AT
Axillary temperature
Evidence for axillary temperature
- Non-invasive and convenient: Easy to perform and non-invasive, making it suitable for use in infants, young children, and patients who may not tolerate other methods.
- Safe: There is no risk of mucosal injury or infection.
- Widely used in clinical settings: Particularly when quick, non-critical readings are needed.
Evidence against axillary temperature:
- Less accurate: Axillary temperatures can be less reliable than rectal or oral. They tend to underestimate core body temperature.
- Longer measurement time: As compared to tympanic or oral measurements.
- Greater variability: Axillary temperature can be affected by ambient temperature, sweating, or improper positioning of the thermometer.