A Quick Guide on Digital Thermometer

Modern technology has helped medical equipment manufacturers to produce variety of products that has been helping physicians to diagnose the medical problems with patients and helping them to avail immediate relief. There are numerous tools and devices available in the market from which one can choose

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Purchasing the thermometer

When a thermometer is to be purchased, the one that comes immediately to the mind is the age old mercury thermometer. What people have to realize is that they can avail modern technology to measure body temperature, in the form of digital thermometer. As a matter of fact, the demand for the best digital thermometer in India has been increasing at a fast pace among customers, physicians and nurses. 

Why digital thermometer?

The digital thermometer is regarded to be an exceptional tool that offers accurate body temperature measurements. It is a wonderful purchase to be used at homes. Using this type of thermometer is so easy that even children can operate them without any hassle. The temperature derived from the reading is not only accurate, but also quick. Using it would mean, there is no need for reading at the eye level, the thermometer or requiring to wait for a moment for stabilizing the reading as the numbers are digital. 

Various types of digital thermometers available

Basically, there are two types of thermometers available in the market which is the infrared (IR) and probe type. Using the latter, one can have internal temperature of anything to be investigated. It is used mostly for checking food temperature. IR or Infrared thermometers are those which allow investigation to be taken from a distance. It can prove to be beneficial at places, which the person might not be eager to or simply cannot get much close like inaccessible events. The general medical digital thermometer can be purchased from the local medical shops or from reputed online sites and have it delivered at the home or the office. 

It is always recommended to purchase a branded thermometer to ensure that precise readings are taken. These days, one can avail digital thermometers at discounted prices, thereby saving a good amount of money on the purchase.

Which Thermometer Is Best For You

The thermometer is one of the most important instruments to have in your medicine cabinet. When you feel some malaise or feverish, you would want to know whether your body temperature is rising. A thermometer will help you to know the temperature level of your body and help you decide if there is a need to visit the doctor.

 This simple device, used to measure the temperature of a body, is ubiquitously present with the doctors in clinics and in the medical box at homes. For us non medical people, it becomes very important to more about thermometers before buying them. We have to keep in mind accuracy, dependability and specific utility.

Medical thermometers are generally classified as:

1.       Liquid-filled thermometers

2.       Digital/Electronic thermometers

3.       Infra red thermometers

1.       Liquid-filled thermometers:

These are the traditional type of thermometers and the only ones available earlier. It consists of a glass tube filled with a liquid like mercury or alcohol. The liquid expands when heated and goes up along the glass column. Similarly, it contracts when cooled, and the liquid level comes back to normal. The time taken for a temperature reading is longer when compared to digital thermometers.

Though accurate and reliable, nowadays, the use of liquid filled thermometers is being discouraged due to the risk of the glass tube getting damaged. Another reason being, mercury is a poisonous metal and there is a risk of inhaling the vapors, in case there is breakage.

2.       Digital/electronic thermometers:

These types of thermometers are most commonly used to record body temperature. They use electronic heat sensors to measure body temperature and display it on an LCD. Since the reading is displayed, ‘reading error’ is removed. Digital thermometers are very fast and can record temperature in as less as 30 seconds! Some brands even come with back light and a beep or a ring as an alert for fever. 

Easy to read, inexpensive, accurate and durable are the features, which make it the best digital thermometer in India.

3.       Infrared thermometers

Infrared thermometers measure temperature by recording thermal radiation emitted by the body. Some expensive models of these can measure temperature without making any contact with the body!

Body Temperature

The normal body temperature is 98.6F or 37C. If the temperature goes beyond 103F, a doctor should be consulted.

There are generally five ways to measure temperature:

1.       Under the armpit

2.       Under the tongue

3.       Through the rectum

4.       In the ear

5.       Without contact

You can choose to take body temperature in any of the above ways, keeping in mind the age of the person.