Daily Mail

5 of the best

DIGITAL THERMOMETE­RS

- Interview: ADRIAN MONTI

DIGITAL thermomete­rs are safer, speedier and more accurate than traditiona­l mercury thermomete­rs. We asked Dr Keith grimes, a gP in eastbourne and digital health specialist with Babylon Health, to select five of the best . . .

TOMMEE TIPPEE NO TOUCH FOREHEAD THERMOMETE­R

£49.99, boots.com I KEEP this thermomete­r in my bag (along with one for under the arm and one for the ear).

You hold it 4cm from the forehead and press the ‘start’ button. Infrared sensors measure the temperatur­e over the temporal artery, close to the skin’s surface, giving a reading in two seconds. It stores up to 25 readings and alerts you if there’s a fever.

There aren’t many public studies with this, but it’s widely trusted by health profession­als.

BRAUN THERMOSCAN 7

£39.99, johnlewis.com THIS is used in the ear — the most accurate place to take a temperatur­e other than the rectum.

The whole family can use this one and it will store their individual data. But, in the interests of hygiene, replace the disposable ear covers (about 20p each) every time.

Be aware a wax blockage or ear infection could affect the reading.

NUROFEN FEVERSMART TEMPERATUR­E MONITOR

£56.67, amazon.co.uk YOU pair this disposable, stick-on thermomete­r with a base station and an app on your phone to provide continuous readings. It can be reassuring for parents to know their child’s temperatur­e in the night without having to wake them (it has a range of up to 40m).

The maker says it’s accurate to within 0.2c and it gives an alert for a significan­t rise in temperatur­e.

My only concern would be if the Bluetooth connection fails.

ADORIC CLINICAL DIGITAL THERMOMETE­R

£7.99, amazon.co.uk THE NHS advises that the best place to take a child’s temperatur­e is under their armpit. The soft, flexible tip on this product makes it suitable for that. It won’t feel uncomforta­ble under the tongue, either — a common complaint with old-fashioned glass ones.

This thermomete­r is not as quick as some others — it takes ten seconds to do a reading — but it seems accurate and the display is clear. It’s a cheap, no-fuss option. If a reading tops 37.9c, a buzzer will sound.

TAPP BY OBLUMI

£40.14, amazon.co.uk YOU plug this 5cm-long sensor into the headphone jack of a smartphone and then take a temperatur­e from the forehead or ear. Data can be shared using the associated app. It also has alarms to remind you to take a temperatur­e or give medication.

It’s a good option for those who embrace technology — I couldn’t find any data on its accuracy, however.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom