Can There Be a Standard for Temperature Measurement in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit?

Assessment of Saudi Parents' Beliefs and Behaviors towards Management of Child Fever in Saudi Arabia-A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

Fever alone can lead to rare serious complications in children, such as febrile seizures. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, beliefs, and behavior of parents toward fever and its management.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire was applied over a period of 3 months, from January to March 2018, to parents who were living in Saudi Arabia. The inclusion criteria were a parent who is a resident of Saudi Arabia, with at least one child aged 6 years or less, while incomplete questionnaires, having a child aged more than 6 years, or parents who were not living in Saudi Arabia were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 656 parents completed the questionnaire. More than two-thirds of the subjects were female, the majority of whom were aged between 25-33 years old. The best-reported place to measure the temperature of children was the armpit (46%), followed by the ear (28%) and the mouth (10.7%). More than half of the parents considered their children feverish at a temperature of 38 °C. The majority of parents (79.7%) reported that the most serious side effects of fever were seizure, brain damage (39.3%), coma (29.9%), dehydration (29.7%), and death (25%). The most common method used to measure a child's temperature was an electronic thermometer (62.3%). The most common antipyretic was paracetamol (84.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates the good knowledge of parents in identifying a feverish temperature using the recommended route and tools for measuring body temperature.

Temperature Monitoring Devices in Neonates

Introduction: Accurate temperature monitoring of neonates is vital due to the significant morbidities and mortality associated with neonatal hypothermia. Many studies have compared different thermometers in neonates, however, there is a lack of consensus regarding which of the currently available thermometers is most suitable for use in neonates. Objectives: The aim of this review was to identify and compare current methods available for temperature monitoring of neonates beyond the delivery room, including the accuracy, advantages and disadvantages of each. Methods: A recent search and narrative synthesis of relevant studies published between January 1, 1949 and May 5, 2021 on the OVID Medline, PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Results: A total of 160 papers were retrieved for narrative synthesis. The main methods available for temperature monitoring in neonates are human touch and mercury-in-glass, electronic, infrared tympanic and other infrared thermometers. Newer innovations that are also available include liquid crystal thermometers and the BEMPU TempWatch. This paper discusses the current evidence available regarding the utility of these devices, and identifies barriers to valid comparison of different thermometry methods. Conclusion: Many methods for temperature monitoring in neonates are currently available, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. However, the accuracies of different devices are hard to determine due to variable methodologies used in relevant studies and hence, further research that addresses these gaps is needed.

Comparison of Oral and Axillary Temperatures in Intubated Pediatric Patients

PURPOSE

Accurate body temperature measurement is essential in providing timely care to critically ill patients. Current practice within the Pediatric ICU (PICU) at a Midwestern academic medical center is to obtain axillary temperatures in endotracheally intubated patients. According to research, axillary temperatures have greater variance than other forms of temperature measurement. Research in adult patients show that oral temperature measurement in endotracheally intubated patients is acceptable as the heated gases from the ventilator has no significant effect on measured temperatures. This study sought to determine if the same is true in pediatrics.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Oral and axillary temperatures of endotracheally intubated pediatric patients were obtained during unit prescribed vital assessment intervals. Patients were divided into neonate, infant, and children age groups with 25 sets of temperatures obtained for each group. Descriptive statistics and Bland-Altman plot interpretation were performed to determine confidence intervals for each age group.

RESULTS

Bland-Altman plot analysis of oral and axillary routes of temperature measurement showed a high positive correlation within all age groups studied. The infant age group showed lower correlation in comparison to neonates and children. The infant age group also had an outlier of data sets with lower oral temperatures as compared to the axilla.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral temperature measurement is a viable alternative to axillary temperature measurement in endotracheally intubated pediatric patients. Correction factors for age groups were calculated for prediction of axillary temperature based on measured oral temperature.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

This study serves as evidence for practice change within the studied unit.

Axillary and Tympanic Temperature Measurement in Children and Normal Values for Ages

AIM

The aim of the study was define the normal values of tympanic and axillary body temperature in healthy children.

METHODS

This observational cross-sectional study was performed in healthy children aged 0 to 17 years who visited the ambulatory general pediatric of Istanbul Medical Faculty.

