What is a potential drawback of using axillary and plastic strip thermometers?

The correct choice highlights a potential drawback of axillary and plastic strip thermometers, which is that they may underestimate body temperature. This is especially significant in clinical settings where accurate temperature measurement is crucial for diagnosing and managing conditions like fever or infection.

Axillary thermometers measure temperature from the armpit, which is generally cooler than the core body temperature, and therefore can lead to lower readings compared to oral or rectal thermometers. Similarly, plastic strip thermometers, which rely on color changes to indicate temperature, can also be influenced by factors such as ambient temperature and skin contact, potentially leading to an underestimation of the true body temperature.

In contrast, other types of thermometers like oral and rectal are considered more reliable for precise measurements. Therefore, understanding the limitations of axillary and plastic strip thermometers is important for caregivers and healthcare professionals to ensure that temperature assessments are accurate and reflective of a patient's true physiological state.