Thermoregulation and axillary temperature measurements in neonates: a review of the literature.

The theoretical and empirical literature were reviewed to examine the current knowledge about thermoregulation and temperature-measurement techniques in neonates. The results indicate that there is a conflict in the literature regarding the length of time needed to obtain neonatal axillary temperature measurements with glass thermometers and a gap in the literature pertaining to the symmetry of axillary temperature measurements in neonates not exposed to an external heat source. Liquid crystal and tympanic thermometers have been demonstrated to be inaccurate fever detectors. The use of electronic thermometers may offer nurses time-saving alternatives to standard glass thermometers for obtaining neonatal temperature measurements.