I'm often asked the question, "Is it better to take your temperature orally or rectally?" I'm sharing here a summary of an article by Dr. Frédéric Picotte, a general practitioner and emergency physician in the Shawinigan region.

Rectal temperature would be the most reliable when a person, whatever their age, presents a change in their state of health. Indeed, a study by Niven et al. showed that in 30% of cases, fever would not be detected by oral or axillary intake. (Niven et al., Accuracy of peripheral thermometers for estimating temperature: A systemic review and meta-analysis, 2015)

According to Dr.Picotte, rectal temperature is the most recommended route for taking a temperature for screening purposes. The other methods would be reliable in situations where the patient presents signs and symptoms of fever. In screening situations, they are unable to detect the rise in temperature in 30% of patients.

For readers working in CHSLDs, the document Definitions pour la surveillance des infections nosocomiales dans les milieux d'hébergement et de soins de longue durée, INSPQ 2014, reports on temperature-taking results in a senior. It mentions the results of oral, tympanic, axillary or rectal temperature taking that indicate the presence of geriatric fever.

I therefore conclude that our choice of route for taking temperature is guided by :

• Medical prescription,
• Establishment protocol,
• Screening, admission or routine care situation
• Does the patient present infectious signs and symptoms?

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