Normal rectal, auditory canal, sublingual and axillary temperatures in elderly afebrile patients in a warm environment

Abstract

Fifty hospital inpatients were selected, who, on the basis of their history and on clinical and laboratory findings, were believed not to have a febrile illness. Body temperature was measured simultaneously at four sites, in order to compile a normal range of temperature at each site for patients under these conditions. The observed range of rectal temperature was 36.7-37.5 degrees C, auditory canal temperature 36.4-37.2 degrees C, sublingual temperature 36.2-37.0 degrees C, and axillary temperature 35.5-37.0 degrees C.