Rectal temperatures | Why were rectal temperatures …

Views: 1895 Created: 2023.05.03

First post

Has anyone ever read an older medical journal or some policy manual that explained the rationale for taking routine rectal temperatures until the age 13 in clinical settings? I’ve scoured the internet and libraries for years but never came across any medical literature that ever suggested continuing rectal temperatures to that age neither at home nor in a pediatric office. In fact, everything I’ve read completely contradicted this by stating that rectal temperatures were never recommended for children over 4 or 5 unless the child was unconscious or an accurate core temperature was critical for a more serious medical diagnosis.

Throughout my childhood in the 70’s and 80’s most pediatric offices reserved rectal thermometer use for babies and toddlers during sick visits. Although no parents or even public school nurses would have ever taken the rectal temperature of a 12 year old, there remained a few pediatric offices like mine who strangely continued them up to 13 with no logical explanation ever given. I’m not sure what significance the age of 13 had with determining the policy but it seemed arbitrary and was far above the age which every medical encyclopedia recommended. Perhaps there was some scant reasoning for taking the rectal temperature of a 12 year old who was too sick for an oral thermometer but there was certainly no legitimate medical reason for taking their temperature rectally during routine checkups. But even for that sick 12 year old choosing a rectal temperature over an oral one adds nothing different to their treatment (fluids, acetaminophen, ibuprofen) so it didn’t make much sense to needlessly subject kids to such an embarrassing procedure. I recall one memorable doctor visit around the age of 11 when a branch poked my eye while climbing a tree. Although I showed no signs of illness my temperature was taken rectally upon arrival just because it was their policy. I also found it strange how my mom never questioned this since she had discontinued rectal temperatures at home when I was around 5. As a preteen kid I questioned my mom as to why my temperature was still taken rectally at my doctor’s office but gave no reasonable answer, only saying things like “that’s just how they do it there” or “don’t make such a big deal out of it”.

I’ve always been extremely curious about the origins of the age 13 policy so if you have any information to share I’d really appreciate it.

Fontana

I wish they were only taken until 13. I had to endure this through 18. Hospitals were the same. As bad as this was, the lack of privacy was worse. If you were in the hospital and had visitors, the nurse could come in making her rounds and announce that it was time to have my temperature taken. I would have to turn over in front of everyone and get it taken. In the doctor’s office doors were routinely left open, sometimes partially, and sometimes completely. People were always walking to and from exam rooms and would watch. Actually, I watched others myself as well.

mr nobody

Rectal temperatures stopped being taken on me at around 11 when I started complaining. When puberty hit not too long after, they became a fetish along with medical procedures mostly related to procedures involving pain or discomfort "back there".

Public Enema

All these stories bring back a memory. I was in 7th grade so that would have put me at 12 yo. A girl at school kicked me in the calf & it got infected. I was put in the hospital with an iv of antibiotics. It was a hospital I had spent a lot of time in. I think I was the oldest in the ward. The others were much younger. Everybody had to turn over on their tummy for rectal temps. Because of my leg and my IVs, I was rolled on my side with my rt lege pulled up for mine. Enemas were a norm in that ward and I rememberoyher kids being put in the knee chest position for them. Again, I was rolled in my side with Mt rt leg pulled up for mine. Due to my leg and the pain that gravity caused, I would be rolled back over on a bed pan. My plumbing prevents me from being able to poop on my back an enema and bed pan were the order 2-3x/week while I wad there. I still can't poop on a bedpan.

Anyway, my mom always took Mt temp in my mouth. I'm wondering if I had yo do that because all the younger kids had to do it that way.

Temptaker4u

We had our temperatures taken rectally at home, and at the Pediatrician, until we turned 13 and were then switched to oral temps. No reason was given. This happened in the 70s through 1980.

GerHarren

I think the most pediatrician back in the days didn't make any difference between a 2 and a 12 years old. They both considered helpless, unreliable child, who can't be trusted to hold a thermometer properly in their mouth for minutes. The pediatrician office was often crowded, tight scheduled, especially during winter with flu outbreaks in schools, so they didn't bother use different kind of thermometers regarding different aged kids. Rectal for everyone was simpler.

Other option, like in my case if you looked younger than your age, the doctor somehow taught you are still a little kid, even if you were a lot older. Not with rectal temp taking, but with suppositories, even if I could swallow pills, always prescripted suppositories.

Danto

... Other option, like in my case if you looked younger than your age, the doctor somehow taught you are still a little kid, even if you were a lot older. Not with rectal temp taking, but with suppositories, even if I could swallow pills, always prescripted suppositories.

So true. My puberty was massively delayed, as a 14yo I was 1.45 m tall and looked very childish. So until 16 I received RT even in hospital. I also recognised that they spoke to me particularly as if I was still a child, what felt bit annoying

Mustanng95

I was born late 60’s .mom pretty much stopped around 6 unless I was vomiting or coughing so much I couldn’t keep a thermometer in my mouth. Our pediatrician office was about the same when it came to temperatures. They keep a couple thermometer’s on the counter. Nurse would let you know it was time to get your temperature. She would ask if you could hold the thermometer underneath your tongue for her. The last time I remember get a thermometer in my butt I had just turned 15 at the emergency room 1982 . I had a really bad stomach virus a lot of nausea vomiting and dry heaving . When I first got there they called us back to a room with cubicles separating patients to screen them in. After the nurse talked to my mother and I . She took me back to a room with curtains separating the exam beds pretty much open in the front. She said she need to get my temperature in my bottom she told me to remove my pants I could leave my underwear on and lay on my stomach . I did , she some what pulled the curtain across the front took a thermometer started shaking it down she the pulled my underwear down and slipped the thermometer in my butt . I remember her telling mom they had seen a lot of patients with this virus last couple weeks. I ended up getting a shot in my butt and a prescription for phenergan suppositories. The Doctor told mom that it would probably make its way throughout the house . My Sister was the next. One to get it then mom . I got one suppository later that evening. Pretty sure my sister and mom used the rest of them

vinni

In uk hospital took rectal temps on child wards as standard until age 12 but if cough or vomiting or sneezing take retally even if older as mercury in old thermometers to risky if broke in mouth.