Comparing axillary and rectal temperatures in children under 5 at pediatric wards of Mofid hospital affiliated to Shaheed Beheshti Medical University

ABSTRACT

Assessment of vital signs is a part of nursing care. There are several methods for body temperature measurement. Usually, it is measured by oral, axillar, rectal, tempanic and skin routes, all of which have specific complications, advantages and risks. Rectal method is accurate and shows central body temperature but it is an invasive procedure. Although many studies have been conducted to compare these methods, the difference between body temperature is not yet known. This descriptive comparative study was conducted to compare axillary and rectal methods in the measurement of body temperature in children under 5 at pediatric wards of Mofid Hospital affiliated to Shaheed Beheshti Medical University in Tehran. 126 hospitalized children between 3 and 5 years with or without fever were selected. Data collection instruments consisted of a demographic questionnaire [validated by content validity] and mercury thermometers which were placed in warm water and then compared for reliability. The temperature of children was first measured orally for 5 minutes and then rectally over 1 minute with a 1-minute interval. Difference between axillary and rectal temperatures was 0.78°C [SD= 0.3]. There was no significant correlation between age and this difference with no effect of age as well as fever. Environmental temperature had no effect on the difference of the two methods. Since the difference between axillary and rectal temperatures is important, axillary method because of being non-invasive is recommended