Temperature 32.1

[lolajone]

Today I had a forehead temperature check taken before entering a premises. They faffed about for a while and then said “that’s low”. It was 32.1. I got them to check theirs and their result was 36.5 so not a problem with the thermometer. Any thoughts? I’ve recently been diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism in addition to existing hashimotos. I’m on 100/200 Levo alternate days. TSH 0.37 last tested SEP 20

[Jazzw]

This keeps happening to me, LOL. I’ve decided not to worry about it but I’d be interested to know if we’re the only ones?

[lolajone in reply to Jazzw]

I wasn’t particularly worried.... they were more concerned than me. 😀 kept asking I felt ok

[helvella Administrator]

Forehead thermometers are notoriously sensitive to the conditions in which they are used. If you walked down a windy and cool/cold street your thermometer, your forehead could be substantially cooled. The people doing the check probably kept warm all day.

I seriously doubt your internal temperature was actually 32.1. (Often, anything below 35 is regarded as a real concern.)

However, if I were you, I would make sure I had a reasonable ear thermometer and use it regularly for a while to establish where you really are. Take it out with you. If the same happens again, check your temperature yourself.

This also illustrates how poor the whole idea of screening with a quick forehead temperature check is. It might catch the odd person with a temperature but will miss many - especially in cold and windy weather.

[jimh111 in reply to helvella]

Singapore in particular uses heat scanners at the airport to check for COVID-19. I think it's a great idea. I don't believe they are accurate but they scare off people who are thinking of going to Singapore because they feel ill and want good care.

(On the day I was passing through there in Februrary I ha d a slight cold so I delayed my liothyronine until I was on the plane. Hypothyroidism has its advantages!) These scanners catch a percentage of cases but perhaps their real advantage is they deter people who have COVID-19 symptoms from going out.

[helvella Administrator in reply to jimh111]

They quite probably work better in some environments than others.

In the cold outdoors, or on people who have just come inside from the cold outdoors, not good. In the sun, or on people who have just come inside from being under the hot sun, not good. But in moderately warm indoors, no direct sun, much better.

Regarding the putting-off aspect - very much agree. I think they probably really do help to discourage people who might otherwise be tempted to try it on despite having a temperature.

[Cooper27 in reply to jimh111]

Regardless of environment, the cameras on the market these days are only accurate to within 0.5C, which is quite a wide scale.

[Cooper27]

I know someone working on a thermometer project just now, one issue they mentioned is how poor skin temperature is as a measure, because it changes depending on your environment as much as it does because of your core temp. If you had just come in from the cold, your skin temperature would have been lower than the person measuring, who has been standing in a well heated space for a long time.

It's likely you have a low body temp, but it would be better for you to measure it yourself to check what it truly is, without any environmental factors. Just be aware that some thermometers are better than others too - I have a Lloyds Pharmacy one that always reads 0.1-0.9 degrees lower than my basal body thermometer (which is a more accurate one).

[Wired123]

These forehead thermometers are rubbish. I used to walk 20 mins in the August sunshine and broke into a sweat to get to my physio appts. My temp would always be in the 35 range which is impossible as I would be warm and sticky.

My temp at home is always in the 36-37 range, why it would go lower after a brisk walk is beyond me unless the thermometer is faulty!

[HashiFedUp]

If it was that low you’d be dead! or had serious hyperthermia... so i shouldn’t worry about it. in ear thermometers and much more reliable.

[JAmanda]

Yes, happened to me all the time when I went anywhere this year - into the hospital for a blood test nurses say 'are you feeling ok?' Low temp is an indicator of under medication. Now I've upped my T3 my temp is almost normal.

[Realtiger]

You are not alone! I’m the current winner of the lowest recorded temp (33) at my chiropractor’s clinic despite repeat visits and different weather conditions! I’ve joked that I have blue blood, am a lizard etc for ages but seems it’s official 😂 I bought a new digital thermometer at home thinking my other one must be wrong - temp usually hovers between 34-36 so perhaps that’s a useful differential re forehead and other thermometers? I have Hashis and suspect I’m under medicated on 25mg Levo but as long as my TSH comes back within range ( 0.27- 4.20 last tests 4.16 Aug & 2.47 Oct) there is no convincing any GP in my practice that an increase is warranted.

What baffles me is how I would know if I had a fever?! A temp of 37 would be 2 degrees above ‘normal’ for me!

[ZoMa]

I am always around 34-35 on these. Even when I feel hot and bothered after rushing to an appointment!

[SassyMH]

I am so glad you posted this as this keeps happening to me. The forehead thermometer wouldnt register my temperature until I jumped up and down a bit. This has happened several times, I feel fine though so not worried.X

[Thyb]

I have a digital thermometer which can be used oral, armpit, rectal lol...I use armpit for 'easiness' but, after reading about various temp measurements...All say rectal is most accurate followed by Oral.

For armpit it says add on 0.5-1 degree. I 'think same for forehead' says google.

My temperature is also low even if I'm 'sweaty', 35 - 36 degrees

🙃🙃😀

[humanbean]

I've had several dentist appointments over the last few months and they keep doing the forehead temperature on me, and getting a result of under 32. They do it twice and get the same result each time then test the inside of my wrist. My wrist temperature seems to reassure them I am still alive and I'm allowed in.

[Jazzw]

The thing that gets me though—they always seem surprised, as though I’m unusual. Surely it happens a lot? Unless of course everyone who went through the door before me actually did have a temp. Which bodes well... 😂

[waveylines]

So if its a forehead temperature checker and you have a temperature but have come in from a cold windy day your temperature is likely to register normal then? For years Ive been optimally treated on a ndt but my temperature remained stubbornly low so Id come to the conclusion that I had a naturally low temperature. Two years ago went onto b12 injections and hey presto my temperature shot up to 36.9 and there it has stayed......

[helvella Administrator in reply to waveylines]

So if its a forehead temperature checker and you have a temperature but have come in from a cold windy day your temperature is likely to register normal then?

Yes - and that is one reason that they are not really suitable for screening. As jimh111 pointed out, they have a psychological impact that is likely greater than their real detection impact.

Infrared thermometers themselves have a requirement to be within a certain temperature range in order to operate properly even within their limits. Such thermometers can't be waved around outside in the cold and expected to function. You might hope that they would be able to detect whether or not they are within that range but I know for sure some simply report garbage results.

[waveylines in reply to helvella]

Thanks Helvelle. Yes I get the psychological impact and how it might make people think twice if they know they are not well. Some schools were using the infared red ones to screen on entry. I dont know if they still are......but it seems fairly pointless now its got a lot colder.

[jimh111 in reply to helvella]

My GP surgery used one yesterday. I wonder if there is an evidence base for it or whether they were making the reception staff feel safe. They have proper ear thermometers which would be much better and could give advance warning of a spike in infections.

[helvella Administrator in reply to jimh111]

There is an FDA paper (from the USA):

fda.gov/medical-devices/cor...

In its list of limitations, it misses hypothyroidism as a possible cause of limited effectiveness. (Were it a UK paper, I might have emailed those responsible.)

A UK thermometer supplier has an advice PDF which includes this:

If the temperature result is 34 ̊ C or below, then this is out of the normal range and you should wait for 5 minutes and re-test the subject when their skin temperature has normalised.

castlegroup.co/s/RdZe9XeqbM...