Temperature-Important principles of Nursing
Metabolism in the human body generates heat. It is given out by breathing, evaporation of sweet, excretion of urine and stools and by radiation from the skin surface. The temperature of the human body is maintained between 36 degree C and 37 degree C. when it goes above 37 degree C, the patient is said to have fever. When it is below 36 degree C the patient is said to have subnormal temperature. The fever may be constant, remittent (ups and downs without reaching the normal temperature), intermittent or irregular. The body temperature can be judged by the back of the hand placing it under the tongue or in the done using a thermometer, placed in the rectum of children. The patient must not have taken temperature. The thermometer is shaken well so that the mercury column goes below the 35 degree C mark. After use it is cleaned with antiseptic solution and put dipping in a bottle with an antiseptic solution and a cotton swab at the bottom.
