Ekta Goswami1, Prerna Batra2, Ritika Khurana1, Pooja Dewan1. 1. Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Dilshad Garden, Delhi, 110095, India. 2. Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Dilshad Garden, Delhi, 110095, India. drprernabatra@yahoo.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of temporal artery thermometer in febrile and hypothermic neonates in comparison to axillary thermometer. METHODS: It was a cross sectional observational study. Study participants included 210 neonates admitted in neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital, divided into three groups of 70 each, namely normothermic, febrile and hypothermic. Temperatures were measured using temporal artery, axillary and rectal thermometers in each patient. RESULTS: Mean rectal temperature was found to be comparable to mean temporal artery temperature in normothermic babies. Temporal artery thermometer had a better sensitivity to diagnose fever, than hypothermia. Also, temporal artery temperature showed a good correlation with rectal temperature in normothermic and febrile group and not in hypothermic neonates. CONCLUSIONS: Temporal artery thermometer can accurately detect temperature in febrile and normothermic fullterm neonates but not in hypothermic neonates. Further studies are required before advocating temporal artery thermometry as a replacement of rectal thermometry among this group of population.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of temporal artery thermometer in febrile and hypothermic neonates in comparison to axillary thermometer. METHODS: It was a cross sectional observational study. Study participants included 210 neonates admitted in neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital, divided into three groups of 70 each, namely normothermic, febrile and hypothermic. Temperatures were measured using temporal artery, axillary and rectal thermometers in each patient. RESULTS: Mean rectal temperature was found to be comparable to mean temporal artery temperature in normothermic babies. Temporal artery thermometer had a better sensitivity to diagnose fever, than hypothermia. Also, temporal artery temperature showed a good correlation with rectal temperature in normothermic and febrile group and not in hypothermic neonates. CONCLUSIONS: Temporal artery thermometer can accurately detect temperature in febrile and normothermic fullterm neonates but not in hypothermic neonates. Further studies are required before advocating temporal artery thermometry as a replacement of rectal thermometry among this group of population.
Authors: Peter Paal; Mathieu Pasquier; Tomasz Darocha; Raimund Lechner; Sylweriusz Kosinski; Bernd Wallner; Ken Zafren; Hermann Brugger Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-01-03 Impact factor: 3.390