RESULTS

Of 1364 children, 651 (47.7%) were girls and 713 were boys, the mean (SD, range) age was 72.5 (53.6, 1-204) months. The mean (SD) axillary body temperature was 36.04°C (0.46°C; minimum, 35.0°C; maximum, 37.6°C). The 95th and 99th percentiles were 36.8°C and 37.0°C, respectively. The mean (SD) tympanic body temperature was 36.91°C (0.46°C; minimum, 35.15°C; maximum, 37.9°C). The 95th and 99th percentiles were 37.6°C and 37.8°C, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between sexes for only tympanic body temperatures. Both axillary and tympanic body temperatures were statistically higher in 0 to 2 months compared with other age groups. For this age group, the 99th percentile was 37.5°C for axillary and 37.85°C for tympanic temperature.

CONCLUSIONS

Axillary and tympanic body temperatures should be considered as fever when they are more than 37.0°C and 37.8°C, respectively. For 0 to 2 months, fever is 37.5°C and 37.85°C in axillary and tympanic temperatures, respectively.

Accuracy of Noninvasive Core Temperature Measurement in Acutely Ill Adults: The State of the Science

Accurate temperature measurement is critical to the assessment and management of temperature fluctuation in the acutely ill adult. Unfortunately, an accurate, noninvasive method to measure core temperature has yet to be established, and current instruments produce a wide range of temperatures for any given patient. This article provides an integrative review of studies comparing selected invasive and noninvasive temperature measurement methods in acutely ill, hospitalized adult patients. Medline and CINAHL databases were searched to locate published studies on temperature measurement in the adult hospitalized patient. A partial list of primary search terms included core temperature measurement, oral temperature measurement, temporal artery thermometry, and tympanic thermometers. Studies that were data based and included comparison of a tympanic, temporal artery, and/or oral noninvasive temperature measurement to a pulmonary artery or esophageal invasive core measurement in an adult population were included in the analysis. The search method produced 223 publications and abstracts for initial review; 23 (10%) met the inclusion criteria. The only study evaluating the use of temporal artery thermometry in the adult population found the instrument to be unreliable. Results also indicate that high-quality evidence supporting the accuracy of tympanic thermometry, the preferred instrument for noninvasive core temperature measurement in many acute care settings, is lacking, and in fact, the most recent high-quality studies evaluating the accuracy of this instrument fail to show support for its use. Evidence does, however, support the use of oral thermometry as an accurate means of temperature assessment in the adult, acutely ill population.

A practical comparison of temporal artery thermometry and axillary thermometry in neonates under different environments

AIM

Thermoregulatory stability and monitoring are crucial in neonatal care. However, the current standard of temperature measurement using Axillary Thermometry (AT) poses multiple limitations. Temporal Artery Thermometry (TT) is a promising new method, which thus begs the question: Can TT replace AT in neonates? Previous studies reveal conflicting results, with none involving a Southeast-Asian multi-ethnic neonatal population under different environments.

METHODS

A 6-month prospective comparative study involving neonates managed in a tertiary neonatal centre. Subjects were divided into 4 groups based on the required nursing environment: A) Room air B) Phototherapy C) Radiant warmers D) Incubators. Six hundred and sixty-one paired TT and AT temperature readings were obtained, with concurrent FLACC scoring to evaluate the discomfort associated with each thermometry method.

RESULTS

TT readings were higher than AT in all groups. The mean temperature difference between both methods (TT-AT) was lowest in Group A (0.10 ± 0.19°C), followed by Groups B (0.50 ± 0.33°C), C (0.97 ± 0.76°C) and D (1.15 ± 0.57°C) respectively. Bland-Altman analysis revealed good clinical agreement (± 0.5°C) between both methods in Group A (7-0.27,0.47). However, Groups B (-0.14,1.13), C (-0.51,2.45) and D (0.03,2.27) showed poor agreement. Multiple GEE analysis revealed Malay ethnicity to be an additional predictor of decreased TT-AT ( β = -0.13, p = 0.012). Compared to TT, AT was associated with higher discomfort levels (p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Given the good agreement and increased comfort with TT use, our study confirms that TT is comparable to AT for neonates nursed in room air. TT is therefore recommended for the temperature screening and monitoring of neonates nursed on ambient air. Its use in other environments and factors predictive of comparability of both methods requires further study.

Comparison of axillary and rectal temperatures for healthy Beagles in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment

OBJECTIVE

To compare axillary and rectal temperature measurements obtained with a digital thermometer for Beagles in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment.

ANIMALS

26 healthy Beagles (17 sexually intact males and 9 sexually intact females).

