Description

• Digital electronic thermometers: Hand-held, battery-powered instruments that use a sensor to detect temperature changes and display the reading digitally. They can be used for oral, axillary, or rectal measurements.
• Mercury-in-glass thermometers: The traditional type, consisting of a sealed glass tube with a mercury-filled bulb at one end. As the mercury heats up, it expands and rises in a narrow capillary tube, while a constriction prevents the mercury from falling back down once removed from the body. These have been largely replaced by digital versions due to the risks of mercury poisoning if the glass breaks.
• Non-contact or infrared thermometers: Measure temperature from a distance, often by scanning the forehead or ear canal. They are fast and useful for quick screenings.
• Strip thermometers: Plastic strips that change color to indicate temperature. These are generally considered the least accurate type.