It should ALWAYS be done that way!!!

Nowadays, most medical professionals and parents say that 98.6 is a normal body temperature and they measure it in your mouth. I believe that is plain wrong, as people who are truly running a fever should be drinking lots of fluids. I believe that a normal temperature should be 99.6, and should be taken rectally. If taken orally, it should have one degree added to it, and if taken under the arm, it should have two degrees added to it; however, even if taken one of those other ways, it should always be followed by an actual rectal temp, just to make sure.

Anyone else agree???

Axillary temps are totally ridiculous, period.

Oral temps are perfectly fine as long as the person has not had hot or cold foods for 15 minutes.

Rectal temps are NOT the way temps are generally taken any longer--ANYWHERE except in play exams.

Wow @Switchablesusie...way to keep people from voicing their opinions and dreams!!!

It's my opinion.

Anyone can voice theirs.

Other people may feel differently about it.

Given how human statistics on just about anything follow a bell curve, it should follow that being so utterly exact about what a normal body temperature should be is not always much use.

There are people who have a lower and a higher normal body temp. So, unless you know what their average normal temp is, you can't really say much when taking a temp.

My wife had this. Her normal temp was lower than what was otherwise considered normal, which of itself is no big deal. But when ill, she was often diagnosed as not having a fever, which can be confusing and possibly result in a different diagnosis - or with a new doctor - not being believed you are ill or more seriously ill than you would be thought if you had a 'normal' fever.

And Americans using decimal points on a Fahrenheit scale is even more exact than decimal points on Centigrade. But does it really mean anything in practical terms?

My oral temp is always lower than 98.6 I sometime run a degree lower, the same with rectal temp. So does that make me abnormal?

Abnormal, def: absolutely normal

Kid, You are mighty normal, in my book!! 😉 When together, our temperatures rise, and all feels, real normal 😃 Mike.

Susy: Abnormal, def: absolutely normal 😉

In Young Frankenstein, remember when he sent Igor, out to get the brain? He picked the one, from a man named Abby Norm Al 😃 Mike.

Thanks Susie I know I'm abnormal in other ways 😁 😁 😁 but at least my temp is normal. 😉 😜 😃

I totally agree. It's the only true way to get a good core temperature reading.