AIM: To assess whether axillary temperature measurements reliably reflect oral/rectal temperature measurements. METHODS: This observational study compared paired axillary-rectal and axillary-oral temperatures in a general paediatric ward with the participation of 225 children aged < or = 4 y and 112 children aged between 4 and 14 y. RESULTS: Changes in oral/rectal and axillary temperatures correlated significantly (p < 0.0001). However, axillary temperature measurements were significantly lower than both oral (mean -0.56 degrees C, SD 0.76 degrees C) and rectal measurements (0.38 degrees C; SD 0.76 degrees C). Ninety-five percent of axillary measurements fell within a 2.5-3 degrees C range around respective paired oral/rectal measurements. The mean difference increased with increasing temperature, and was 0.4 degrees C at low body temperatures, and over 1 degree C with a fever of 39 degrees C. Neither seasonal fluctuations nor the amount of clothing worn influenced this difference. CONCLUSION: Axillary temperatures in young children do not reliably reflect oral/rectal temperatures and should therefore be interpreted with caution.
AIM: To assess whether axillary temperature measurements reliably reflect oral/rectal temperature measurements. METHODS: This observational study compared paired axillary-rectal and axillary-oral temperatures in a general paediatric ward with the participation of 225 children aged < or = 4 y and 112 children aged between 4 and 14 y. RESULTS: Changes in oral/rectal and axillary temperatures correlated significantly (p < 0.0001). However, axillary temperature measurements were significantly lower than both oral (mean -0.56 degrees C, SD 0.76 degrees C) and rectal measurements (0.38 degrees C; SD 0.76 degrees C). Ninety-five percent of axillary measurements fell within a 2.5-3 degrees C range around respective paired oral/rectal measurements. The mean difference increased with increasing temperature, and was 0.4 degrees C at low body temperatures, and over 1 degree C with a fever of 39 degrees C. Neither seasonal fluctuations nor the amount of clothing worn influenced this difference. CONCLUSION: Axillary temperatures in young children do not reliably reflect oral/rectal temperatures and should therefore be interpreted with caution.
Authors: John T Kanegaye; Jefferson M Jones; Jane C Burns; Sonia Jain; Xiaoying Sun; Susan Jimenez-Fernandez; Erika Berry; Joan M Pancheri; Preeti Jaggi; Octavio Ramilo; Adriana H Tremoulet Journal: Pediatr Infect Dis J Date: 2016-01 Impact factor: 2.129
Authors: Jamil Pedro de Siqueira Caldas; Walusa A G Ferri; Sérgio T M Marba; Davi C Aragon; Ruth Guinsburg; Maria F B de Almeida; Edna M A Diniz; Rita C S Silveira; José M S Alves Junior; Marco B Pavanelli; Maria R Bentlin; Daniela M L M Ferreira; Marynéa S Vale; Humberto H Fiori; José L M B Duarte; Jucille A Meneses; Silvia Cwajg; Werther B Carvalho; Lígia S L Ferrari; Nathalia M M Silva; Regina P G V C da Silva; Leni M Anchieta; Juliana P F Santos; Mandira D Kawakami Journal: Eur J Pediatr Date: 2019-05-06 Impact factor: 3.183
Authors: Yazeed Alayed; Mohammed A Kilani; Abdullah Hommadi; Mohammed Alkhalifah; Dalal Alhaffar; Muhammad Bashir Journal: Glob Pediatr Health Date: 2022-06-20