One of the most important medical devices to have at home is a thermometer. It will tell if your body temperature is too high or too low, bringing attention to cases where there might be a health danger.

The old-fashioned way (but still used) to measure the body temperature is by glass and mercury thermometers. It would be placed under the arm or tongue and the mercury would rise according to the increase of temperature. But as mercury is a very toxic substance, the device can be very dangerous, especially when broken. 

Nowadays, the most used option is a digital thermometer. They are fast, accurate and are also used on the armpit, under the tongue, or in the rectum.  The results are easily read. This is a reliable device to use both at home and in hospitals.

If you want to measure the temperature somewhere else, a very interesting option is an electronic ear thermometer, which can be useful for babies or young children. They use infrared technology but can be more expensive and less accurate if the ear is not properly cleaned. 

Sometimes the ear thermometer can also be incorporated to measure on the forehead. They are not as reliable as digital thermometers, but their measurement is immediate and can be used very quickly in public spaces. There are options where the forehead is the only possible region to measure as well. 

There are also plastic strip thermometers that do not give the temperature reading but indicate cases of fever, so you know something is wrong. They are placed on the forehead and are very useful for specific cases where a fever is imminent. 

For babies, there are also pacifier thermometers. This might be a little tricky to use as the child must remain still during the measurement but when compared to other options, it might be the most comfortable for the situation. 

In all options, the device should be used according to instructions to guarantee accurate measurement and avoid any health problems.

About the Author: MSci Maísa Melo is a Pharmacist and a current PhD student in cosmetic technology, from São Paulo, Brazil. She has earned her master’s degree from the University of São Paulo and has been involved with the development, stability, safety and efficacy of cosmetics since 2013. She has specialized in the clinical efficacy of cosmetics by biophysical and skin imaging techniques as well as the use of alternative models to animal testing. Her research work has been published in several scientific journals and book chapters from the field.

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