Oral temperatures

Oral medicine

Oral temperatures An interesting

observation

in the presence

Mark Lazare, D.D.S., Montred,

of oral

infiammation

Quebec, Cam-da

D

uring my internship, a patient came to the hospital emergency room with the chief complaint of nausea and severe diffuse pain along one side of the mouth. This trouble had commenced a month before, a.fter a dentist had rehabilitated the occlusion on the lower right side of the mouth. The patient appearedi fatigued and toxic. Clinically, a visual observation revealed an intense inflammation of the gingiva and alveolar mucosa extending down to the floor of the mouth on the right side. When the oral temperature was taken, the thermometer registered 105.6’ F. This was believed to be inaccurate, and another thermometer was used; this time the reading was 105.4’ F. A rectal recording indicated a temperature of 101.8° F. The oral temperature was taken again, and the patient was instructed to keep the base of the thermometer under the tongue on the left side of the mouth. This time the thermometer registered 102.0’ F. CONCLUSIONS

In the presence of inflammation, local temperature is higher than systemic temperature. The systemic temperature should be recorded at a site some distance from a localized area of inflammation. Temperature readings should be a part of the diagnostic information obtained and recorded. 5560 Lavoie

St.