Is the axilla the right site for temperature measurement in children by chemical thermometer?
Although each method has its own advantages and disadvantages compared with the conservative mercury-in-glass thermometers, there are conflicting opinions about the optimal anatomic site for measuring body temperature as well about the variations in measurements with different methods. In thi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Hacettepe University Institute of Child Health
2009-08-01
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| Series: | The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics |
| Online Access: | https://turkjpediatr.org/article/view/2310 |
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| author | Ateş Kara Ilker Devrim Ali Bülent Cengiz Filiz Celik Hasan Tezer Ali Kerem Uludağ Gülten Seçmeer |
| author_facet | Ateş Kara Ilker Devrim Ali Bülent Cengiz Filiz Celik Hasan Tezer Ali Kerem Uludağ Gülten Seçmeer |
| author_sort | Ateş Kara |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Although each method has its own advantages and disadvantages compared with the conservative mercury-in-glass thermometers, there are conflicting opinions about the optimal anatomic site for measuring body temperature as well about the variations in measurements with different methods. In this study, we aimed to assess the accuracy and reliability of measurements obtained from the axilla with the chemical thermometer (Tempa DOT TM) compared with the classic mercury-in-glass instruments. Sixty randomly selected pediatric patients who were admitted to our hospital were enrolled. Simultaneous temperature axillary measurements (n: 1300) were performed with the chemical thermometer and mercury-in-glass instruments. The mean results of the axillary mercury-in-glass thermometers and axillary chemical thermometer were 36.8 +/- 0.6 and 37.2 +/- 0.7, respectively. The Bland-Altman plot of differences suggests that 95% of the chemical thermometer (Tempa.DOT TM) readings were within limits of agreement (+0.37 and -1.24 degrees C) when mercury-in-glass thermometer is considered as the standard. Our results showed that limits of agreement were wide (+0.37 and -1.24 degrees C) between readings of axillary mercury-in-glass thermometers and chemical thermometers. Since approximately 20% of febrile patients with mercury-in-glass temperature were misdiagnosed as afebrile with measurements via chemical thermometer, we suggest that the axilla is not a suitable anatomic site for screening of fever with Tempa.DOT. Further studies involving larger study groups with similar age should be done to more definitely assess its screening value in pediatrics.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bb00f895aeb44a508b43f3a7ccf1827e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0041-4301 2791-6421 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2009-08-01 |
| publisher | Hacettepe University Institute of Child Health |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-bb00f895aeb44a508b43f3a7ccf1827e2025-08-20T02:01:57ZengHacettepe University Institute of Child HealthThe Turkish Journal of Pediatrics0041-43012791-64212009-08-01514Is the axilla the right site for temperature measurement in children by chemical thermometer?Ateş Kara0Ilker DevrimAli Bülent CengizFiliz CelikHasan TezerAli Kerem UludağGülten SeçmeerInfectious Disease Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Although each method has its own advantages and disadvantages compared with the conservative mercury-in-glass thermometers, there are conflicting opinions about the optimal anatomic site for measuring body temperature as well about the variations in measurements with different methods. In this study, we aimed to assess the accuracy and reliability of measurements obtained from the axilla with the chemical thermometer (Tempa DOT TM) compared with the classic mercury-in-glass instruments. Sixty randomly selected pediatric patients who were admitted to our hospital were enrolled. Simultaneous temperature axillary measurements (n: 1300) were performed with the chemical thermometer and mercury-in-glass instruments. The mean results of the axillary mercury-in-glass thermometers and axillary chemical thermometer were 36.8 +/- 0.6 and 37.2 +/- 0.7, respectively. The Bland-Altman plot of differences suggests that 95% of the chemical thermometer (Tempa.DOT TM) readings were within limits of agreement (+0.37 and -1.24 degrees C) when mercury-in-glass thermometer is considered as the standard. Our results showed that limits of agreement were wide (+0.37 and -1.24 degrees C) between readings of axillary mercury-in-glass thermometers and chemical thermometers. Since approximately 20% of febrile patients with mercury-in-glass temperature were misdiagnosed as afebrile with measurements via chemical thermometer, we suggest that the axilla is not a suitable anatomic site for screening of fever with Tempa.DOT. Further studies involving larger study groups with similar age should be done to more definitely assess its screening value in pediatrics. https://turkjpediatr.org/article/view/2310 |
| spellingShingle | Ateş Kara Ilker Devrim Ali Bülent Cengiz Filiz Celik Hasan Tezer Ali Kerem Uludağ Gülten Seçmeer Is the axilla the right site for temperature measurement in children by chemical thermometer? The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics |
| title | Is the axilla the right site for temperature measurement in children by chemical thermometer? |
| title_full | Is the axilla the right site for temperature measurement in children by chemical thermometer? |
| title_fullStr | Is the axilla the right site for temperature measurement in children by chemical thermometer? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is the axilla the right site for temperature measurement in children by chemical thermometer? |
| title_short | Is the axilla the right site for temperature measurement in children by chemical thermometer? |
| title_sort | is the axilla the right site for temperature measurement in children by chemical thermometer |
| url | https://turkjpediatr.org/article/view/2310 |
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