PROCEDURES

Dogs were maintained in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment for 56 days before rectal and axillary temperatures were measured. Axillary and rectal temperatures were obtained in triplicate for each dog by use of a single commercially available manufacturer-calibrated digital thermometer.

RESULTS

Mean rectal and axillary temperatures of Beagles maintained in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment were significantly different, with a median ± SD difference of 1.4° ± 0.15°C (range, 0.7° to 2.1°C). Mean rectal and axillary temperatures were 38.7°C (range, 37.6° to 39.5°C) and 37.2°C (range, 36.6° to 38.3°C), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Results of this study indicated that the historical reference of a 0.55°C gradient between rectal and axillary temperatures that has been clinically used for veterinary patients was inaccurate for healthy Beagles in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment. Rectal and axillary temperatures can be measured in veterinary patients. Reliable interpretation of axillary temperatures may accommodate patient comfort and reduce patient anxiety when serial measurement of temperatures is necessary. Further clinical studies will be needed.

Using axillary temperature to approximate rectal temperature in newborns

AIM

Various factors have been shown to potentially affect the difference between axillary and rectal temperature measurements in newborns. We aimed to explore their roles and, if possible, to construct a formula that explained the difference.

METHODS

The study was based on a consecutive sample of 175 infants, with a gestational age of 24-42 weeks, whose rectal and axillary temperatures were measured simultaneously at the neonatal unit at Skaraborg Hospital in Sweden. Data were analysed using multiple regressions.

RESULTS

Premature infants had a significantly smaller mean difference (0.33°C) between rectal and axillary temperatures than full-term infants (0.43°C). Significant associated factors for premature infants were chronological age (p = 0.025), time of day (p = 0.004) and axillary temperature (p < 0.001). For full-term infants, the only significant associated factor was axillary temperature (p = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

Although it is possible to construct a formula that estimates neonate rectal temperature based on axillary temperature with a slightly higher reliability than simply adding a fixed value like 0.4°C, such a formula would be too complex to apply in practice. Adding 0.3°C or 0.4°C to the measured axillary temperature for premature infants or full-term infants, respectively, yields acceptable approximations in most cases.

Temperature measurement in the preterm and term neonate: a review of the literature

The maintenance of a constant body temperature is important to all humans but even more so for newborn babies (neonates), especially those born pre-term. Because accurate measurement of body temperature is an important component of thermoregulation management in the neonate, a review of the literature was undertaken to determine the most appropriate method and site of temperature measurement in both the preterm and term neonate. The available evidence indicates that the axilla remains the most common place for temperature measurement.

Comparison of forehead infrared thermometry with axillary digital thermometry in neonates

Fluctuations in core body temperature beyond a narrow range are of concern as they indicate changed homeostasis. Thermoregulation remains a key aspect of neonatal care. New non touch method of measuring temperature may reduce infection rate and discomfort of neonates. Body temperature of neonates admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was measured using axillary digital thermometer and a handheld infrared non touch thermometer. The two methods did not agree well (mean difference = -0.5, 95% limits of agreement: [-2.3, 1.2]). The agreement was similar with a negligible difference when patients in open care warmers were excluded (mean difference = -0.6, 95% limits of agreement: [-2.3, 1.1]). As the accuracy is unsatisfactory, the said technology needs further improvement before it can be adapted for routine patient care.

A comparison of tympanic and rectal temperatures in term Nigerian neonates

BACKGROUND

Tympanic thermometry has come as a suitable alternative to traditional thermometry because of its safety and ease of use. However, it is still yet to gain wide acceptance in African settings due to conflicting results on its accuracy, thus rectal thermometry remains the gold standard in the newborn. The aim of this study was to compare tympanic and rectal temperatures in term Nigerian neonates.

METHODS

Rectal and tympanic temperatures were measured simultaneously in 300 consecutive term neonates between the ages of 37 and 42 weeks gestation using mercury-in-glass and the Infrared tympanic thermometers respectively. Paired t test, Pearson correlation coefficient and the Bland-Altman plot were used to compute data. Using rectal thermometry as gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of tympanic thermometry at various rectal temperature cut-offs were determined. Receiver Operating Curves (ROC) were constructed and the Areas Under the Curves (AUC) were compared.

