title: [Comparative measurements of oral and rectal temperatures in 224 hospitalized patients].
abstract: We made a simultaneous measurement of oral temperature with an electronic thermometer and rectal temperature with a glass mercury thermometer in 224 in-patients. The results show that the difference between oral and rectal temperature is unpredictable and often important especially when the patient is febrile. It is impossible to determine a correction factor of the oral temperature which would allow a more sensitive and specific detection of patients with fever.
authors.affiliation: Clinique Dermatologique, Hôpitaux Universitaires, Strasbourg.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Couilliet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grosshans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001831:Body Temperature; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth; D012007:Rectum; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013821:Thermometers