A change in body temperature is one of the main signs of an inflammatory process in the body. Which thermometer is better to choose for thermometry: mercury or electronic? Both have their pros and cons, which are discussed later in the article.
How strongly do thermometer readings affect the diagnosis?
In some situations, the diagnosis directly depends on the readings of the thermometer. For example, a thermometer helps distinguish between dangerous flu and a relatively harmless cold. As a rule, with a cold, the temperature does not rise above +38 ° C, and with the flu, it can exceed +40 ° C. At the same time, in medicine, there are situations when not only the diagnosis but also the life of the patient depends on the accuracy of temperature measurement.
With the dangerous neutropenic fever that occurs in cancer patients due to radiation therapy, the doctor begins treatment based on the difference in thermometer readings, which is only half a degree Celsius. Thus, physicians are interested in taking the temperature in the most accurate way possible. Therefore, scientific research is constantly being organized in which the accuracy of electronic and mercury thermometers is compared with each other. And there is enough data. Before answering the question of which thermometers are better, I'll tell you what kind of devices they are and how they differ from each other.
Mercury thermometer: advantages and disadvantages?
The mercury thermometer has been used to measure body temperature for a very long time. It is a glass tube with a capillary where mercury is located. When measuring temperature, the mercury column rises; before repeating thermometry, the thermometer must be shaken. Advantages of a mercury thermometer:
- measurement accuracy - the error is only 0.1 degrees;
- durability - lasts for decades if it is not dropped;
- ease of processing - these thermometers are still used in hospitals;
- low price - in a pharmacy a mercury thermometer can be purchased for up to 50 rubles.
But there are also negative aspects of using a mercury device:
- high risk of breaking when falling: small pieces of glass can cut you, and mercury vapor is hazardous to health;
- measurement time: it takes about 10 minutes to get an accurate reading.
Therefore, a mercury thermometer should be given to children with extreme caution, and be sure to keep an eye on them in the process of measuring temperature.
Electronic thermometer: for or against?
A more modern analogue of a mercury thermometer is an electronic thermometer. The measurement is made due to the action of the built-in sensors in the case, and the result of thermometry is displayed on a small screen - this is very convenient. Depending on the model, there may be various additional functions: a sound signal indicating the end of the measurement, water resistance, etc. But the main advantage of such a thermometer is its safety: you can safely give it to a child and not be afraid that the thermometer will break. The duration of the measurement is much shorter than that of its predecessor - one minute is enough to get the result. But even electronic thermometers have disadvantages:
- for proper use, you must first study the instructions, and not everyone does this;
- electronic thermometers are less accurate;
- the device operates on batteries, and they can sit down at any time when it is not possible to buy them;
- higher cost - depending on the feature set and manufacturer.
Both types of thermometers have their pros and cons, so choosing a thermometer depends on your needs and situation. If there are children in the family, then it is better to purchase an electronic thermometer. Despite its price, the consequences of a broken mercury thermometer can be much more expensive. But if you are accurate, then an ordinary mercury thermometer is quite suitable.
Why do clinics and hospitals measure temperature with electronic thermometers?
There are two reasons why hospitals use electronic thermometers. It's safer. There is no mercury in electric thermometers. And they're made of plastic, not glass, so they're less likely to break when dropped. It is more comfortable. Electronic thermometers allow you to get a result in just 10-20 seconds. And to measure the temperature with a mercury thermometer, you have to wait at least 7 minutes.
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