What vital sign is commonly taken to indicate a person's temperature?

The essential vital sign used to indicate a person's temperature is thermal body temperature. When assessing a patient's health, body temperature provides critical information regarding their metabolic state and potential presence of infection or illness. Normal body temperature typically falls within a range of 97°F to 100.4°F (around 36.1°C to 38°C). Any significant deviation from this range can indicate fever, hypothermia, or other medical conditions that may require further investigation or intervention.

In clinical practice, measuring thermal body temperature can be accomplished through various methods, including oral, rectal, tympanic (ear), or axillary (underarm) readings, each providing useful insights depending on the context of the examination.