[Tympanic thermometers are of great value for health check ups of newborn infants].
In a study of 81 healthy, newborn infants (60 term, postnatal age 2-18 h) tympanic and axillary measurements were compared with rectal temperatures. Mean (95% confidence interval) rectal temperature was 36.9 degrees C (36.8-37.0 degrees C), min-max range: 35.9-37.8 degrees C. Mean tympanic temperature was 36.8 degrees C (36.7-36.9 degrees C) and axillary 36.5 degrees C (36.3-36.6 degrees C). Rectal temperature < 36.5 degrees C (< -1SD, N = 10): tympanic sensitivity 80% (44-97%) and axillary 70% (35-93%), tympanic specificity 87% (77-94%) and axillary 60% (48-72%). Rectal temperature > 37.4 degrees C (> +1SD, N = 7): tympanic sensitivity 86% (42-100%) and axillary 0% (0-41%), tympanic specificity 95% (97-99%) and axillary 99% (93-100%). Tympanic measurements give valuable information in checking for normal body temperature in newborn infants.
Norman
Mikael
M
Astrid Lindgrens barnsjukhus, Stockholm. mikael.norman@ks.se
Hägg
Asa
A
Saastamoinen
Virpi
V
D001365:Axilla; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D004432:Ear, Middle; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012007:Rectum; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013821:Thermometers / Q000592:standards*