How many degrees should be added when taking temperature under the arm?
Disease description:
I felt unwell, so I took my axillary temperature using a thermometer. How many degrees should I add when measuring temperature under the arm?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Lei
Axillary temperature measurement generally does not require adding any degrees; the normal axillary temperature range is 36°C–37°C. Axillary temperature measurement is the most convenient and practical method. After measuring axillary temperature for ten minutes, simply remove the thermometer and read the value directly—the displayed temperature can be recorded as-is. Temperature adjustments (e.g., adding degrees) typically apply only when comparing rectal and oral measurements: rectal temperature is usually 0.1°C–0.3°C higher than oral temperature.
