to this feature, the calibration process takes a few seconds, after which the thermometer is ready for use.
See: Medical thermometer – advantages and disadvantages
Possibility to test the temperature on the eyelid
It is up to each of us that the temperature measurement process should last as short as possible, especially in children. On the other hand, we do not fully believe thermometers, which are able to measure the temperature on a child’s sweaty forehead covered with hair in a second. Not everyone realizes that the eyelid is the most reliable place that most realistically reflects the body temperature. Unfortunately, thermometers that allow you to measure the temperature at this point are usually much more expensive than other non-contact thermometers available on the market.
However, it should be remembered that if there is no explicit information about the thermometer in the instruction manual of the thermometer the possibility of measuring on the eyelid, under no circumstances should you do so. The radiation emitted by the thermometer can pass through the thin tissue of the eyelid and reach the eyeball, which can be extremely dangerous.
If we do not want to spend several hundred zlotys on a contactless thermometer, then as long as the child does not sweat, a thermometer that will be used to measure other parts of the body will also work well. Let’s just pay attention that the selected thermometer can measure both the forehead, neck and temples – then we will be able to compare the results.
Distance sensor from the measuring surface
Often in the instruction manual of the thermometer we find information that in order for the measurement to be accurate, it should be performed at a distance of 2,3 or 5 cm from the forehead. However, none of us has a ruler in our eyes to keep this distance exactly. Meanwhile, failure to observe it may result in inaccurate measurement, distorted even from tenths of a degree.
Therefore, when choosing a non-contact thermometer, it is worth paying attention to whether it has a distance sensor from the surface being measured. It consists in using a special projector in the device, which visually during the measurement will inform us what distance is appropriate to obtain the real result. Thanks to this, we can be sure that the result will not be too low or too high compared to the actual body temperature.
It is worth remembering that in order for the measurement result to be reliable, it must be performed in an exact manner, according to the recommendations that can be found in the manual of the device. If the temperature is to be measured on the forehead, it must not be wet or covered with hair. Before taking a measurement, do not rub your forehead as it may falsify the result. A non-contact thermometer is a device that should be found in every home – not only in one with children. However, we must remember that it only serves to control body temperature. If low-grade fever or fever persists for more than 3 days, we should immediately consult a doctor.
It is also worth trying the BRAUN IRT6515 Thermoscan 6 ear thermometer with a heated tip, thanks to which the measurement of body temperature will not be in any way bothersome.
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