RESULTS

The mean rectal temperature (37.34±0.55°C) was significantly higher than the mean tympanic temperature (37.25 ± 0.56°C) (p<0.001) with a mean difference of 0.09 °C±0.24 °C (95% CI: 0.06, 0.12). There was a strong positive correlation between the two measurements (r=0.9; p<0.001). Tympanic thermometry showed sensitivities ranging from 65% to 86% and specificities of 95% to 99% at rectal temperature cut-offs of 37.5°C to 38°C. The positive and negative predictive values of the tympanic temperatures at the various temperature cut-offs ranged from 82% to 93% and 80% to 98% respectively. Accuracy was noted to increase with higher temperatures as shown by the Receiver Operating Curves with the highest accuracy at the temperature cut-off of 38°C and AUC of 0.91.

CONCLUSIONS

The sensitivity of tympanic thermometry was relatively low in detecting rectal temperatures despite the good correlation and agreement between them. The specificities and predictive values of tympanic temperatures in detecting rectal temperatures were high and accuracy increased with higher temperatures. Though using the tympanic route for measuring temperature in the newborn is relatively safe and non-invasive, its low sensitivity limits its use. Further studies would be required to further assess the accuracy of tympanic temperature measurements in the newborn.

Temperature measurement in pediatrics: a comparison of the rectal method versus the temporal artery method

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference between temperature readings obtained using two different electronic temperature devices: one measuring temporal artery temperature (TAT) and one measuring rectal temperature (RT). A comparative single-group design was used with each participant acting as his or her control. The sample consisted of 47 pediatric patients between 3 and 36 months of age. Data analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between TAT and RT; however, concerns related to statistical significance versus clinical significance are discussed.

Comparison of temporal artery to rectal temperature measurements in children up to 24 months

This descriptive study compared temporal artery (TA) and rectal temperature measurements, patient comfort during temperature measurements, and nursing time required to obtain temperature measurements. Study participants (n = 40) included children 0-24 months old with fever higher than 38°C, admitted to a freestanding children's hospital in the Midwest. Statistical analysis of 450 paired TA and rectal temperature measurements revealed a 0.776 correlation, mean difference of 0.03°C, and 94.7% of measurements differing by less than 1.0°C. Patient comfort, measured via the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability Scale, was enhanced with TA thermometry compared to rectal. TA thermometry resulted in an 87% savings of nursing time.

Management of fever in children: summary of the Italian Pediatric Society guidelines

OBJECTIVE

This article summarizes the Italian Pediatric Society guideline on the management of the signs and symptoms of fever in children, prepared as part of the National Guideline Program (NGLP).

METHODS

Relevant publications in English and Italian were identified through searches of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from their inception through December 31, 2007. Based on the consensus of a multidisciplinary expert panel, the strength of the recommendations was categorized into 5 grades (A-E) according to NGLP methodology.

SUMMARY

In the health care setting, axillary measurement of body temperature using a digital thermometer is recommended in children aged <4 weeks; for children aged > or =4 weeks, axillary measurement using a digital thermometer or tympanic measurement using an infrared thermometer is recommended. When body temperature is measured at home by parents or care-givers, axillary measurement using a digital thermometer is recommended for all children. Children who are afebrile when seen by the clinician but are reported to have had fever by their caregivers should be considered febrile. In special circumstances, high fever may be a predictive factor for severe bacterial infection. Use of physical methods of reducing fever is discouraged, except in the case of hyperthermia. Use of antipyretics-paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen-is recommended only when fever is associated with discomfort. Combined or alternating use of antipyretics is discouraged. The dose of antipyretic should be based on the child's weight rather than age. Whenever possible, oral administration of paracetamol is preferable to rectal administration. Use of ibuprofen is not recommended in febrile children with chickenpox or dehydration. Use of ibuprofen or paracetamol is not contraindicated in febrile children with asthma. There is insufficient evidence to form any recommendations concerning fever in children with other chronic conditions, but caution is advised in cases of severe hepatic/renal failure or severe malnutrition. Newborns with fever should always be hospitalized because of the elevated risk of severe disease; paracetamol may be used, with the dose adjusted to gestational age. Use of paracetamol or ibuprofen is not effective in preventing febrile convulsion or the adverse effects of vaccines.

Temperature Measurement in the Phase I PACU

Perioperative hypothermia remains a common occurrence in the Phase I PACU. Identification of and appropriate intervention for this complication is of prime importance in the prevention of adverse outcomes. This article provides an overview of perioperative hypothermia and offers a summary of the most common methods used to measure body temperature.