Up to what age is rectal temperature measured in your country?

In which countries is the rectal temperature measured and up to what age?

In Poland, rectal temperature is only measured in infants. It is very rarely done to preschool children. I am curious how it is in other countries. Like most of my peers, I don't remember measuring rectal temperature.

In France, when I grew up, it was very common for both children and adults to use rectal temperatures; they were mandatory in hospitals. However, for modesty (and also I think for reducing risks of injuries), once you were old enough you were expected to stick and remove the thermometer there yourself.

Nowadays there are other less intrusive and safe methods. They are still used on babies. Some people (I'd say over 40?) use them out of habit. Some people have their children use them because that's how they were raised.

Based on the members here, I would say rectal temps are used up to about age 100.

Based on the members here, I would say rectal temps are used up to about age 100.

On the importance of asking precise questions!

I say here in the US, Infant and Toddler years. My temperature was taken that way during my infant and toddler years.

As long as you can or the patient allows you to do rectal. Birth through elderly.

I am going to also agree with Flames on her post.

In France, I had a rectal measurement until 21 years old, but it was special because my father was a pediatrician and protector

Agree with Pecan detailed explanation below. It was mandatory in our hospitals until a certain age. At home was different family by family.

Years ago when I was in a hospital in CT with a broken leg for 4 days (waiting for the swelling to subside due to a severe sprain before putting the cast on) due to a late night toboggan accident, the nurses came around every four hours around the clock to check my "vitals", one of which was a rectal temperature. I was a senior in high school at the time. Whether this same hospital still does this, I have no idea. I've never been back. Being awakened every 4 hours to see if I was still alive was a real nuisance, although the rectal temp wasn't all bad.

I still got an R/T in hospital at age 21. It was surprising to me that they still did that. I got to do it myself though - the nurse handed me the thermometer and said 'you know how this works?'. I just went under the covers and took it. My mother was sitting next to me. When the nurse got back, she was surprised I'd already taken it and not waited until mom was gone.

I wish forever no matter which country I am in. 😉 😃

Age 53 in the ER was the last rectal temperature I received here in the USA. I can almost assure you that it won’t be my last either.

Thirteen years ago I had my RT taken every four hours in the Mayo Clinic ICU for a month and a half. They tried using an in-dwelling urinary catheter temp probe, but I had issues with it, so they reverted to taking my temp rectally. When you are seriously ill and broken, they insist on RTs.

Growing up in east Europe. Maybe it was my mom's fetish but she took my temp always rectally till I was 16. We even did not have any other device just the glass thermometer. Once I saw mom taking her own RT, so I am sure this was her preferred method.

In France, 10 years ago my wife was pregnant and she had to take her temperature rectally at the hospital once a day. Once I she asked me to do it when I was visiting her.

I’m from Canada and had my temp taken rectally at home growing up until about 12 - mostly by my dad who’s parents are from France where RT used to be pretty common for everyone. Nowadays I think that rectal temps are mostly used in Canada for babies or children under 5.

In Norway RT is still used for all ages, but one uses digital thermometers. But also other ways of measuring temperature isused, based on preference.

Norwegian doctors, however, take the temperature rectally on feverish children up unril schoolage at least. I have the impression that they do it as much for inspection of the anus for other untold purposes, as for taking themperature.

In the U.S., I haven't seen rectal temps. taken on adults, with only a couple of exceptions. In years prior, it was common for patients in pediatric wards, even teens. Those adults who continue the rectal temp. tradition, are either older, or from foreign countries, where that was the norm. If you ask anyone under 30 about it, they probably wouldn't even be aware that rectal temps. ever existed, or at least have never experienced them.

I think in Germany it was normal up to the age of about ten or eleven. But since there are in-ear thermometers, I don't think that this is still the case.

In the 1960's and 1970's age 13 seemed to be the age our doctor's nurse started to ask if you wanted oral. before that it was always rectal. I grew up just outside of Rapid City South Dakota USA on a small ranch with many other houses on the county road. My best friend's house was about 1/4 mile down the county road from my house and, we visited each other often. He also told me he had RT to age 13. We where the same age so turned 13 in 1971. We both actually liked rectal temps and never minded them. And even did RT play when we were left alone for long enough not to be be found out. We did RT play from age 10 to 13 or so.

Jérôme's testimony relates to mine: in France, it is considered old fashioned today to take rectal temperatures, but it's not a question of age, it can be done on adults. What's related to age is whether the nurse/parent inserts the thermometer herself, or it's the patient. It would be considered very odd to do it on an older child, teenager or adult unless incapacitated. For instance, when I was in hospital nearly 40 years ago, I was 9 years old and the nurses asked me to take insert the thermometer myself. Rectal temperatures by the nurse up to age 13 as described by some American participants (e.g. "it's the general policy of the pediatric ward") would be considered lacking in dignity for the patient.