Tympanic thermometry in Nigerian children.
Rectal and aural temperatures were recorded at the same time in 378 children aged < or = 60 months and were found to be similar across the various age groups, correlation coefficients (r) ranging from 0.61 to 0.91. The mean differences between rectal and aural temperatures varied between -0.06 and 0.25 degree C. Concordance between the two methods ranged from 88.9% to 98% across the temperature range. Tympanic thermometry is simpler, safer and quicker than rectal thermometry and these findings justify the use of aural thermometry in any busy clinical facility for children.
Akinyinka
O O
OO
Department of Paediatrics, University College Hospital, PMB 5116, Ibadan, Nigeria. malaria.iba@alpha.linkserve.com
Omokhodion
S I
SI
Olawuyi
J F
JF
Olumese
P E
PE
Brown
B J
BJ
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001831:Body Temperature; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012007:Rectum; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013821:Thermometers; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000502:physiology*